Source
r/Archaeology•
Shizzzler

Fieldschools. Why so expensive?

So as a Belgian Master's student in archaeology I am once again looking for an internship this year. The last two years I have been working for a small museum in Finland, conducting excavations and generally participating as a part of the professional team.

This year I need to perform another 6 weeks of fieldwork at a location of my choice. Since I would like to broaden my horizons I have been on the lookout for a position in the UK, however it seems like all I can find are these fieldschools that charge outrageous amounts of money. Perhaps I am privileged as a Belgian student, but I only pay a tuition fee of 600€ a year and I don't intend to double that just to slave away somewhere. However, ranting is not of my concern in this topic.

Why is it that so many sites require steep tuition fees to have you work for them without getting any compensation? I am sure that even with the little experience I have I could be an asset to many excavations. Why is the trade between my hard work and their tuition so uneven?

TL;DR: why are archaeology students seemingly abused with these high tuition fees for voluntary labor?

EDIT: Stories of 'free field school experiences', or hints in finding one are of course greatly appreciated!

Posted Jan 9, 2013, 9:51 PM UTC · edited

1435
wallaby1986•

It's not labor. It's education (or it is supposed to be). In order to learn though, you have to do. A field school is supposed to teach the skills needed to do in a structured manner. Many do this, and in that case the tuition is probably justified. Look for accreditation.

Unfortunately, others are also just looking for cheap labor and/or funding without the rigors of the grant process (This is one of several reasons Mexico doesn't allow student work/field schools for excavation).

At least, this is the case in the New World, I don't have any direct experience with UK field schools or any in Europe, for that matter.

7
ShizzzlerOP•

Well, I have no experience with this kind of field schools either - perhaps the fees are justified. However what I am primarily looking for is experience that will help me in securing a job in the future.

I think my offer to do the same work a professional is doing, albeit in an unpaid fashion, is quite fair. Paying 200-1000€ a week is not. Even if it's education, I am *still *performing labor, something the research can bear the fruits of.

-2
AintNoFortunateSon•

To be fair, you're not a professional, you're a student.

13
ShizzzlerOP•

That's correct. When I participated in previous internships, I was pretty much able to do the same work as the professional crew (at least the excavating part). As I'm no professional yet, I don't expect to get paid. But I don't expect to pay either...

Anyway, despite I'm still a student, I'm in my final year, so it won't be too long before I am a professional.

0
wallaby1986•

Then you should maybe not be applying as a field school student but as a staff member. I would contact the directors with your CV and see where that goes. However, if you don't have at least one field school on there you may have trouble.

3
ShizzzlerOP•

Please define field school? Strictly speaking I haven't attended a field school, as in paid classes in a fielwork environment. I have been doing decent field work, though.

1
wallaby1986•

Generally speaking I am referring to a university experience for credit (or at least offered for credit somewhere, unless they require it I don't really think you need to pay for tuition at the host institution if you don't want to, just the field school fees) that identifies itself as a field school. That is: field experience for the express purpose of teaching techniques and methodologies of excavation. In addition, there are some entities which accredit or certify field schools, like the Register of Professional Archaeologists.

Since you have had excavation experience and consider yourself at least a decently experienced excavator, you may in fact be fine without it. If you feel you are beyond a course on excavation technique and methodology, then don't take one. Practically speaking, it's a waste of your time and money.

2
Sloeeyed•

A lot of excavations get their funding from field school students. No big checks from field school students = no dig. It's not ideal, but economics in archaeology rarely are.

6
Aerandir•

Because people are willing to pay for it. (Primarily) American students pay lots of money for their flight ticket anyway, and also pay lots more tuition. For them, a €1500-2000 fieldschool seems reasonable.

If you want real accreditation, and experience that's actually valuable without people laughing at your face because you paid for work (and therefor treat archaeology as a holiday), work on your personal network and get involved with real research or commercial excavations.

5
posrednik•

I think this is a large part of it. Tuition expenses are insanely high in America.

€1200 is about $1500, which is extremely low for tuition by American standards. Tech schools and community colleges usually cost about $1500 per semester where I live.

Even at my public university, tuition is about $10,000 a year for people from this state. It is over $25,000 for people from other states. So to Americans, that price for a field school seems like a very good deal.

3
ShizzzlerOP•

That's amazing. Two years ago my tuition was only €80 for the whole year, books not included.

I'm so glad I don't have to get into student loans and whatnot.

3
BowlOfWhiskey•

work on your personal network and get involved with real research or commercial excavations.

This is the best advice, It's really all about who you know. Every single archaeology job I have had was through someone who already knew me and the quality of work I did. The only real excavation experience you will be able to find if you do not know anyone is on a big project where they are under the gun and simply desperate for warm bodies to throw into the mix. The most rewarding positions come from your network of contacts.

