Today I signed a contract. Part of that contract is a confidentiality clause. I’m not publicly allowed to talk about what I am doing, or where I am doing it. I can say that I’m going to be working at Olympic Dam, but apart form that I can’t really talk about the details or the specifics of what I’m doing there. Nor can I take photos of where I’m working, unless it is part of the job, and in that case the photos do not belong to me, but to the company, and I do not have authorisation to use them.

In other contexts in which I might work in the future, the confidentiality clause works a bit differently. If the site is an Aboriginal one, then the confidentiality clause is pretty strict, and I need permission to show the photos or talk about the work from the traditional owners, who may or may not give it. In any case, it is illegal to advertise the location of a site of significance to Aboriginal people, possibly because there are cultural protocols, but definitely because there is the risk of vandalism.

Historical archaeology does not have the same cultural restrictions, but there is still some risk of vandalism. And in both cases, photos and any information discovered about a site are generally the property of the organisation that commissioned the work.

So as you can see, all of this makes archaeology a pretty poor source of blogging material. So I wont be blogging much about work. But seeing as I don’t blog much anyway, really, that won’t be much of a problem.

But anyway, today I signed a contract, and I will be working 12 hrs a day for every 13 out of 14 days, and that will start on July 15. The first stint will last until August 23. I’m not sure when I will work again after that, but if I’m useful, they will give me more work. And there is plenty of work. I am fortunate to be working with some of the top people in the field, and that will look stupendous on the resume. It will be a complete culture shock, but I love culture shock, so I’m prepared for that and even looking forward to it. Can’t wait in fact - bring it on!

• Martine (Port Douglas) said on 10/07/03 at 04:20 AM.....

  Holy crap! That’s some serious hours. ENJOY!

• j-ster (adelaide) said on 10/07/03 at 05:53 AM.....

  Oops, I lied, its actually from 6am to 5.30pm with 3 breaks, so in reality it is close to 9hrs of work. But still, I am enjoying the opportunity to hibernate while I have it. Lots of people around me have the dreaded lurgy, including the wee foster-kids, whose fingers keep ending up in my mouth somehow, and yet (touch wood) I have managed to avoid it so far, thanks to lots of sleep and minimal sugar. Well, thats what I tell myself anyway.

• The Goddess (Tokyo - at work) said on 10/07/03 at 06:38 AM.....

  Great to see you so enthused about this new adventure. Here’s hoping that it will not feel like “work” as you are following your bliss.