Public Archaeology Links

ARCHY 465: Public Archaeology

University of Washington—Autumn 2009

 

Course Overview

Schedule and Readings

Assignments and Due Dates

Discussion Board

Public Archaeology Links

 

 

A few selected websites (please send me links to others you know of):

 

Public archaeology

The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) is a good starting point for general archaeology info, and good CRM, education and public affairs sections, and their newsletter The Archaeological Record (formerly the SAA Bulletin) is available free on line.

 

ARCHNET has many archaeological links, including an extensive CRM website, including a very useful link to US and international laws, treaties and agencies regarding heritage protection and management.

 

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation maintains a useful website with current news on Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

 

Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THIPO’s) deal with issues somewhat different from those of State Historic Preservation Officers (SHIPO’s). They maintain this informative website and listserve.

 

The American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA) is a professional association with a useful website about CRM archaeology, including a comprehensive job listing service. They also maintain a very active list serve (called “ACRA-L”) on CRM topics.

 

The National Park Service Archaeology and Ethnography Program maintains a large and informative website, including CRM Magazine and Common Ground Magazine, available free on-line.

 

Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP), located in Olympia, is where Washington’s State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) works, and is the state authority for CRM matters. Their extensive website includes a list of CRM companies and consultants in Washington, as well as links to federal and Washington State CRM laws, forms and guidelines for site recording, excavation permits and report writing.

 

The Association for Washington Archaeology (AWA) provides regional archaeology information and publishes a journal and a newsletter.

 

Register of Professional Archaeologists is the leading organization for CRM archaeologists.

 

Repatriation and NAGPRA

The National NAGPRA Program run by the National Park Service is the central clearinghouse for policy statements, grants and other information.

 

NPS offers regular training workshops on NAGPRA.

 

CRM training

The ACHP offers a variety of short courses in CRM in different locales across the US

 

The National Preservation Institute also offers similar workshops around the US including the Puget Sound region.

 

The shovelbums.org website has lots of useful links and info, especially for entry level CRM workers

 

Field Schools

Most CRM jobs require archaeological field skills, which most students obtain through an archaeological field school. There are hundreds of field schools offered all over the world, typically in the summer months. The AIA, Archaeology Fieldwork and Shovelbums field school directories are good ways to compare different field schools. The UW will be offering a field school in the Philippines in Spring 2010 (applications due November 16, 2009). Contact me if you have questions about finding a field school.

 

Jobs

For academic job listings, the main sites for archaeology positions in the US are SAA and AAA lists. SAA also tends to list some higher level CRM positions (requiring an MA or PhD).

 

CRM jobs can be found on the Shovelbums and Archaeology Fieldwork sites (which includes international jobs). Government positions can be found on the USA Jobs website, or by searching job listings of relevant agencies (NPS, NFS, BLM, etc.). For jobs in Washington State, you can try contacting people from the list of CRM companies and consultants on the OAHP website, but unsolicited resumes often get ignored. Check other listings first.

 

Museum jobs can be found on the AAM site, as well as Global Museum.

 

Site preservation, looting, and antiquities trade

The United States Department of State is responsible for implementing the 1970 UNESCO Convention on Cultural Property. Their informative website summarizes the laws and their efforts to enforce them.

 

The Archaeological Conservancy—one way to preserve and protect archaeological sites.

 

The Museum Security Network maintains a list of links about looting and the antiquities market.

 

The Asia Society has an interesting site dealing with heritage preservation in Asia.  This site has a good list of resources re. the international scene, particularly Asia. Heritage Watch is an active NGO working to protect Cambodia’s threatened cultural heritage

 

For a depressing view into current antiquities trade, browse through eBay’s auction sites, especially the antiquities category. eBay does have policies regarding certain Native American items, including human remains and grave goods, and provides a place to report violations. See http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/artifacts.html and http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-links.html.

 

Public education

Society for American Archaeology Public Education site has information and links about public outreach and education.

 

The Community Archaeology Program at SUNY-Binghamton is a particularly good example of an outreach program.

 

Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Colorado is probably the leading US institute involving students and the public in archaeological field research.

 

Archaeology Magazine is the largest circulation general interest archaeology publication in the US. They maintain a useful list of current museum exhibits and television programming related to archaeology.

 

The Archaeology Channel is a source of archaeology-related streaming media on the web.

 

Museums

American Association of Museums (AAM) is a good place to start for museum related links, job listings and info.

 

Museum Anthropology Journal has some articles of interest for archaeologists working in museums.

Global Museum is a webzine with job listings, updated news links and an international focus.