by Sophie Hueglin (s.hueglin@web.de), quoting the DGUF Newsletter from 6.7.2017
The necessity of a professional association for archaeologists in Germany was the main topic in Mayence at the conference of the German Society for Pre- and Protohistory (DGUF, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ur- und Frühgeschichte e.V.). The topic had already been discussed online with more than 200 participants in a web-based pre-conference. At the conference on July 4th, representatives of all stakeholder groups and organisations with similar functions had been invited to give position papers.
There, CIfA Board member Gerry Wait presented the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA UK) to the participants. During the following evening reception, he renewed CIfA’s offer from June 1st to support a German working group that would establish this large international professional association with currently 3200 members in Germany. The intention is to found a German association according to German law and German needs and not to become a copy of CIfA UK, but CIfA Deutschland, created from an adaption process to German surroundings and specific requirements. By the end of this process the German group would have to decide for itself whether it would want to become a branch of CIfA UK or to form an independent organisation – developed from the model CIfA UK, but separate. The advantage CIfA UK sees in this partnership would be to widen its base for common lobbying with regard to professional issues. Apart from CIfA Deutschland, CIfA Netherlands is in preparation, too. In order to have a point of contact in Germany, CIfA UK is providing initial financing to create a part-time position for German archaeologist Michaela Schauer M.A. Her primary task is to assist first applicants with their accreditation at CIfA UK and also to help adjusting documents and the existing system of CIfA UK to the requirements of German archaeology. That evening, more than 50 persons already signed the list of interest; among them the Head of Archaeology at the State Office for Cultural Heritage Bavaria, Sebastian Sommer. This group will form the core of CIfA Deutschland.
For the coming twelve months, CIfA Deutschand has the following aims:
- translation of application forms for individuals, institutions and companies
- creation of a German CIfA webpage
- translation and adaption of the CIfA Code of Conduct and Standards
- planning and research of necessary legal steps to adapt to the German legal framework and the specific situation in the individual federal states
- search for the seven foundation members
- translation of the disciplinary processes and guidelines
According to Gerry Wait, this list shows that a lot of hard work is waiting ahead. Achieving the aims, however, is possible with the cooperation of many. The more colleagues are prepared to volunteer, the better and faster the work will be accomplished.
At the conference and during the evening reception, the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) was represented by Vice-President Sophie Hueglin. In the name of EAA President Felipe Criado-Boado and the EAA Executive Board, she welcomed the founding of CIfA Deutschland. The creation of a Europe-wide roof of national professional organisations is – facing transnational worries about the working conditions of archaeologists in Europe – a very necessary step and the organisation an ideal partner for the EAA, which understands itself as the non-governmental organisation of European archaeologists.
DGUF, who has been instrumental in making the debate on the necessity for a professional organisation in Germany possible, supports CIfA’s offer to create a group in Germany. DGUF will help the project, for example by regular reports in the DGUF Newsletter, because CIfA has of yet no strong communication network in Germany. DGUF President Diane Scherzler, Vice-President Frank Siegmund and several members of the DGUF Advisory Board signed the list of interest – as private persons – and are therefore among the first to apply for membership with CIfA Deutschland.
There will be monthly updates on the progress of CIfA Deutschland in the DGUF Newsletter in German and also information on possibilities to join. The DGUF Newsletter can be ordered independently of DGUF membership here: http://www.dguf.de/49.html. Personally, I would encourage Austrian and Swiss archaeologists to get involved in the project CIfA Deutschland now in order to make it an association of not only German, but German-speaking archaeologists. This transnational association could be called CIFA DACH – D for Deutschland, A for Austria, and CH for Switzerland – and a make it an inclusive European rather than a solely national project.
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