[Bonetools] Fwd: Finds Training Initiative: Call for Collaborators

[Hans Christian Küchelmann]

Dear all,

I received a request of Ruth Beveridge of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIFA), for collaboration with the WBRG in training of small finds specialists. My personal impression is that this may be a good initiative, but we as WBRG are not capable to provide such a service. However, individual members of the WBRG (institutes or persons) may be. Further, the idea to organise training sessions at upcoming conferences might be a possibility. Marianne and Nejma, what do you think as past conference organisers about his idea? If someone could provide me with the contact data of the 2026 conference organisers, I would forward this request also to them. 

We can discuss this also in the BONETOOLS list. Comments and opinions on this topic are welcome. 

Best wishes

Christian
-- 
Knochenarbeit 

Hans Christian Küchelmann 

Speicherhof 4, D-28217 Bremen, Germany 
tel: +49 - 421 - 61 99 177 
mail: info at knochenarbeit.de 
web: www.knochenarbeit.de
ORCID-ID: 0000-0003-0207-3804

> Anfang der weitergeleiteten Nachricht:
> 
> Von: CIfA Finds <cifafindssig at gmail.com>
> Betreff: NEW Finds Training Initiative: Call for Collaborators
> Datum: 27. November 2024 um 16:27:11 MEZ
> An: info at knochenarbeit.de
> 
> Dear Hans and committee members of the Worked Bone Research Group,
> I am writing to you as a member of the CIfA Finds Special Interest Group committee. We are hoping to develop finds specialist training partnerships with your group.
> 
> The most common concern we hear from our membership is a need for finds specialist training. I’m sure your group is aware that opportunities for early career archaeologists to train to become finds specialists can be few and far between, and at the other end of the spectrum, experienced specialists are retiring leaving no one to pick up their mantle. Many organisations have attempted to address this skills gap but opportunities for training finds specialists remain limited.
> 
> The CIfA Finds SIG committee are looking to help address this imbalance. We would like to collaborate with finds communities at their conferences, events, or AGMs to deliver bitesize CPD sessions recognised by CIfA. The sessions would run as part of these meetings and utilize the skills and experience of specialists, and capitalise on the needs of aspiring finds specialists, already attending.
> 
> We appreciate that elements of this are already incorporated at some events, such as opportunities to handle finds. Our aim is to use these existing sessions and work them into a replicable and recognisable format that can be used for many different specialisms, so they can be accredited as CPD by CIfA towards a general grounding in finds or specific materials.
> 
> The proposed format of these sessions is still up for discussion, and something we could work together if your group believe them to be a valid way forwards. Our initial thoughts are that they could be a 2 hour or so introduction to the identification of specific finds, e.g. prehistoric worked stone, roman mortarium, medieval glass, etc. Ideally the training could include working with a handling collection, if available, opportunities for structured and free discussion, and networking.
> 
> We are asking groups if this is something they would be willing to incorporate at their events and what additional needs/requirements in terms of costs are foreseen. This information will be used to establish the feasibility and support potential funding applications.
> 
> If this proposal is something your group would be interested in supporting please respond so we can decide if this is a viable avenue for training. Any further ideas and suggestions are welcome.
> 
> 
> 
> Yours
> 
>  Ruth Beveridge
> 
> 
> 
> on behalf of the CIfA Finds SIG Committee      
> 
> -- 
> Dr Ruth Beveridge, MCIfA
> CIfA Finds Group Committee member
> Small Finds Specialist, Wardell Armstrong (part of SLR)

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