historic preservation employment


Why I wrote a book on small archaeology project management 2

“Things don’t just work out right. We have to make things work out right.” Nido Qubien I got my first job in archaeology in 2004. I was a crew chief working for the Idaho Transportation Department on a project in Lewis County, near Lenore, Idaho. Because I was a grad […]


Are cultural resource management archaeologists just like Wall Street bankers?

How to Get a Job in Archaeology, Part 2

Ever since I scored high enough on my ASVAB to qualify for military intelligence, I’ve been a fan of spy movies. I’m a really big fan of the Jason Bourne movies. I love the suspense and, second to killer fight scenes, I really love how the movies build to an […]


Workplace Safety for Archaeologists: My New Crusade 1

I was reading a post on Think Traffic by Amy Clover and realized that, unbeknownst to me, I was starting a crusade. Maybe it was hearing President Obama’s inaugural speech that inspired me to strive for more than just trying to help archeologists find jobs. I know he’s a politician, […]


Developing a Health and Safety Plan for Cultural Resources Archaeology 1

On November 21, 1968, an enormous explosion at a coal mine in West Virginia killed 78 miners. Only 21 of the 99 men working that shift at the Farmington No. 9 mine escaped with their lives. The others could not be rescued immediately because of fires that raged following the […]


These are Cultural Resources: All Souls Procession 2012 1

If you have a cultural resource management, heritage conservation, or historic preservation job, you’re probably used to doing work on cultural resources that have reached significance because of their antiquity or a special circumstance. It’s easy to forget that cultural resources are being created all the time, all around us. […]


Hazardous Material Safety at Historical Archaeology Sites 10

Last month, I was informed that I’d be running a crew that was going to excavate an archaeological feature that was believed to have been a historical forge at a mining site. This was a surprise, but, initially, I wasn’t worried. That was, until I asked about the safety plan […]


Efficient Online Historical Research 9

One rainy November morning, my office mate strolled into our office with a bold exclamation. “I found a historical trash pile.” She was beaming with happiness. “And I did it using those old maps from that website you found on the internet. Thanks.” “Which old maps website?” Now, I was […]


Archaeology Crew Chiefs are the Real X-Factor

It’s been a long time since I did my first Level of Effort estimate. In case you don’t know, a Level of Effort estimate is an educated guess on how long it will take for your co-workers or employees to accomplish a given project. It’s important for scoping a proposal […]