" ...the CRM industry has never been able to assimilate historians into
the largely archaeological and anthropological upper echelons of the
pecking order. "

I must protest that there are firms who manage to do so.  One advantage
of working for a small firm is that there is not a gulf separating the
archaeologists from the architectural historians.  We help each other
map out deed boundary descriptions and interpret other historic
documents, or find the next clue when a trail goes cold.

"You can't send the field crew to do the background on rainy days, but
lots and lots of firms do exactly that."

I centainly agree!  For one thing, basic reaerch should be done up
front, before the field crew is out, as well as supplemental research as
you learn more about the site and its occupants.  And more obvisously,
it does take training to know where to look and what to look for.
 Training, training training.  Most of us still get a lot of it on the
job, because we didn't get it in school - but this site has already
discussed that thread.

Meli Diamanti
Archaoelogical & Historical Consultants, Inc.
814-364-2135
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