[OR_Archaeology] archaeology under attack

[CURTIS Gary]

Thanks Le, an important message that we all need to take seriously, even those of us who are nearing the end of our careers or are retired.

I too have had numerous encounters with folks who have stated that they wished they had pursued a career in archaeology.  When they learn

I'm an archaeologist they are fascinated  & captivated by what it is they "think I do".  Inevitably they are unable to restrain themselves from

asking  a variety of questions or sharing with me their own personal stories about "archaeological finds" and/or adventures.



I think we have a pretty strong fan base of support 'out there', a base that finds our field of scientific enquiry fascinating.  Harnessing that support

is more important now under the current administration than ever before.  We need to unify our collective archaeological membership and reach out

to the public at large to educate and encourage their support in protecting and preservation our cultural heritage before the laws change & it is gone!



Gary



Gary A. Curtis MAIS, RPA

DSL Statewide Archaeologist

Oregon Dept. of State Lands

1645 NE Forbes Road, Ste 112

Bend, Oregon   97701

Office: (541) 388-6204

gary.curtis at state.or.us<mailto:gary.curtis at state.or.us>

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-----Original Message-----
From: OR_Archaeology [mailto:or_archaeology-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Leland Gilsen
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2017 8:16 AM
To: archaeology listserve
Subject: [OR_Archaeology] archaeology under attack



Interesting article under this title in the current issue of AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY (quarterly publication of the Archaeological Conservancy) that is worth a read... and more, worth some hard consideration for coordinated and active outreach to the public community. When I was doing public outreach with my traveling museum I received many many comments from people who had a past (romantic) wish they had been archaeologists. Probably mostly due to motion pictures or TV (mostly unfortunately bad shows) but the sort of romantic exotic idea still part of their psyche. I only had positive comments when I was out there.



Anyway, if archaeologists want to keep their careers in the long run, it is looking like they need to sell themselves in the short run.  The elimination of laws and rules that slow down or modify unlimited development is the short term strategy of the current political environment should have been a predicted outcome of the simple fact that this country with at one time about 20% of the world population was getting 80% of the world raw resources.  In the push to develop the rest of the world, and with population growth,  their economies now need those raw resources so this country is steadily getting lower percentages of the world pie. The short term strategy: remove any local restrictions an increase exploitation of what we do have, at the cost of environmental (physical, biotic and cultural) resources.



You need to salvage what you can by a proactive strategy pushing benefits.



End of my soap box.



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