Why Antiracism Training is Necessary for Archaeology
American archaeology has roots in American racism. Attending an antiracism training as an archaeologist is the start towards addressing this reality.
Job Tips
Eating well as an archaeological field technician 1
Field techs are the foundation of CRM archaeology. They are eager, excited, and essential but grossly underpaid. A dollar saved is worth more than a dollar earned which is why it’s critical field techs save their perdiem and food allowance. While there are some financially frivolous archaeologists who spend all […]
What undergraduate archaeology students can expect in college
Transitioning from cultural resource management (CRM) archaeology to academia has not been as easy for me as I’d already spent a decade doing CRM before getting hired by a university. This means I’d already gotten used to the rough and tumble world of contract archaeology—going to the field at the […]
Airbnb vs Hotel for Archaeology fieldwork: Advantages and Drawbacks
After long days conducting archaeological fieldwork, I have taken shelter in a range of different forms of lodging ranging from tents to multi-room suites (FYI: I think tents are great for camping but not for work. Knowing you have to work the next day spoils the novelty of sleeping in […]
Ultimate Tips for Archaeology Blogging, Part 1
Recently, I encouraged cultural resource management archaeologists start blogging as a means of reaching out to archaeology students and sharing their experiences as professionals. I believe outreach this is the best way we can shorten the learning curve for aspiring archaeologists who are currently in college. Other CRMers also felt […]
What would archaeology look like if it were easy?
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 […]
Should archaeology jobs should happen before college? 1
In 2014, I attended a workshop at the Society for American Archaeology conference in Austin that focused on building a career in archaeology. The workshop was taught by Carol Ellick and Joe Watkins, who are also the authors of the powerful book The Anthropology Graduate Student’s Guide: From Student to […]
#metoo in cultural resource management archaeology 3
I am one of the millions of American men who were shocked to discover that every single woman I know has been a victim of sexual harassment. Not just some of the women I know. All of them. As a father, brother, son, and husband, this realization hit me with […]
Is cultural resource management a BS job? 2
Anybody else hate meetings that don’t result in any action steps? Typically, these meetings are a waste of time because nothing results from them. I’m not the only one: They’re even more soul-sucking than you ever imagined They kill productivity. Three-fourths of employees under 60-years-old hates them. As a cultural […]
CRM companies: Why not post your starting salaries?
We’re all familiar with archaeology job posting and their biggest shortcoming. A company is looking for some field techs, so they write up a job posting for archaeologyfieldwork.com or shovelbums.org. They’re looking for a good candidate so they start with what they want from us: A Bachelor’s degree, an “accredited” […]