Hello Histarchers:

I've also been busy writing an intro (or a re-intro as I have been here for
what seems years), but I found that it read more like a biography than the
simple howdy-do that is necessary.  I'll save the detailed long winded
piece for my web site ...

I'm formerly from upstate NY (finger lakes region!) and now in Richmond,
VA, working as the Assistant Director of the Chesterfield Historical
Society.  I've been doing archaeological work since I was but a wee child
and although starting in the ranks of a collector I found there was much
more to it than just accumulating stuff.

As is typical for most of us in the field I have wavered about in my
employment, often leaving the field, but it seems that I somehow manage to
return.  I'm as much a prehistorian (Iroquois) as I am an historical
archaeologist and research historian.  For a while when applying for work I
would get turned down by one place as they were not looking for a
prehistorian and then turned down by another as they were not looking for
an historian!  "but, but but ..."  I often ended up peripherally using my
skills in other fields, such as teaching and construction, and I have a
nice little study of this buried in the list archives:
http://lists.asu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0102&L=histarch&P=R18403&I=-3

which received some nice praise:
http://lists.asu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0102&L=histarch&P=R25820&I=-3

(please note that the mentioned job as a jewelry designer fell through
shortly thereafter and I ended up doing a stint as an unskilled laborer on
a large highway project where I earned more than I did as an archaeologist!)

I have always woven history and archaeology together, and in fact my
Masters degree (actually two full-credit degrees melded together) are in
Archaeology and Public History.  My employment has been as varied as
snowflakes, but generally in the history / museum / archaeology
field.  When unable to find work in my chosen profession I have turned to
working in libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and even in
the harried and exhausting construction business.  (I think that all
archaeologists should be forced to work one year in construction so they
learn what real work is).

I started my working days at Lorenzo State Historic Site in my home town of
Cazenovia (Lorenzo is the crown Jewel of New York State's historic sites,
if you were to ask me) and was there for nearly a decade.  I've worked at a
dozen or so CRM firms in NY, Maryland and here in VA.  Internships and
school projects included worked under the eye of Sue Bamann and the
graduate students at SUNY Albany, Phil Lord and Craig Williams at the New
York State Museum, David Starbuck at Rogers Island and Mt. Independence.  I
finally landed for a time at the Public Archaeology Facility at Binghamton
where I was a Project Director.  My outdated biography, resume and
curriculum vitae will fill in the details:
http://www.erols.com/weiskotten/bio.html
http://www.erols.com/weiskotten/WeiskottenResume.html
http://www.erols.com/weiskotten/dansvita.html

When I haven't been working in archaeology I've been doing history.  Even
when I worked for a year as a teacher (the "Environmental Specialist") at
the Children's Museum of Richmond, I somehow managed to work the past,
cultures, and human behavior into all of my programs.  I even worked with a
general contractor years ago but he specialized in historic house
renovation and restoration and we served together on the local preservation
committee!

I think the only time I've done anything that didn't involve history or
archaeology was when I was between jobs and took a stint as an unskilled
laborer on an overpass project on I 95 outside Richmond.  At age 40 I was
working hard than I had in my life and making more than I ever did as an
archaeologist.

Everyone that I meet and work with tell me that they are fascinated and
jealous of what I've been involved with throughout my life.  Perhaps that's
why I always seem to return to the field.  My latest job involves
overseeing the interpretation and care of three historic buildings and a
museum, doing my own research on the community, teaching the volunteers and
visitors, writing local history vignettes, and, although my skills as an
archaeologist were barely noted in applying for and getting my job I'm in
the middle of a fascinating excavation of a series of late-18th to late19th
century prison and debtor's jails!

But, I am presently nearly in tears because my back is acting up on me
again and it is finally decent digging weather!  I must move on and stare
at the TV while my meds kick in and my spine works at getting better.

        Dan W.

        Oh, I do local history too:
        http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyccazen/