We’ve been reflecting on Mick Aston’s legacy as an outstanding archaeologist, outspoken educator, and overall cool cat.
DigVentures was started with a huge amount of inspiration from the ‘Aston Approach’ to learning, doing, and being. The video below pretty much sums it up: ‘…you’ll be a long time employed, so for god’s sake, do something interesting!’.
One of the best moments of the video is Mick’s epic head-shake at 2:55, in response to a question about the many people he meets who are ‘bored stupid’ by their safely-chosen careers, and who wish they had followed their passion and been archaeologists. This rings so true for DV: our crowdfunded digs are full of fantastic people from many walks of life who share this exact feeling with us. The mortgage is paid, the kids are gone, now I can do what I should have done all those years ago – but couldn’t, because of my responsibilities.
Mick’s extramural teaching career was dedicated to helping those people follow their hearts and find a way in to the profession, in the same way that our digs and training is also designed to help provide a pathway for involvement and engagement. No matter how much or how little you want to do, how far you want to go with your learning, there has to be a way to harness the awesome in archaeology, and above all: SHARE IT.
It’s such a shame that archaeology’s professional career trajectory alienates so many people – those who want to do, as well as those who want to try – and we hope to be a part of the solution along with many other colleagues in the profession who are fighting hard towards the same goal.
We’ve watched this clip several times today – it’s comforting to just listen to Mick, and be reminded once again why we do what we do. We may have lost him, but there’s no reason why we can’t pick up Mick’s banner and continue to enact the values he expresses in his inimitable style.
Thanks again, Mick!
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Written by Lisa Westcott Wilkins
Founder and Co-CEO at DigVentures, Lisa makes sure the boxes are ticked, the diggers run on time, and that everyone has a *really* good time along the way. She is responsible for the Americanisms, ridiculously strong site coffee and early morning DV dance parties.
Comments (5)
Having just completed 40 years doing a job I haven’t enjoyed ( and getting very little in return), I am one of those people Mick is referring to who wished they could have got into Archaeology when they were young but had to get a job instead. In later life I became desperate to take my interest to a higher level. I was one of the people Mick ” rescued” in the late 90’s. I studied part time at a Bristol university for 6 years whilst still working full time and graduated with a 2:1 degree early in 2005. Mick was there when my group graduated and he must have got such a buzz because he’d been instrumental in getting that degree course up and running for us. Anyone out there with doubts, please listen to what he says.
I’ve just come back from yet another dig with like minded mature people who studied Archaeology as I did. Yes, it’s hard work (and it’s even harder when you’re approaching your 6th or 7th decade) but we achieved a lot and we had a ball. Thanks again Mick!
Mick started badgering me to chuck in a job I hated at one year in. A decade later he succeeded in convincing me to do something about it. I wish I’d been brave enough to do it earlier.
Thanks for this great video. My son is completely committed to archaeology as a career, but I’ve sent this to him so he can show it to his friends who may feel constrained by worries about more lucrative careers.
Never met Mick but think of him dearly as a mentor. Have to chuckle at that line, “the mortgage is paid,” though, Lisa. My student loan repayments start in a few months… eek! In the same month that I’ll be turning 55 years old! So life’s funny that way. Work at a job all your life, getting by, griping and moaning about no fun this and no fun that. Finally find something great and then the old body poops out and suddenly you’re too old to do the physical stuff required to have the fun. Meh, who cares. Do it anyway, I say. Aches and pains will come and go. Someone will always make sure I have something to eat. Nobody’s gonna starve. Bills will be paid somehow. There’s always the job to come back to. Life is good! I love DigVentures.
A little like Alison (above) I was privileged to meet Mick Aston in the early 90’s. He was running a Continuing Education course on Landscape Archaeology at Bristol Uni, and I jumped in with both feet! It was wonderful! And we were also informed (in secret) about the new TV series he was going to present (I think it was called Time Team) <3
Although I had a career in computers at that time, I'll never forget the amazing conversations (riddled with unique information) that Mick threw at us. His enthusiasm was contagious and I know a number who were on that course with me who gave up their jobs to do something different 🙂