The CRM Archaeology Podcast

October 1st was a watershed moment for CRM and with it came questions as to its future, the role of private equity and the conglomeration of CRM companies. In this episode, the hosts discuss what may have lead to the dissolution of Chronicle Heritage, the immediate aftermath, lessons learned and how to protect yourself. Finally, the hosts would like to express our support for all affected. Transcr...

A job worth doing is worth doing right, as the old adage says. But what does that mean, really? Who defines what makes a a job worth doing? Is it only a worthy job that should be done right? The hosts discuss all these existential questions AND how an archaeologist’s response to such questions can impact their career. Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.c...

In today’s episode, the crew discusses some of the misconceptions surrounding CRM and academia. Rather than viewing them as two separate worlds, working together and learning from both sides would be the most ideal approach for archaeology as a whole. Links Transformation of social networks in the late pre-Hispanic US Southwest cyberSW Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode go to https:...

Description: In this episode, Heather, Andrew, and Bill talk about how archaeologists can use their skills to help communities conserve the sites they value. From networking with archivists to becoming a historical recreationist, the show hosts discuss ways archaeologists can connect with history in fun, fruitful ways. So grab your faux fur viking hat, your drinking horn, sit back and listen to ho...

This episode continues the ongoing discussion about the challenges and changes currently affecting cultural resource management (CRM). We take a closer look at what is happening within the field, what these changes could mean for cultural resources and historic preservation, and, most importantly, what we can do about it. Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodn...

Can what we face as a discipline now be an opportunity for reflection and growth that leads to a transformation? Could this period lead to a revolution of understanding? There are a lot of opinions, information, interpretations, and assumptions swirling but above all, the most effective and impactful strategy is a measured mission of action based on facts unencumbered by the emotions of the moment...

Managing Expectations: Career growth is often misunderstood. Is it your manager's job to develop your career, or is it ultimately your responsibility? What is the balance in the investments both make? How does this play out as you progress in your career? In this episode, we discuss the balance between what you should expect from your employer and what you need to own yourself. Transcripts For rou...

Today we discuss tips and tricks for work travel in CRM archaeology, specifically how to fly the friendly skies like a pro! We also argue about whether or not you should attempt to get work done while flying. Special bonus: you may think First Class is too expensive (and it often is), but sometimes it’s actually not that bad! Beware - once you go First Class, you ain’t going back… Transcripts For...

What happens when disasters strike during archaeology projects? Today’s episode discusses what happens when archaeological sites are inadvertently found during projects. What do you do when you’re the monitor and they find a site in your project? What about when they find a burial??!? Listen to the end to learn how you can prepare yourself for when an inadvertent discovery happens on your project....

This week Heather and Andrew discuss their favorite skillsets for archaeologists to get to make themselves desirable when hiring gets thin. Be the last laid off and the first hired back, or maybe even don’t get laid off in the first place! Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/crmarchpodcast/333 Blogs and Resources: Bill White: Succinct Research Doug Ro...

Today the show asks the question: Does CRM need universities to train the next generation of archaeologists? While we’ve talked about the deficiencies in university training for archaeologists, a new movement among CRM companies and industry leaders is trying to figure out if the industry can bypass universities and just provide training all on its own. Even though this show is hosted by two profe...

Let’s take a moment to enjoy our many failures! Today the hosts talk about major career failures, what it taught them, and where they ended up afterwards. If you think we have all been successful all of the time, you’d be wrong! Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/crmarchpodcast/331 Blogs and Resources: Bill White: Succinct Research Doug Rocks-MacQuee...

While some i.e. the current administration in America, aim to be fossil fools and bury their head in the sand, to the coming transition away from fossil fuels, others are embracing the change. The crew discusses what the coming electrification of archaeology will look like and what to expect. Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/crmarchpodcast/330 Blog...

This episode focuses on the Airlie House 2.0 movement and their efforts to improve the future of CRM archaeology. Expanding upon the first Airlie House Report, the current members of this ad hoc group of CRMers, professors, SHPO and THPO staff, and agency archaeologists is tackling complex issues like the shortage of CRM archaeologists, creative mitigation, tribal consultation, and community engag...

For decades, Monte Verde in southern Chile has been one of the most famous archaeological sites in the Americas. The site was widely accepted as 14,500 years old, making it one of the strongest pieces of evidence for human presence in the Americas before Clovis. But what if that interpretation was wrong? In this special episode, I sit down with Dr. Todd Surovell, professor of anthropology at the U...

The hosts consider the positives in the current state of CRM and academic archaeology. As anthropologists we are especially conscious of how society impacts our discipline and at times can trend towards the negative and get mired in the fear of what lays ahead. In this episode, we discuss how any challenge can be used for opportunity and how change and progress is best effectuated through a positi...

The hosts discuss the use of technology in archaeology and the importance of using it appropriately. While our discipline will never escape the shovel and trowel - would we ever want it to? - there are tremendous tools that have been added to our proverbial tool chest over the years. However, just because these tools exist does not mean they are always useful. Employment of technology should be th...

The hosts discuss Jose Leonardo Santos’s article on negative public attitudes toward anthropology and the claim that the discipline is struggling, including department closures and doubts about career outcomes. They argue the article mostly compiles familiar viewpoints without enough outside perspectives or practical solutions, and debate whether anthropology and higher education are truly in cris...

In this episode, the hosts discuss the latest U.S. News & World Report university rankings and question their relevance to archaeology and cultural resource management (CRM). They argue that Ivy League prestige and rankings have little to no impact on hiring or success in archaeology, emphasizing that program quality, practical skills, and experience matter far more than a school’s name. The panel...

In this episode, Heather, Andrew, and Bill share the moments—both as students and professionals—when they realized they were truly archaeologists. Through personal stories from field school, CRM work, and teaching, they explore how confidence, passion, and identity develop over time. The discussion highlights that archaeology is more than excavation, emphasizing problem-solving, people skills, and...

While the APN takes a break this holiday season we’re using this opportunity to present you with other great content on the network. Please enjoy this episode of the Rock Art Podcast. In this episode, Dr. Alan Garfinkel speaks with Dr Damien Finch from the University of Melbourne about Kimberly Rock Art and his work on the application of radiocarbon dating to determine the age of rock art. They di...

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover is joined by Dr. Madeline Mackie, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Michigan State University, to explore the archaeology of mammoth kill sites in the Northwest Plains. Dr. Mackie walks us through what makes a site a “kill site” and how archaeologists determine whether mammoths were hunted by humans or di...

Episode 323 is our Christmas Episode!! This week, our show hosts discuss their favorite archaeology field gear in hopes that they will get these items for Christmas. There’s dream items for every price point-- Including if money was no object. Listen to hear what archaeologists dream they’d find under the Christmas tree this year. Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www...

Then we discuss the recent Section 106 hearing held on October 29, 2025 by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Full Committee Hearing to Examine the Section 106 Consultation Process Under the National Historic Preservation Act The show hosts discuss a must-see senate hearing that reveals much about the Section 106 process, how clear communication can improve things, and that legi...

On today’s podcast, we talk about the ongoing Federal government shutdown and its impacts on CRM and academia. We discuss the complications that arise when government contracts with universities have no federal administrators, the effects of furloughs on CRM compliance work, and how you can help the furloughed federal archaeologists. Despite the adverse effects, there is the potential for a backlo...