2
ShizzzlerOP•

It never occured to me, but I have also felt it is laughable to pay for work. I'll be doing that, thanks!

1
Springheeljac•

I assume that they have to pay accreditation fees as well as safety for each of the students to protect them against on site injury.

3
ShizzzlerOP•

My Uni provides me with insurance, even on foreign sites. Perhaps I could use this to allow for lower fees. Thanks!

1
Telepathetic•

There are some cheaper field schools that I've run across in the US, mostly dealing with prehistoric American archaeology, and they are about $200 to $400 per week (and I know some students who signed up for one week and were invited to stay for the rest of the season free of charge for doing good work). But all the ones I've read about outside the US have been insanely expensive.

2
grant1wish•

In some field schools part of those fees may go towards food and accomadation. That can be quite expensive in some parts of the world.

2
ShizzzlerOP•

Sure. But even when I was in Finland I could limit my costs to around €250 for two weeks, for my friend and me. Luckily we were provided by accomodation by our employer.

1
deaconblues99•

TL;DR: why are archaeology students seemingly abused with these high tuition fees for voluntary labor?

Can't speak for non-US field schools, but the main issues in the States are:

  1. Because these field schools are usually run through universities, and departments have little control over what their universities charge for tuition.

  2. Because many if not most field schools provide some form of housing and food for the students.

That's really it. Most archaeologists who run field schools are not big fans of the amount students end up having to pay, because it may keep a lot of interested students from being able to afford to do it.

The field school I helped direct last summer (in the US) was basically restricted to students who were from within the state in which the university (and field school) were located, because the out-of-state tuition charged by the university is so high that most out-of-state students couldn't afford it.

2
ShizzzlerOP•

Aha. Well I guess those are quite valid reasons :) It's still a shame, though.

Then again I suppose I'm lucky to be able to a) live in the West and b) be able to afford Uni.

1
BAJR•

You would not believe how expensive it is to run a fieldschool. though some do seem dear.

WE both run a fieldschool in Scotland (£650 all in for 10 days) and run teh Past Horizons website that also provides info on every opportunity in the World... from free to damn thats expensive.

  • just google Past Horizons world project..

anyways...

We have to pay for equipment, consumables,transport, insurance, paying staff, paying staff to get there, pay for food, Then their is the money it costs to analyse what is found ( £300 per C14 sample) and all the artefacts, then the report costs, and the other specialist reports.

ouch...

That said... if you are paying... you best expect the best time... the best teaching and the best all round experience that you have paid for. WE have lots of return volunteers... the work is hard, but the fun is top priority. WE cater for students and people with an interest... but everyone gets treated the same. ask about before going on a fieldschool. is it good? WE often hear horror stories of some less than reputable projects that teach nothing, take the money and leave you to fend for yourself.

Bottom line is it costs plenty... but you should get what you pay for.

2
ShizzzlerOP•

I suppose it is. However things like this aren't supposed to be commercially viable. Why aren't you subsidized?

Imagine museums trying to be independent...

2
BAJR•

In fact, it is not commercially viable, but it does allow good archaeology to be done, for people to be trained ( if they want) and for us to eat .... we do get grants, but they only go some way, and the more subsidised you are the more conditions are attached. relying on funding is a poor long term model. THis project needs about 20 years to complete this phase.

2
ShizzzlerOP•

I never considered that. Thanks for the late reaction :)

1
Infinity_Wasted•

WE often hear horror stories of some less than reputable projects that teach nothing, take the money and leave you to fend for yourself.

the dig I was at last summer was about half-way to horror story. a few of the staff members were very nice and patient, but for the most part, they treated us as free labour. there were a few times where I actually injured myself, and the response was pretty much, "I don't care\I don't have time for your complaints. get back to work."

1
ShizzzlerOP•

Holy shit..

1
varnalama•

I had to pay close to $2400 for a field school down in Belize. Its all about experience and networking though. Thanks to that field school I got a scholarship and more or less get accepted into a graduate program and invited to come back with all costs covered next field season. Worth it in my mind. There is not a lot of money in archaeology so I feel students are having to earn their positions at field schools. 3 of the 5 undergrads at my field school washed out and did pretty much a half ass job for most of the six week dig. No professor would pay to gamble with students when they can pay the locals pennies to work twice a hard.

1
ShizzzlerOP•

Hmm. I suppose that's a good argument for such far-away projects. Thanks for providing perspective!

1
BAJR•

Should have said...

http://www.rampartscotland.co.uk

we still have three places left out of 20

1
ShizzzlerOP•

Thank you for the information. If I had £650 to spend I'd consider going with you guys!

1