I trust archaeological data a LOT more than many classes of
> historical data. SMOKE that is probably because you are dealing with the
archaeological data yourself and are more expert in it. I can think of
endless cases of misinterpreted arcaheological data, - one of the commonest
is not allowing for destruction of evidence or people inventing kilns from 1
sherd of distorted pot. The commonest misuse of historical data is probably
not to read and understand documents in their entirity but to pull sentences
out of context. I can think of a few archaeologists who have misread
documents. One amateur archaeologist wrote an entire book chapter based on
a misreading of street name and a famous British archaeologist's misreading
of a medieval latin document had me searching for days for a windmill
rebuilt with elm trees- in fact its sails had beene repaired with so many
ells of cloth. Of course professional historians get it wrong also- thank
goodness or it all have been said a hundred years ago. I won't bore you with
a long list of archaeological excvations whose interpretation would be
radically different had I not had inspired thoughts based on the documentary
evidence. However, in my experience of several decades working on both
arcahaeology and documents- the score is even on misinterpretation.
paul courtney
historical archaeologist and/or archaeological historian
Leicester UK
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Pfeiffer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2004 2:25 PM
Subject: Re: Just the facts, ma'am
> I also finish graduate school over 20 years ago. My Major Professor (Rick
> Sprague) encouraged all of the grad student considering Historical
> Archaeology to take history courses, particularly "Method and Theory in
> History". The history department at the Univ. of Odaho back then welcomed
> all students interested in the subject.
>
> Take a course like that and you will see how SLANTED the historical record
> can be! I trust archaeological data a LOT more than many classes of
> historical data.
>
> Smoke
>
>
> Smoke (Michael A.) Pfeiffer, RPA
> Ozark-St. Francis National Forests
> 605 West Main Street
> Russellville, Arkansas 72801
> (479) 968-2354 Ext. 233
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
> It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.
>
>
>
>
> Carl Barna
> <[log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask]
> gov> cc:
> Sent by: Subject: Re: Just the
facts, ma'am
> HISTORICAL
> ARCHAEOLOGY
> <[log in to unmask]
> u>
>
>
> 03/12/2004 02:36
> PM
> Please respond
> to HISTORICAL
> ARCHAEOLOGY
>
>
>
>
>
>
> HI --
>
> Well, I am glad to hear that we may be seeing a sea change in the training
> of HAs. I think its overdue, but still encouraging.
>
> But on the darker sider, I continue to remain shocked and dismayed at how
> many newly crowned PhDs I meet at SHA meetings who tell me, upon my
> questioning them, that they'd had no training in or exposure to history
at
> the college level - nor was it required in their HA program - and yet
they
> call themselves Historical Archaeologists.
>
> One small step and hurrah for personal initiative!
>
> Carl Barna
> Regional Historian
> BLM Colorado State Office
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I was trained in the traditional anthropology route common in the US. As
I
> was specializing in historical archaeology, I assumed that I would be
> taking courses in history and geography. Not only did I not meet with any
> resistance from my faculty committee, they were laboring under the same
> expectations as I, so I found courses from these disciplines readily
became
> a part of my program. Also, the faculty in history and geography in whose
> classes I enrolled, were uniformly welcoming, even though I was not in
> their own graduate program. Now I finished graduate coursework just over
> 20 years ago, so maybe the world of graduate studies has changed.
>
> Tom Langhorne
>
>
>
> >To respond to Carl's comment: While the archaeology departments may not
> >list history classes in their catalogs, it's my experience from talking
to
> >the new generation of historical archaeologists that most of us who have
> >chosen to get our degree in an archaeology department that do not
> specialize
> >in historical archaeology have taken all of their electives and
additional
> >classes in history. I don't think the problem is the education that the
> >students are getting. I think it's academia. I know many historians who
> >have to battle their professors to take archaeology classes and although,
> as
> >I said above, many of us historical archaeologists have a lot of training
> in
> >history, it is by our own initiative and sometimes tenacity that this is
> so.
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carl
> >Barna
> >Sent: Friday, March 12, 2004 6:49 AM
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Just the facts, ma'am
> >
> >Adrain --
> >
> >A perfect example of why students in Historical Archaeology need to be
> also
> >trained in History, not currently the situation in US anthro-oriented
grad
> >school HA programs.
> >
> >Carl Barna
> >Regional Historian
> >BLM Colorado State Office
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > praetzellis
> > <[log in to unmask] To:
[log in to unmask]
> > ET> cc:
> > SCHAEOLOGY <HIOGY Subject: Just the facts,
> >ma'am
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >"If you provide a research design that. explains why archaeological data
> >are better than archival or historic sources for studying these
questions,
> >the THC will support it."
> >
> >Barile continues.
> >
> >".this statement re-emphasized the tendency to separate archaeology from
> >the cohesive study of all historic cultural resources, including
> >architecture, archival research, and oral history."
> >
> >
> >Adrian Praetzellis
> >Sonoma State University
>
> W. Thomas Langhorne, Jr., Ph.D. [log in to unmask]
> Pre-Health Professions Advisor (phone) 607-777-6305
> Adjunct Assistant Professor-Anthropology (fax) 607-777-2721
> Binghamton University
> P.O. Box 6000
> Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
> http://harpur-advising.binghamton.edu/prehealth
>
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