An extra cents worth:)

Ron is right, that is a pretty big assumption, but here in Tennessee the
state patterns its definition of "archaeologist" after the Fed standards and
then takes exception by adding a clause that sufficient practical experience
can be substituted for academics on a project by project basis at the
discretion of the Division of Archaeology.  One of the problems as Ron sorta
mentions, is that some state agencies often try to hold contractors to
academic levels they can't stand up to themselves, creating a double
standard and a situation they'll usually back down from unless supported by
state attorneys.  Tennessee is also a "right-to-work" state and does not
officially support or recognize RPA membership.
In effect, the definition of archaeologist gets watered down.  And, state
standards only apply to state lands so just about anyone can operate on
private property.

I also have horror stories of persons with masters and PhD's coming into CRM
and leaving large messes for someone to clean up, usually ghost write.
Fortunately, their ineptitude  is usually found out in the first few
projects, if not in the field then inevitably in the reporting phase:)

Dan Allen


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron May" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 3:47 AM
Subject: Re: definition of an 'archaeologist' ?


> Dan,
>
> Now that is a pretty big assumption, given that more than 90% of the
> United
> States is not federal land. Most states define minimum levels for hiring
> archaeologists and many local agencies set standards as well. Out here in
> California, consultants hire freshmen and sophmores in college to conduct
> archaeology
> field monitoring, work as field technicians, supervise pit crews and field
> survey, analyze artifacts and even write portions of reports. People with
> degrees
> of any level find work and most can advance through the ranks, even if
> they
> lack a M.A. or Ph.D. And, I might add, federal employees are placed in
> high level
> resource management positions with B.A. degrees or even in fields totally
> un-related (one guy I knew measured primate hair for his M.A. thesis and
> only had
> one archaeology theory class). Many agencies accept just about any Ph.D.,
> even a guy who specialized in Tibetan cultural anthropology. As well,
> there are
> plenty of practitioners with M.A. or Ph.D. level coursework who did not
> get the
> degrees and can do fine work. On the other hand, I have read absolute
> trash
> written by Ph.D. archaeologists simply because they are too jaded or no
> longer
> care about what they do anymore. Or worse, a Ph.D. who will sell
> archaeological sites cheaply. Sure, the Secretary of the Interior sets
> standards for
> practitioners with M.A., but almost all federal agency personnel offices
> will tell
> you that other factors can substitute. Most agencies in California require
> the
> practitioner to be a RPA and then feel they can always file a grievance
> with
> RPA if violations occurr. But man, out here in the Far Southwest, there is
> a
> lot of territory not regulated by federal agencies where an archaeologist
> can
> call home.
>
> Ron May
> Legacy 106, Inc.
>