Championing Archaeological Businesses

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Month: May 2011

  • Trouble in Store: facing up to the archaeological archives crisis

    Trouble in Store: facing up to the archaeological archives crisis

    This year’s FAME Forum will consider the growing crisis facing our archaeological archives. Such has been the growth in fieldwork since 1990 that overstretched museums in many parts of the country are refusing to accept any more archaeological archives. As a result, FAME members are storing a growing volume of excavated material which is undeposited and inaccessible.

    • What is the extent of the problem?
    • What are the hidden costs to FAME members?
    • What is the research value and usage of archaeological archives?
    • What are their public benefits, and how can they be increased?
    • Whose responsibility is it to ensure they are properly stored and cared for?
    • Should we make greater use of digital technology?
    • Should we be more selective in what we retain from excavations?

    Held in association with the Society of Museum Archaeologists, the Forum will bring together speakers from both organisations to discuss how we can plan a more sustainable future for our archaeological archives. Speakers will include Roland Smith, Catherine Hardman, Stuart Campbell, David Allen, Quinton Carroll and Duncan Brown.

    The meeting will take place on Friday 1 July, at Merchant Taylors Hall, York. Admission is free to FAME and SMA members, and £50 to non-members, including lunch, morning coffee and afternoon tea. Advance booking is essential – for a booking form contact Hilda Young, 01722 343444, h.young@wessexarch.co.uk or click FAME Forum 2011.

  • Job Losses in Archaeology, April 2011

    The latest survey of Job Losses in Archaeology shows that the rate of job losses in the sector appears to have slowed, with business confidence showing very slight signs of recovery.

    The survey, carried out by Landward Research Ltd on behalf of FAME and the IfA, covers the period January-April 2011.

    It shows that in the first three months of 2011 the number of archaeologists in work increased very slightly to an estimated 5863 (800 fewer than the summer 2007 peak), though further job losses in local government curatorial services are expected.

    Several businesses have ceased trading, with university-based companies being particularly vulnerable. Business confidence was poor through much of 2010, but there has been a slight recovery in the first quarter of this year.

    For the eighth quarter in succession, the skills needed for invasive fieldwork were those most frequently being lost.

    The full report may be viewed here.