Part Two -Getting
involved in Archaeology as an Interest.
Part One looked at
archaeology as a profession to get into, this looks at other aspects for people
with other ambitions.
The early 19th
C origins of archaeology were from a time when there were no archaeologists –
the people that pioneered it were often trained in other fields and many of
them were employed in other fields. Now the field seems to be dominated by
professionals, with a long path of training and experience needed to become one
(See Part One).
Is there now no role
for those with an interest in archaeology?
There is.
An Invitation to Archaeology:
“We are all
archaeologists now.” (The Archaeological Imagination. Michael Shanks)
If we have an interest in
archaeology, it is because we have been exposed to archaeology in some form.
Through that exposure we can start to see that the hand of past people is still
with us in the physical world, that forgotten aspects of their existence can be
recovered from these traces. Our view of ourselves as humans is now infused
with the findings of archaeology, from our emergence from ancient hominids to the
extraordinary discoveries like the terracotta army.
In our day to day lives
this might be finding an obsidian flake while digging in the garden or
observing the trace of a gold miner’s water race on a hillside while driving
through Otago. It is hard now not to have an archaeological eye, to spot
objects that are unnatural, to see features in the landscape that are the
remains of past endeavours. How then to go further with this?
Archaeo-tourism
Satisfying the itch by
visits and travel is one way and professionals do it as much as anyone. There
are museums and accessible archaeological sites here and worldwide and usually there
are printed and online guides to look at before you go. A hint – overseas the
most famous sites are often swarming in high tourist season. Go to them in
shoulder seasons or alternatively seek out the second-most famous. Strangely
you may find you have them almost to yourself.
More than that there
are opportunities for involvement in archaeology through:
1. Interest
Groups
2. Events
3. Museums
and Heritage Sites
4. Ancestral
Association
5. Private
Activity
6. Excavations
1 Interest Groups
There are interest
groups that cover aspects of archaeology at lots of different levels.
There are local
historical societies and interest groups associated with Museums which often
have archaeological interests. Some of
these groups produce newsletters full of information and research resources.
Join your local U3A (OK
it is for an age older group) and their history or anthropology interest group.
You can try out you own research findings with a supportive audience through
such. U3A New Zealand
Some are more for those
inclined:
·
NZAA
Home - NZ Archaeological Association
(nzarchaeology.org)
·
Historical
Archaeology ASHA – Historical archaeology in Australia, New
Zealand and the Pacific
·
Maritime
Archaeology Maritime Archaeological Association
of New Zealand (maanz.org.nz)
·
Heritage
Management Home - ICOMOS
·
Garden
History The Garden
History Research Foundation
·
Mining
History Home - Australasian Mining
History
·
Railway
History Home - NZRLS (railsoc.org.nz)
·
Coastal
Defence History - The Defence of New Zealand Study Group (DONZ) is a non-profit
membership-based organisation that publishes research on NZ military history,
runs field trips to sites of interest, and lobbies for military heritage protection
http://www.donz.org.nz
· Some professional organisations have a heritage branch. Here for Engineering New Zealand: Engineering heritage
2 Events
NZAA holds an annual
Archaeology Week – you can find links to upcoming events here Home - NZ Archaeological Association
(nzarchaeology.org)
Many localities hold a
heritage festival – usually over a week and inevitably some of the events are
archaeological. Here is a link to the Auckland Council version: heritagefestival.co.nz
3 Museums and Heritage
Sites
Large museums usually
have interest groups, volunteer docents and research assistants.
Smaller ones may
operate almost entirely through volunteer efforts. Joining them is a way to
pursue an archaeological interest, finding people of like interest. Small museums
often have collections that are poorly understood or researched. Gated heritage
sites likewise may have a similar range of opportunities.
Museums may often host
public talks, where you can attend and get to meet like-minded people. Don’t hesitate to talk to the presenter
afterwards – they love an enthusiastic audience.
4 Ancestral Association
People who have
ancestral association with an area or site are often engaged in the heritage
management of sites in that area and certainly in any archaeological research
or RMA initiated work around development. It is an opportunity for involvement
in archaeology.
5 Private Activity
There is a lot or
archaeology that can be done without digging. Here are some ideas of interests
that could be pursued with some abilities and a willingness to learn:
·
Pa
sites – while the locations of very many are recorded – how many are mapped in
detail that is beyond a field sketch? Not that many.
·
Building
archaeology – the recording of buildings while being deconstructed is an
emerging field here. Buildings post 1900CE this will be happening without HNZPT
involvement.
