2008 Training Wishlist

[Toby]

Please put any specific, and realistic, things that you would want included with the training during 2008 on this thread.

[kateb]

Something on animal bones. Ellen and Keith got some photocopied stuff together which was brillant, but for us non-sciency types it is all a bit of a mystery.

[keiths]

I'd like to see the variety of activities available in finds processing increased (well I would wouldn't I!). Specifics that occur to me are:-
1)Logging and recording of small finds, maybe including entry on to the database.
2)More information on the pottery, and animal bones, I know that when washing etc. many people were interested in knowing more detail about what they were handling.

I realise that there may be some difficulties in organising these, and many people prefer digging to finds work. Maybe there could be two types of trainee place; one (probably the majority) as now with the bulk of the work being digging, and another which concentrates more heavily on finds work.

[Paul]

How about a finds "sample box" showing what is typically being found in each area of the site coupled and another display of the more impressive bits? This could possibly be incorporated into the finds talk to make it more relevant and topical (I'm waaaay over spindle whorl thingies)

[ellie163]

The pottery lecture worked on this basis this year (at least the one I went to did) and people did seem to find it useful. Maybe the finds lecture could incorporate a few things like... impressive shiny things.... how to handle/process small finds on site, esp what to do with the diff materials... and a section on things you're likely to find. It'd be good to have this earlier in the week too.
As keith said there's such a mix of people that some find there was too much they were required to do off site whereas others prefered doing lots of finds stuff. Although to be fair when people mentioned this they did end up doing more finds stuff anyway.
I know its hard to strike a balance but maybe those who've done the talks a few times before could skip them?? Some people who are on 3/4 years really do find it a bit tiring though most of them are too polite to say so.

[Joshua D]

i was on the 2007 training dig and it was amazing however...i think that if it can be helped people should move around every 1-2 days to something different. i asked a few times but there was some confusing with people staying one week and two weeks. perhaps a bit more planning for those staying one week?

not badmouthing it though......i really enjoyed myself loads and im comming back in 2008 before my Archaeology degree starts.

[Toby]

We will have to try and chase up some decent reference material for the animal bone and human bone side of things. I am not sure we would want to create lots of photocopies - as that will just result in lots of loose sheets floating around.

Finds and excavation wise we should be doing more in the way of computer linked activities by next summer, so yes we should be able to sort that out.

Plans are already in place for sorting out a more comprehensive pottery reference collection and hopefully this will get sorted well before next season.

If people want to do more work with finds they just need to let us know in advance. The finds courses at St Leonard's were good but there was not a massive uptake. I will see if there are any option we could offer in 2008.

I have a request in with the finds dept for a sample box (they exist already).

If people ask in advance they have the option of skipping lectures they have already done.

The courses are designed around an initial one week course that is expanded in the following week/s. We cannot really move people around as they will lose the continuity of what they are doing on a specific feature etc. There is so much to cover over a short period of time that when we tried to move people in the past they just could not keep up with things.

Thank you for the input so far and keep the suggestions coming.

[keiths]

I don't know how feasible this would be as it may involve extra effort and expense, but how about an evening guest lecture once per week, it might not be too expensive if we try to get local people (YAT, university, local groups), and possibly get a room at the Black Swan so that a nights drinking wouldn't have to be foregone. I for one wouldn't mind paying a few pounds extra to attend something like this.

[ellie163]

I remember this happening during St Leonards but it wasn't esp popular. It was sort of implied that people SHOULD go when, to be honest, they wanted to relax. Yes people are interested in archaeology but when they've had a talk already that day and spent time digging i think most people just want to socialise.
Having said that I could be totally wrong.

[philld14]

My biggest wish is too actually make it there in 2008. This year sounds to have been a good one, and by the look of the idea's here next year should be even better.

[philld14]

So my wish's have come true and i will be coming back this year ... WOOT !!!

So Toby hows things filling up on the dig this year?

Still places left for me in the first couple of weeks in july??

If so get your waterproofs as i always brig the rain with me!!

[Toby]

I won't ask who the fairy was?

We are doing ok for places so far - though bookings are coming in pretty fast. I will send out the e-mail reminder to people in the next couple of weeks.

If you e-mail the trainingdig address we can get provisional spaces sorted.

[e-mail] (new address)
[e-mail] (old address which still works just bounces to above)