CRM


The Big Western CRM Archaeology Layoff 2

Feast or Famine is a frequently acknowledged part of being a CRM archaeologist. Because many of our companies are so poorly managed, they live and die by close-ended, temporary cultural resources contracts. The company goes into the toilet if the management is unable to land contracts. When the project flow […]

Can heritage conservation help end layoffs in CRM archaeology?

At least half of university professors are overworked adjuncts

The adjunct crisis and archaeology

Depending on your sources, between 49 and 66% of all college professors are adjuncts. Full-time, untenured faculty composes 19 percent of professors, which means, at most, only a third of professors are on the tenure track. As a PhD student, I’ve been steadily encouraged to keep up hope about becoming […]


Not every archaeologist has a poverty mentality

Recently, I published a blog post that tackled the issue of what I called the poverty mentality in archaeology. Most of the people that read that piece had no problem with it. Some of the readers, however, did not agree with my perspective and were not impressed by my message. […]

Not every archaeologist has a poverty mentality

Here is what an archaeosexual male looks like

Characterizing the Archaeosexual 12

This week, the blogosphere has been abuzz with talk of this new form of fashionisto­ the lumbersexual or metrojack. First highlighted in a recent GearJunkie article, the lumbersexual has been defined as an urbane male that wears the traditional costume of a lumberjack. Characteristics include flannel shirts, expensive work boots, […]


6 Steps for Ending the Poverty Mentality in Archaeology

How many times have you heard this? “I’d love to go to Hawaii for a vacation but that’s the kind of thing only rich people do.” “Archaeology is cool but I should have gone to law or med school instead of grad school for anthropology.” “Rich people are scum. I […]

Financial independence is the key to ending the poverty mentality in archaeology

Historic preservation begins at the local level

Historic Preservation Starts with Community

This last weekend, my family and I volunteered at another public archaeology event spearheaded by a prominent Arizona historical society. It was the final field session of the project I discussed in my post that discussed how to involve minorities in archaeology by introducing them to the science at an […]


5 steps for converting a minivan into the perfect archaeology vehicle 4

A few weeks ago, while hauling my kids to a community archaeology project at 4AM, I realized that my minivan would make the perfect CRM archaeology field vehicle. With a few modifications, I could turn this old “baby hauler” into a cultural resource management archaeology beast– a petrol-fueled behemoth of […]

Minivans are the perfect archaeology fieldwork vehicle

I am honored to review The Happiness of Pursuit by Chris Guillebeau

Adventure is for Archaeologists 1

For those that know me personally, my life has been falling apart for the last few weeks. If I didn’t know I lived a charmed life, I’d think my life sucked. But, I know all obstacles are challenges and I haven’t been dealt a hand that I can’t win the […]


9 things cultural resource management archaeologists and the homeless have in common

Lots. When we first met, my wife was appalled by my lifestyle as a weekend-warrior archaeological technician and graduate student. I worked Friday through Sunday as a tech for the state transportation department and Monday through Thursday as a TA for the University of Idaho. I used to carpool with […]

What do cultural resource management archaeologists have in common with homeless people?

The fight for historic preservation creates livable cities

Fighting the fight for Historic Preservation

“Next week, next month, or next year we may have an opportunity to enlighten those groups [business interests and elected officials] on the cultural, social, and aesthetic importance of preservation. But if we want that historic building saved today, we had better be prepared with economic arguments.” Donovan D. Rypkema, […]