This will be the major task, but once done, it would need fairly minimal maintenance, and could be something used worldwide; in other words, I believe the expenditure of time would more than repay the work involved. Though some form of overall centralised control, or at least maintenance of the database, would be needed, the definition of the skills and the different levels should be done from the bottom upwards, e.g. medieval pottery experts should define what medieval pottery experts need in order to practise. They will also be the ones who will know the level of detail necessary; we should not make boxes to tick just for the sake of it.
Some areas are perhaps only meaningful within certain ranges. Levels 1 and 5 in the use of the dumpy level are not exactly useful, and anyone who starts at level 2 will have probably progressed to level 4 within a few weeks; it is a skill that most diggers will be expected to have, and be able to train others in. On the other hand, for specialist areas such as phytoliths or samian, it is levels 3, and especially 4 and 5, which are relevant. These matters can be sorted out by common sense.
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Last updated: Mon Jul 29 2002