It encouraged me to take a course at University. Ive watched Time Team since I was about 8 years old, went to watch people digging and talk to archaeologists. Now Ive been on about 5 or 6 digs, just finishing my masters degree in archaeology and starting a PhD in October. Yay!
You forget the option "didn't influence me". Although its likely that anyone in this forum has an interest at some level in archaeology, there are those who might be old enough to have one that predates Timeteam.
I think I'm in that category, but had Time team existed twenty years earlier - say, if it had replaced Dr Who, then things might have been different. As it was when I got to university (in western North America) I ended up in geology with archaeology electives. I still ended up digging trenches, but I'm usually looking at things in the 75 to 65 Ma range!
TV archaeology has certainly kept my amateur interest going. Other geologists and geophysicists I work with (some of whom also considered archaeology as a profession) do discuss some of the methods and interpretation that overlap with our bag of tricks.
TV archaeology has had a huge impact (as has MS Age of Empires I and II) in developing my older son's interests in history and archaeology. The experimental archaeology examples have also had significant impact, and I know of one private school that is looking at how they can use the approach in developing much more tactile methods of teaching history in conjunction with technology, shop skills and leadership.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by digitalgeo: You forget the option "didn't influence me". Although its likely that anyone in this forum has an interest at some level in archaeology, there are those who might be old enough to have one that predates Timeteam.
QUOTE]
Hi Chaps I consider my self a post-Indiana archaeologist so it was the big silver screen that influenced me.
Originally posted by digitalgeo: You forget the option "didn't influence me". Although its likely that anyone in this forum has an interest at some level in archaeology, there are those who might be old enough to have one that predates Timeteam.
Mmmm! That thought occurred to me too - I studied Archaeology at University back in the early 70s - long before Time Team or Indiana Jones! I picked Archaeology because it seemed like a good subject to combine with my other two subjects - History and Geography, but enjoyed it so much it ended up becoming the main focus of my degree. Mind you, my understanding is the small department that I studied in is much enlarged these days, and that probably has a lot to do with the lure of media!
Same thing for me with geology. I'd would really like to see if some of the newer methods we have coming into mineral exploration now could be transferred to archaeological digs. There is a lot more hand held equipment that can map visually indistinguishable material in trenched, hand samples or dill core. I'm a big fan of transfering solutions between disciplines.
Hi there Hatshepsut! We seem to be following the same route, although I'm a year ahead of you as I've just done the first year of my PhD. I'm at Liverpool, where are you?
sorry for delayed reply: I've been away. There were a limited number of questions I could ask, so I ran out of option to include 'didn't influence me'.
When I started my first degree, 'Down to Earth' was on the TV, and it certainly stimulated my studies. But I was very enthusiastic anyway, and had wanted to study archaeology for some time. What was more influential was a report on the news about my university (to be) museum, which made me realise it was possible to study within my area.
I was prompted to start the poll for a number of reasons. Primarily, as I teach adult education archaeology courses, and all of my students seem to be heavily influenced by Time Team - I wondered how TT (etc.) had influenced others. And I'm interested in how TV archaeology formats might influence learning styles and activities, and might be used in the future to support and encourage archaeological study.
"You forget the option "didn't influence me". Although its likely that anyone in this forum has an interest at some level in archaeology, there are those who might be old enough to have one that predates Timeteam."
Some of us (if only interested and not actively involved in archeology)were attracted in childhood by the programmes of Sir Mortimer Wheeler! -- and that predates Time Team by a very long period
Hi Chaps I consider my self a post-Indiana archaeologist so it was the big silver screen that influenced me.
A friend of mine studied Archaeology at Uni, in the 80s but couldn't get a job when qualified, so did a teaching course. On a recent repeat of the Big Dig in London they were struggling to get diggers because of the poor wages, one chap was even living in a tent, while the others were sharing a condemned house, so it probably makes a good hobby but not a career.
Originally posted by keithb: A friend of mine studied Archaeology at Uni, in the 80s but couldn't get a job when qualified, so did a teaching course. On a recent repeat of the Big Dig in London they were struggling to get diggers because of the poor wages, one chap was even living in a tent, while the others were sharing a condemned house, so it probably makes a good hobby but not a career.
Shouldn't really judge conditions by what you see in one TV programme about one project (and which was first shown about 8 years ago,too)I remember thinking at the time the conditions they were working and living under were more akin to what went on the 1970's when few site staff were paid and when they were it was no more then very basic subsistance.Things,while no means ideal, are comparatively better then they were then (I know,I was there)
Admittedly, the situation for new people coming into archaelogical employment still isn't very good and the job market is almost certainly going to shrink as the effects of the "Credit Crunch" take hold. My advice to people who intend to break into archaeology is still to do it, but think about it very carefully, as you have to be prepared for short term contracts, poor rates of pay and the odd dull and dispiriting project.
I'm not sure exactly what the figures are now, but certainly about 10 years ago,the percentage of archaeology graduates that go into the profession is less then 50. And there's also a fair number who opt out after one or two years to go into better paid professions.
Hi Ann, no risk, archaeology is a profession tied into the planning process through national guidance, Local Plans, EIA regulations and DTI regulations.
The profession weathered the storm of the 1990's recession and it will carry on despite this credit crunch.
Originally posted by Ann W.: Chris does this return us to the risk of archeology being the hobby of amateurs (often gifted and dedicated but non the less amateurs)
Not at all,Ann.As Horemheb said above, Archaeology is fairly well integrated into the planning process at both national and local levels now, so the reliance on volunteer bodies to undertake the work has thankfully long gone.
That isn't a slight on amateurs,BTW. (I used to be one as did a great many people in the profession) just that the situation has evolved into what it is now out of necessity. The archaeological unit I volunteered with in the 1970's/early 80's did some fairly amazing stuff, given the lack of funds, time and often belligerent attitude of unsympathetic developers, but there is no way that we could have coped with the requirements of the job in todays climate.
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