by Megan McGrath ?Before starting the Graduate Trainee Scheme with Rubicon Heritage, the only experience of archaeology I had outside of a classroom was a two-week field school I participated in during college. I thought that had somehow given me...
by Megan McGrath
?Before starting the Graduate Trainee Scheme with Rubicon Heritage, the only experience of archaeology I had outside of a classroom was a two-week field school I participated in during college. I thought that had somehow given me an idea of what working in commercial archaeology would really be like; I was very wrong. ?I came into the scheme with very little practical experience of what archaeology was like as a profession, but I feel that I have gained so much experience and knowledge in just six short months with the help of all the amazing staff here at Rubicon.
?I’d heard a lot about working in archaeology throughout my time at school and in college, but to actually experience it is very different from what I imagined. There isn’t anything specific that stands out as being different from what I expected, but rather just the overall atmosphere and environment. The sheer scale of things surprised me, from the project to the site and even the archaeological features themselves, everything is just at a much bigger scale than I had expected. I also never expected there to be such a vast array of people from all over the world, with differing backgrounds and experiences and I feel like this lent itself well to my learning more about archaeology on a global level.
| ?While being out in the wind, rain and cold is an often unpleasant aspect of the job, overall I enjoyed every facet of the work I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in both in the field and in the office. If I had to decide on a favourite part, I would have to say that I really loved showing the children from the local school around the site and teaching them about the history of the area and archaeology in general; I really like community outreach and engagement and would love the opportunity to get more involved in this. I’ve also found that I really enjoy working outdoors and being active, particularly if the weather is cooperating, of course. |  |
?I’ve learned a lot about how to conduct an archaeological excavation, including all the recording and sampling that is involved and feel that I could transfer these skills onto any future excavation I find myself on. ?
 | I’ve also had the opportunity to learn a lot about the post-excavation process, including the processing of samples and the archiving of finds. All in all, I feel that the vast array of experiences I have gained during my time at Rubicon will serve me well in any future jobs I may have in the archaeology sector as they have given me a great foundation in the many aspects that go into development-led archaeology. This experience has given me a great overview of the many different aspects of professional archaeology, which I feel will help me in deciding my future career goals and ambitions. |
| ?I am very grateful to Rubicon and to all the staff here who have helped me over the last six months and put up with my constant questioning and rookie mistakes. They really made me feel welcome from the first moment I stepped on site, which made the entire experience even more enjoyable, and I feel really aided in my learning. Overall, I have greatly enjoyed my time as a Graduate Trainee with Rubicon Heritage and feel that this is a great first step in my archaeological career. |  Come Friday lunchtime, all this training does catch up with you! |