Yearly Archives: 2014


It doesn’t have to be that way. Field techs don’t have to teach archaeology PhDs 1

The response to my blog post earlier this week about field techs teaching PhDs how to do archaeology was amazing. Most of the comments I received were either self-reflexive acknowledgements by PhDs revealing that they really didn’t know how to do cultural resource management or commercial archaeology after they finished […]

Don't be that desperate archaeology job seeker

Best and Worst of Succinct Research Blog, 2013

Blogging can be lonely, especially when you’re writing about archaeology. It’s an interesting topic, but archaeology just doesn’t have the glitz and glamor of the “make money online” niche or the “eliminate-all-toxins-from-your-kid’s-lives” niche. Because our audiences tend to be much smaller, we should have different metrics on measuring success. I […]


Archaeology Projects are the New Résumé

Last month, I read Seth Godin’s book “Linchpin.” In case you didn’t know, Seth Godin isn’t an archaeologist and, based on his writings, he doesn’t appear interested in cultural resource management or historic preservation. Godin is primarily known for his postmodern business writings, which have been rapidly been accepted by […]


Training the next generation in cultural resource management archaeology 2

I think it’s promising that the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) is strongly considering how to train the next generation. The recent conference in Quebec City had multiple events dedicated to discussing how universities can better meet the needs of the cultural resource management, historic preservation, and heritage conservation industries. […]


#SHA2014- Lessons Learned from the Conference at the European Village on the Planet Hoth

The 2013–2014 Polar Vortex drastically altered the travel plans for dozens of attendees of the recent Society for Historical Archaeology conference (#SHA2014). Set in beautiful, friendly Quebec City, the reputation of this conference will be forever marked by memories of delays, unexpected hotel layovers, lost luggage, and icy streetscapes. I […]


Cracking the Hidden Archaeology Job Market

Keywords: cultural resource management jobs, historic preservation employment, job search, job tips Hashtags: #CRMarch, #archaeology, #jobs, #jobtips, #recruiting, @succinctbill In case you didn’t already know, the best way to get a job in archaeology, cultural resource management, and historic preservation is NOT by responding to job posts. Of course, responding […]