While I agree with Carl that most historical archaeologists have very
little idea how to do archival research the way that historians do, I
have to second Mary Beaudry's comments by taking exception with the idea
that historians are "well grounded . . . in material culture analysis." 
Having had extensive involvement with the history departments at two
well-regarded universities (Maryland and Michigan), my experience is
that historians generally (with the few exceptions of historians who
actually specialize in material culture analysis) neither know much
about material culture, nor think it is at all relevant to what they do.
 And many US historians in particular are not at all open-minded about
considering things from an anthropological or theoretical, rather than
purely historical, perspective.

Bob

Robert C. Chidester
Doctoral Program in Anthropology and History,
University of Michigan
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Department of Anthropology,
University of Maryland
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Obviously -

Real Historical Archaeology should be centered in History Departments,
where students are as well grounded in documentary analysis as they are
in
material culture analysis, and can become equally capable of exploiting
the
strengths of each method in their investigations.

Carl Barna
Lakewood, CO