Indiana Jones: Myth, Reality And 21st Century Archaeology

The overwhelming majority of archaeological work in the United States is performed under the umbrella of Cultural Resource Management. The term refers to the legal basis mandating historic preservation and the steps undertaken for regulatory compliance. Our program documents the emergence of compliance archaeology from the perspective of professionals who work as consultants in the private sector. We examine how private companies grew in conjunction with the florescence of the preservation ethic. Our guests are pioneers in the field, the first wave of entrepreneurs who matched their professional skills with business principles to form companies now at the forefront of the industry. We explore the industry’s early years, its direction, and why the education of future archaeologists must be oriented to conform to the needs of an increasingly commercial profession that requires business and communication skills as much as expertise in archaeology and scientific inquiry.