I am an archaeologist and recently was sent an offer to interview by a client about researching artefacts for authentication, or at least that is what I understood the contract to be. However,I misunderstood because they wanted me to autheticate the artefact from photographic evidence alone. The artefact was a possible Corinthian Amphorikos, so an intact piece of Greek pottery. Greek pottery has been forged for at least 200 years and some are so good they have ended up on display in musuems until the chemical tests were available, only in the last few years. So it is impossible to say from photos if a piece is authentic or not.
I gave them my CV, wrote a covering letter and had a phone interview where I was completely honest about my skills and experience. My name can be Googled to check my field of specialality, which is not Greek archaeology, so there is no point in tryuing to hide that fact. However, the bread and butter of an archaeologist is doing comparative studies, where you see how a piece conforms or not to known authentic pieces. This is what I provided them in draft form to inquire how they wanted it presented.
Niavely, I did not expect to be told that I had to authenticate the piece as no one who has any knowledge of antiquities would expect that anyone would put their name to whether or not a peice is authentic from photogrpahs alone. Especially a client who states on their website
**Edited for community guidelines**
When in fact they are trying to pressure freelancers into making judgements involving none of the mentioned techniques. What they are actually trying to do is against all international law in dealing with antiqities and against the code of practice for qualified appraisers, which is what they say they are.
I was gullible, I assumed they wanted the background research required to compare the piece with known autheticated examples. I was wrong and the review they left said that I fabricated my qualifications, ironically it is because I was not willing to fabricate my qualifications that I lost the job and got an extermely bad review that can only damage my potential for future projects. I want to make sure no other freelancer falls into the trap that I did.
How do I advise Upwork and freelancers of this scam?
Please excuse the spelling mistakes, I have two hungry kittens who insist on "helping" me write this.
