Having been involved in Virginia archaeology for nearly 25 years, many
working directly with amateur archaeologists and artifact collectors, I take
offense to your arbitrarily grouping these non-professionally trained
avocationals with pothunters!  Pothunters are vandals who are only
interested in what they can gain either financially or personally!  This
diverse "grouping" is not only naïve but also offensive to many who have
contributed hundreds of hours of volunteer service, research, site location
information, etc., to help "professionals" protect significant data.  Many
amateurs and paraprofessionals in Virginia and other localities are better
trained, better read, and have a far-greater understanding of regional
research and cultural history than do many graduate school-trained
archaeologists.  This is evident in Virginia, where for many years the
leadership in archaeology was centered upon the membership of the
Archeological Society of Virginia (ASV).  As I am certain you are aware,
that group continues to provide perhaps the best outlet for research
publications.  Even the Society for Historical Archaeology recognized the
ASV's contributions by presenting to them a special award a few years ago
for its publications series!  Even with an ever-growing number of
professionals working in Virginia (see the membership list of the Council of
Virginia Archaeologists (COVA)), a system of statewide, regional
preservation offices associated with the Virginia SHPO, and many
institutions of higher learning, several of which including William and Mary
where I, too, received my post-graduate training, have outstanding graduate
programs. 

Many amateurs/paraprofessionals have left those ranks to pursue full-time
careers in archaeology.  One would simply need to examine the voluminous
archaeological publications in Virginia or attend the Annual Meetings of the
ASV, COVA, or the Virginia Academy of Sciences to figure this out.  Where
would our field of study be without the contributions of these partners?
Further, one simply needs to look at this week's TIME magazine (April 17,
2000), page 70, for an article about the Cactus Hill site in Dinwiddie
County.  This Paleoindian and pre-Paleoindian site has been the focus of
research conducted by Joe McAvoy, a retired nuclear scientist and "amateur"
archaeologist.  Certainly, we "professionals" would like this kind of
publicity of our accomplishments and research efforts!!  I don't want to
criticize your efforts, however, it seems evident that your experience with
amateur archaeologists is limited given your statement "strategies for  work
with or conversely combating/controlling amateurs."  If you still feel that
you desire to pursue this panel discussion, please redefine the topic!
Thank you.

J. Mark Wittkofski

[The comments above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
his employer.]

-----Original Message-----
From:   Charles Adkins [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Tuesday, April 11, 2000 7:12 PM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Re: SHA 2001 Pothunt panel proposal

Philip Levy <[log in to unmask]> on 04/11/2000 11:09:48 AM

Please respond to HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY <[log in to unmask]>



 To:      [log in to unmask]

 cc:      (bcc: Charles Adkins/NFO/AK/BLM/DOI)



 Subject: SHA 2001 Pothunt panel proposal




It would be nice if this would lead to a clearing house where professionals
with a job to do, and no money, could meet or
 contact amateurs, collectors, or pot hunters with time on their hands to
volunteer for a professional project.  I think everyone
could use more help on every project.  Involving volunteers with this type
of experience might help both sides of the question.




As the one who started the long lasting shape changing thread on
pothunters/collectors/amateur archaeologists, I would like to take the
discussion up a notch. I am interested in putting together a panel on the
topic for SHA 2001. Papers could look at issues in the tensions between
pros
and amateurs, strategies for work with or conversely combating/controlling
amateurs, case studies, and what ever else we can come up with. I have
already talked with some folks and there is some interest in the panel.
Anyone who would like to participate should contact me at [log in to unmask]


_____________________________________________
Philip Levy ABD
College of William and Mary, Department of History
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Department of Archaeological Research