The Council for Independent Archaeology

Where now?

The Sharpes Pottery Museum

The e 2017 meeting of the Council for Independent Archaeology took place on 22nd October 2017 at Swadlincote in Derbyshire, where 30 members enjoyed an excellent day of lectures and good fellowship.  A summary of the meeting can be seen here.

Sadly, however, this may prove to be the last meeting of the Council. The Officers have all been in post too long, and old age and ill-health has meant that they are no longer able to organise any future meetings. If any volunteers are prepared to come forward and undertake the practical work of organising meetings, we would be pleased to hear from them.

However  perhaps the time has come to ask the big question,  whether there is any future for the amateur in archaeology:  should not archaeology become an entirely professional occupation, with the only participation of amateurs being as part of a professionally run community project. If so, there is no role for the CIA, and we should die gracefully.

I believe the need for the CIA is still there. If archaeology becomes wholly professional, and exists only as a plaything of politicians, there is a danger that it will become liable to political pressures and political correctness and independent thought and independent action will become impossible. I have written a final statement, part history but mostly some thoughts on why the CIA failed – and why it is still needed.

Yet if anyone were to come forward to run the society,  we still have a number of assets.  We have still around 200 members on our lists, we are financially viable with a positive balance sheet. Sadly the resistivity meter is no longer being produced but Kevan Fadden can advise on the existing meters.

The final work to be done is to find a suitable way of disposing of the final bank balance, nearly £4,000. Our current proposal is to use it to establish a prize for the best work done by an amateur archaeologist or society – something to keep alive the spirit of the Council for Independent Archaeology and to support the work done by amateur archaeologists in the years to come. Any alternative suggestions, please email me.

Andrew Selkirk.

Chairman (moribund), 
Council for Independent Archaeology
11th May 2018, 28th December 2020

Council for Independent Archaeology

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