Right now, the United States is burning. This is not the first time. It is not the last. In the wake of yet another social maelstrom caused by the Original Sin at the heart of U.S. history, I’ve been getting emails, text messages, and other requests to help archaeologists articulate […]
Some cultural resource management archaeologists are homeless. I’ve known this for years. It’s a part of being an archaeologist in the United States we don’t want to talk about. Cultural resource management archaeology is an unconventional career where practitioners can expect to spend extended periods away from home while working. […]
Too many archaeologists focus on scarcity. There isn’t enough grant money. Not enough cultural resource management archaeology contracts. Not enough hours in the budget to get this project done. Focusing on what don’t have blinds us to opportunities for archaeology to make an impact beyond academia and consulting. It also […]
Before continuing with this post, I just have a few things to say to all the first-generation and working class college students in the United States: You matter. You are worthy of college. Your university is better off having you there. You belong in college. Hard work, dedication, and skills […]
I haven’t given up on the idea of buying historical properties, fixing them up, and maintaining them as a rental property. I feel like this is also a viable way we can keep the historical fabric of American neighborhoods alive. I’ve written about this before, but my previous timeframe might […]
Investment, development, and commerce in Africa is nothing new. Egypt is no stranger to international commerce or monumental architecture. They’ve been doing it for over 4,500 years. Procurement of African luxury items sourced from the upper Nile River was integral to the Roman economy 2,000 years ago. The Swahili Coast […]
It took years to land my first full-time job in cultural resource management archaeology. It took an undergraduate degree, a Master’s, and many resumes, cover letters, and conference papers. On my first CRM projects as a twentysomething, crew chiefs and project managers could clearly see my biggest asset—the fact that […]
It’s time for us to begin our winter celebrations. In the Western world, Santa’s sleigh bells are ringing, the menorah is going up, kinara candles are about to be lit, and celebrations for the birth of the Prophet are in preparation. Other peoples are celebrating the winter (or summer) in […]
Yes. You can get out of cultural resource management. No. You can’t get out of archaeology. Aside from the latest episode of The Great War on YouTube, the highlight of my week has been following two Facebook threads asking, “Why did you get out of CRM archaeology?” Both threads amassed […]
Of course two archaeological field technicians can get married, but they’d better be ready for a rocky road. My spouse, who is not an archaeologist, is well-aware of how difficult it can be to be married to a cultural resource management archaeologist. * * * As soon as I learned […]
