There is nothing wrong with being an auctioneer 
in Historic Americana as long as the "Americana" 
has not been dug up. I do wonder, however, if 
once again a prehistorian would consider a site 
from the 1890s to be so recent that it is not 
really archaeological. It will be interesting to 
see if this is a factor. "History Detectives" is 
connected to some of my colleagues at Penn, who I 
do not personally know, and when I did watch it 
in the past I was always bothered about how 
successfully they figured everything out. Perhaps 
a bit too successful. Perhaps the person who 
started this discussion should try to get 
"History Detectives" to change the planned show 
into a demonstration of the fact that historical 
archaeologists now study both the 19th and 20th 
centuries, as well as the colonial period, with 
success. They could discover the archaeology of the recent past. Just an idea.

Bob Schuyler

At 09:58 AM 3/11/2010, you wrote:
>Regardless of how many may feel about Wes' 
>business (he is an auctioneer in Historic 
>Americana)he was an excellent archaeologist both 
>in the field and in the office.  Unlike most in 
>his business he brings an anthropological perspective to what he does.
>
>Bob Genheimer, RPA
>George Rieveschl Curator of Archaeology
>Cincinnati Museum Center
>1301 Western Avenue
>Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
>513-455-7161 office
>513-846-4898 mobile
>513-455-7169 fax
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
>O'Malley, Nancy
>Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 9:15 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: query re "History Detectives" TV show
>
>
>Just for the record, Wes Cowan has a Ph.D in 
>prehistoric archaeology with a specialty in 
>paleobotany from the University of Michigan.
>
>
>Nancy O'Malley
>Assistant Director
>William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology and
>Office of State Archaeology
>1020A Export Street
>University of Kentucky
>Lexington, Kentucky 40506
>Ph. 859-257-1944
>FAX: 859-323-1968
>________________________________________
>From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [[log in to unmask]] 
>On Behalf Of Davis, Daniel (KYTC) [[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 9:10 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: query re "History Detectives" TV show
>
>Not sure of the background of the other folks on 
>the show, but Wes Cowan was once a practicing 
>archaeologist in Kentucky. He did some 
>interesting work with paleobotanical remains and 
>was an editor, along with Patty Jo Watson, for 
>the "Origins of Agriculture: An International 
>Perspective" book. Like many other people who 
>once actively plied the trade of archaeology, he 
>found the grass to be greener somewhere else.
>
>Daniel B. Davis
>Archaeologist Coordinator
>Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
>Division of Environmental Analysis
>200 Mero Street
>Frankfort, KY 40622
>(502) 564-7250
>-----Original Message-----
>From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY 
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rebecca S. Graff
>Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 9:20 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: query re "History Detectives" TV show
>
>Hi Andy and Histarchers,
>
>With regard to your comments, I want to take a moment to
>clarify my point from my earlier email regarding the History
>Detectives.
>
>I am aware that there are often competing interests between
>academic archaeological projects and "infotainment"-type
>television programs.  I have been involved with the local and
>national media in the past, and am working with a private
>documentary group right now.  Certainly, these programs do
>much to promote archaeology to the general public, and the
>relationship between archaeologists and this sort of
>educational programming can be mutually beneficial (like Time
>Team America).
>
>In this particular instance, I was trying to make sure that
>the television producers did not do something illegal, or
>inadvertently promote illegal and destructive activity that
>would compromise the archaeological materials at the site for
>everyone--academics, crm firms, and the interested public alike.
>
>Sincerely,
>Rebecca
>
>
>---- Original message ----
> >Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:01:44 -0800
> >From: "Andrew W. Hall" <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Re: query re "History Detectives" TV show
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >
> >Rebecca S. Graff wrote:
> >
> >> This is a very timely email for me, since I was just
> >> contacted by a producer with the History Detectives in
> >> regard to the site of  my dissertation research
> >> —Chicago’s Jackson Park.  She wanted me to identify
> >> some items in their possession—artifacts that two
> >> boys dug up from the park in the 1980s—because
> >> they are doing a show about the architecture of the
> >> 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition (which took place
> >> there).  . . .
> >
> >The handful of episodes I've seen have been heavy on
>interviews/interpretations/valuations done by private
>collectors, appraisers and auctioneers, rather than by people
>on the (for lack of a better term) "non-profit" side --
>academics, librarians, archivists. Always keep in mind that
>they're producing a show that has to attract viewers, and they
>will almost invariably go with the source that gives the most
>dramatic interpretation/analysis/revelation on camera, whether
>or not that person has much in the way of credentials,
>academic or otherwise.
> >
> >> I have not received any further contact from the History
>Detectives.
> >
> >No sh1t. You just told them (correctly) that their
>clients/subjects are looters. That messes up their script
>something awful. ;-P
> >
> >Andy Hall
>---------------------------
>Rebecca S. Graff
>PhD Candidate
>Department of Anthropology
>University of Chicago
>1126 East 59th Street
>Chicago, IL 60637
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>Our latest exhibit, GOLD, will take you from the 
>fires of the earth to the rings on our fingers. 
>Come see what it's all about. Also, showing in 
>the OMNIMAX, see Under the Sea. No snorkel or fins required!