I work with historians all the time on CRM projects in Australia. There are
also times when I do both the history and the archaeology. The history
always informs the archaeology and the archaeology the history, particularly
in the area of cultural significance but also in the areas of what do we
know happened on site and what else is the archaeology telling us. After
all, I am an historical archaeologist.

Gaye

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jason
Schmerer
Sent: Saturday, 7 March 2009 6:58 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: History and Archaeology Blurring the lines

I am not sure if this is for this list(s) or not but here goes anything.

I have been doing quite a bit of research lately about the Spanish period in
East Florida and the colonial period archaeology and in history books for
the NE FL and SE GA area.  I am though a archaeologist at heart and will
forever be.  It seems that history and archaeology can go hand in hand but
to no avail, so it seems in academia, that historians and archeologist do
not like one another.  Lately it seems that history and archaeology are
coming together and feeding off one another which is something that we as
archaeologists and historians must do to continue our research, right?  If I
am wrong then what will happen to the all the artifacts.  Archaeologist dig
up the artifacts, sorry for saying that in a terrible way, but it is true
and historians work on the written record, right, and help the archaeologist
interpret the dug up artifacts?  So what is wrong with academia coming
together, as in the CRM field where archaeologist and historians work hand
in hand.  I would gladly work with a historian and I am planning on getting
a MA in History soon and a PhD in Archaeology, with all do hope.  I see in
academia just by reading the posts and talking with people that the new
archaeologist and historians are coming together as a team to work on a site
or historical research topic of interest.  Would it not be fascinating to
find a archaeologist and historian to work together to find a great site of
interest, for instance Fort Caroline.

On another note what about forming a new new sub-field of archaeology or
history that deals with just this issue of blurring the lines between
history, archaeology or even add in sociology and cultural anthropology.
Why cannot we have a system that brings these fields/sub-fields together
and, again forms a new history or archaeology of the 21st Century?  If there
is a academic system that this exists in let me know.

If I am wrong and maybe a lot naive in my comments that archaeologists and
historians do not work together, especially in academia, please let me know.
I fully admit and could very well be wrong in all of this.

I will look forward to the comments.

Jason Schmerer