·
Space
Archaeology – early astronomy sites, space junk discoveries, early radio
research / radar installations, early satellite ground stations. Are Rocket Lab’s
oldest facilities still in use?
·
Shipwreck
and derelict ship sites. So many known to have happened, so few in Archsite?
·
Older
recorded sites. Many sites in Archsite have not been visited in decades, some
since they were first recorded. Do they still exist, can a guide to finding
them, or information on their current condition be added or upgraded?
·
Industrial
/ mining / energy / transport archaeology – the record of what survives is
often quite patchy. Good for some industries and areas but many gaps compared with
archaeology of the Māori.
·
Museums
often have collections that need cleaning, better storage, better labelling, cataloguing,
basic research.
Where can this lead?
The 2023 NZAA annual conference had many papers that were by, or had
contributions from people not formally trained in archaeology. These included
an architect, a geologist and an artist. The largest category were Māori who
had come to the subject through their ancestral association with sites.
6 Excavations
- are last here in this
list because the opportunities here are quite few. Universities use students, Museums
and commercial archaeologists use experienced and usually qualified people. If
a large area is to be investigated the extra diggers have names like
Caterpillar or Komatsu. HNZPT only authorises excavations by people with the training
and experience and importantly the resources to complete the process of
treating and reporting the findings.
Sites later than1900 CE
can be excavated without that consent. Landowners still need to agree. If you
are doing it competently and ethically the post-dig process of analysis and
reporting can be formidable. It is not to be undertaken lightly and certainly
not just for accumulating finds to a private collection. Finds may still be
regulated as to ownership even if not from a pre-1900 CE site.
Other countries are
different. Britain undertakes its archaeology differently and there are volunteer
excavation opportunities there – a start is through pay-for courses for gaining
fieldwork skills. E.g. Sherwood
Forest Archaeological Training Field School If you are interested do ensure you have the
right visa for Britain.
On-line Resources
Heritage New Zealand
have created a marvellous set of podcasts on several different topics around
archaeology in New Zealand, called Aotearoa
Unearthed: Archaeology for Everyone. Presented by heritage practitioners, the
topics range in lively diversity from Toilets and drains in colonial
Christchurch to Archaeological landscapes through a Māori lens. Go to http://www.heritage.org.nz/resources/podcasts-digital-resources/podcast-aotearoa-unearthed-archaeology-for-everyone
for the links
Heritage New Zealand
have also produced a great series of travel apps, for walking or driving
tours. These may introduce you to places
of ideas you hadn’t thought about. Go to
www.heritage.org.nz/resources/podcasts-digital-resources
Several New Zealand
Archaeologists are maintaining their own websites or blogs on sites or projects
they’re working on. This enables interested people to see the diversity of
projects taking place, and especially see the scope of work that happens in an
archaeological investigation – as noted above, the long time spent in the lab
or writing up.
Blogs are another source of information, usually closely tailored by the bloggers. Nick Sutton’s Archaeology Actually is a local one to look at.
A great blog is The
City Remains, at thecityremains.org. A second blog is Christchurch Uncovered, at blog.underoverarch.co.nz
There are lots of
archaeological news sources. We try to cover items of general New Zealand
interest on this Facebook group Aotearoa
New Zealand Archaeology (ANZARC).
NZAA has a Facebook
Page: Facebook
Do interact with the
groups or pages you belong to. A simple like does encourage the authors.
A weekly news source is
the NZAA eNews which is open to all to subscribe: New
Zealand Archaeological Association eNews (list-manage.com)
You can train Google to
email you news items with your own selected key words.
A global weekly news
sheet is Explorator: explorator@groups.io
| Home It is formidably large but
few important things escape it.
Sensation, Clickbait, Conspiracies,
Nonsense, Alternative Realities
Sadly there is no
shortage. Ancient aliens – don’t bother. Conspiracies to suppress knowledge – as
prevalent in archaeology as in other fields and just as ridiculous. Astonished,
shocked, astounded archaeologists - in the editor’s mind only. The past is
human. Real archaeology is intriguing. Stick to that.
What to Join?
Why NZAA of course –
there are student rates. Membership
- NZ Archaeological Association (nzarchaeology.org)
Note that NZAA
is aimed at anyone interested in archaeology, not just the professionals.
NZAA has ethical
standards expected of all members.\
Thanks to Mary O'Keeffe for assistance with this post.