WILL THE REAL PREHISTORIANS PLEASE STAND UP.

If it makes no sense to excavate a site from the 1930s why does it make sense
to excavate one from 1830 or even 1730? This is the same old argument
used against historical archaeology since the 1930s (ironicially) when many
believed Jamestown was a "too recent site" to be wasting resources on.

The 'Archaeology of the 20th Century' is an exciting and new area for a
complete historical archaeology and we can certainly learn much by combining
archaeology, documentary and oral (while they are still alive) sources to
explore the last century.

I think the Sagebrush Consultants project is not only valid (although it will
certainly involve questions of sampling) but I for one would love to have a
copy of any preliminary or final report. Indeed, what will archaeology tell
us about Salt Lake City during the Great Depression. Dig on Mike and save a
report copy for me.

As far as wasting federal tax monies, if that is your real concern, quit
archaeology. American society, or any other, does not need archaeology to
survive so in some absolute sense all of our profession is a waste of tax
money as is most of social science and historical scholarship, not to mention
the humanities. Just ask the business community, the central
administrators of many universites and, unfortuantely, many politicans.

I think most people like archaeology because it is fascinating and adds
something to their lives. Within that context a historical archaeological
investigation of the Great Depression era would be quite interesting to
the general public as well as to scholars in several fields.

Historical Archaeology will expand in the near future to include not only
the archaeology of the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centures but also
the 20th Century. As an unidentified Frenchman during World War I yelled out
from the crowd when General Pershing said 'Lafayette We Have Come' ----
"It's About Time!"

                                        Bob Schuyler