Indiana Jones: Myth, Reality And 21st Century Archaeology

Career paths in all professions reflect adjustments to changing times and conditions. Archaeology is no different. In this episode we look at how archaeological training and vocational directions have shifted in a world centered on practical adaptation. Two synchronous trends in the archaeological career pathway are explored. First, specialization is now pivotal to career advancement. For archaeologists specialization is not so much regional as it is methodological. In other words, certain technical skills are in growing demand for archaeological employment. Second, venues for practicing archaeology have shifted from the academic to the applied stage, as preservation planning, heritage management, and government regulation afford greater employment opportunities. Our guest, Dr. Curt Larsen, combined a specialty in geoarchaeology across an evolving employment landscape to fashion a distinguished career. He chronicles his own professional history as a sign of the times.