Following is a call for papers for an SHA 07 symposium on the topic the
relevance of archaeology to the modern world. We have already gathered a
stellar list of participants with perspectives from various government
positions, CRM, academia, and public interpretation. We are looking for a
few more presenters, particularly in the realm of archaeological legislation
and public policy, museum-related topics, and Native American
perspectives/approaches. Other innovative ideas will certainly be
considered!
Symposium description and brief bios of the organizers given below. If
you’re interested, please contact Marcy Rockman at:
[log in to unmask], by June 10.
Thank you so much,
Marcy Rockman
Joe Flatman
Contemporary Relevance of Archaeological Research II: A Reply to the SAA
A forum presented at the recent Society for American Archaeology meetings in
San Juan addressed the question of the contemporary relevance of
archaeological research, but they asked only academic archaeologists and did
not come to any firm or - to us - useful conclusions. There are so many of
us who deal with archaeology on a day-to-day basis outside of academia, and
we think those experiences and perspectives are a key part to any full
answer to the questions-- why do we do archaeology? What value does it
really have? Why should modern economies pay to learn about the past?
There are many reasons why these questions are important to the field of
archaeology as whole here and now. In some respects, protection for and
interest in cultural resources is increasing. An example is recently passed
legislation in California that requires consultation with Native Americans
at the very start of the urban planning and development process. A glance at
Yahoo! news and the television schedule shows frequently brings up a global
array of archaeological items and programs. But there are also real threats.
In the U.S., there have been serious Congressional-level efforts to reduce
the power of the National Historic Preservation Act, and globally problems
in protecting archaeological resources in areas of conflict, such as Iraq,
and ongoing trafficking in antiquities. Academic archaeology is also facing
new challenges as teachers respond to an ever-growing student need for
transferable skills such as project management, budgeting and legal skills.
And, of course, there are the perennial issues of funding in all corners. We
think that attention to modern-day relevance must be part of archaeology’s
answer to these pressures.
This session is an effort to bring together archaeologists from a wide range
of professional positions: governmental, publishing and media, cultural
resource management, public interpretation, legislative, Native
American-related, as well as academic, to consider what archaeology is
currently contributing to the modern world and how these contributions can
be improved, expanded, and added to. Topics for consideration include
research techniques, training and departmental course structures,
theoretical approaches, interpretation, and, particularly, presentation.
Contributions come not only from the questions we ask of archaeology, but
what we do with the answers we develop. Jared Diamond’s recent book
“Collapse” was discussed extensively at the SAA forum, including the fact
that it wasn’t written by an archaeologist. Why not? What can archaeology do
to have a more active voice in the interaction between our modern global
society and our environment?
Would you be interested in contributing? We are most interested in your
thoughts, experiences, and solutions. For instance, your paper might
describe who you work for, how they allocate funds for archaeology, and how
they ask you to justify your needs. Why do they do archaeology? Do you ever
have to explain why archaeology is necessary and, if so, how do you do so?
Is there information or models that you would like archaeology to have that
it does not yet provide? What happens to the archaeological work that you
do, and do you think there is more that could be done with it? Specific
project data are welcome, but not necessary.
Organizers:
Marcy Rockman, Ph.D.: Principal Archaeologist at PCR Services Corporation,
Santa Monica; UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. Research focus:
colonization and environmental information modeling (ie. “landscape
learning”), lithic sourcing, Paleolithic Britain, southern California
cultural resource management.
Joe Flatman, Ph.D.: University College London Institute of Archaeology:
Research focus: underwater archaeology, medieval maritime technology and
iconography, heritage preservation.
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