Michael ,
 
I think you made a very interesting point about southern historic sites and the
lack of Ph.D. programs in the South.  After living in Alabama's black belt for
over ten years - which is unquestionably the last hold out of the Old South - I
have come to the conclusion that its a "cultural thing."  The community here
seems to have a general lack of respect for education or experience.  Family and
blood lines seems to account for just about everything.  I'm seldom asked about
my graduate degree, I'm often asked who my mamma's family was.
 
 
Elizabeth,
 
when you said:
>We are turning out degreed professionals down here.<
 
I wondered: where? And of the few that do exist how many specialize in
Archaeology?  and how well do they rank nationally?
 
I know Alabama has no PhD. program in Anthropology.  Michael, can you (or anyone
else out there) name the Anthropology PhD programs in the Deep South?  And no,
Florida doesn't count, we all know those Floridians are just relocated Yankees!
<G>   I will accept Judy Bense's Pensacola program cause its in the panhandle of
Florida and therefore can honestly claim an Old South pedigree.
 
Dr. Bense, does your program offer a Ph.D?
 
 
Furthermore, Michael,  did you know that until a recent burial bill was passed,
that Alabama's antiquity laws offered little protection except for artifacts
taken across state lines.  Perhaps this was created to protect us from
carpetbagger archaeologists from Harvard, Michigan and the American Museum of
Natural History, etc. <G>
 
Most of the above was written with tongue planted firmly in cheek, so Elizabeth
and Michael don't think I am slammin' the South or Northern universities.  I
love the South and I respect Michigan's universities.    Although that crack
about 40 year-olds as old timers really shook me up.
 
And while we're on the subject.  I have also wondered about African-American
archaeology.  Most of the movers and shakers in this specialty seem to be
clustered on the east coast especially the mid-atlantic.  Considering the vital
role the cotton belt of Mississippi and Alabama played in the expansion of
slavery, I wonder if this situation is creating a fairly skewed representation
of this "peculiar institution."
 
Linda Derry
Old Cahawba Archaeological Park
Alabama Historical Commission
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