The Bottom Line
Doing Archaeology is an excellent introduction to what the career of an archaeologist working in the cultural resource management field in the United States is like, in a clear, conversational, understandable, personal voice.
Pros
- Informal, clear prose
- Unique standpoint
- Specific information on careers
Cons
- Specific to the United States CRM field
Description
- King comments on many things relevant to the CRM archaeologist working in the US.
- Best definition: "Archaeology is the study of the human past, using stuff."
- Best advice: "[Learn to make] decisions about what should be saved and what can be let go"
- Jobs described: Academic, Museum, CRM, Businessperson, Bureaucrat, Shovelbum, Specialist
Guide Review - Doing Archaeology: A Cultural Resource Management Perspective
Thomas F. King. 2005. Doing Archaeology: a Cultural Resource Management Perspective. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, California. ISBN 1598740032, 143 pp. 2 appendices, notes, glossary, bibliography, index.
Tom King's latest contribution to the cultural resource management readings is an introduction, and before you roll your eyes about yet another introduction to archaeology, let me say that I do think this one is different. In Doing Archaeology, King uses a first person conversational style to bring the practice of archaeology, as it is conducted in the United States in cultural resource management, into clear light.
Chapters in this little book include discussions of why archaeologists do archaeology, principles and practices, and cultural resource laws. Most interesting, to me at any rate, was a chapter on archaeological roles, that describes different kinds of archaeologists, and provides a brief biography of individuals who have chosen that path (or had that path chosen for him or her). I like this a lot; it gives the reader an excellent idea on what a career in archaeology can be like, beyond laying out squares and walking survey.
Full Disclosure: In the nearly nine years I've been doing this site, Tom King has become a valued friend and colleague; but since that evolved from my admiration of his writing style, I have no compunction about recommending his books.
Tom King's latest contribution to the cultural resource management readings is an introduction, and before you roll your eyes about yet another introduction to archaeology, let me say that I do think this one is different. In Doing Archaeology, King uses a first person conversational style to bring the practice of archaeology, as it is conducted in the United States in cultural resource management, into clear light.
Chapters in this little book include discussions of why archaeologists do archaeology, principles and practices, and cultural resource laws. Most interesting, to me at any rate, was a chapter on archaeological roles, that describes different kinds of archaeologists, and provides a brief biography of individuals who have chosen that path (or had that path chosen for him or her). I like this a lot; it gives the reader an excellent idea on what a career in archaeology can be like, beyond laying out squares and walking survey.
Full Disclosure: In the nearly nine years I've been doing this site, Tom King has become a valued friend and colleague; but since that evolved from my admiration of his writing style, I have no compunction about recommending his books.
