Yes to both, we are getting older and the boom is over!

I'm out of work for the first time in over 20 years. I got laid off from my field director postition back in September and haven't had anything other than temp field work since. I've called everyone I know at every company and hear the same thing "we'd hire you if only we had the work". Everyone is hurting bad. I'm on a temp tech job right now and the most of the techs have their master's degrees and some their doctorate and are willing to accept a low paying tech wages just to pay the bills. I don't even know how anyone coming out college will even get a job at this time since there is so many techs and so few projects.

Believe the mainstream media at your own risk. The worst years for debt/credit overhang are 2011-2014, meaning it gets worse. Our fearless leaders are actually scared to death as they allow the bankers to steal everything. CRM may not survive this depression; other venues for archaeology may do okay.

Good luck to all.

Moorele wrote "CRM may not survive this depression; other venues for archaeology may do okay."

As someone looking to return to a career in anthro/archaeology, I would be interested in what other venues for archaeology you are referring to here.

Yazzie, I think this economic contraction will be deep enough to force draconian changes to environmental and historic preservation practices.  CRM will be thinned down to a shell of its current self.

The venues that will rebound well will be academia and locally sponsored public archaeology programs that work with volunteers and paid subscribers.

Moorele - You may have addressed my earlier post to this board titled "returning to the fold".  Regardless of the path I decide on, there won't be much in the way of financial rewards, so I will be better served following my passion (rather than a salary). 

Yazzie, certainly follow your passion or bliss as the old mythology guy used to say.

 

I use the word "venue" to mean the setting in which archaeology gets done; where one works, what are the sources of funding, is archaeology a primary, secondary, or tertiary focus. The venues are: museums, academia (usually higher education), think tank/nonprofit/research centers, and CRM.  Within CRM there are three main functions: SHPO reviewers, gov program managers and staff, and consultants. Each of these venues has had cycles of boom/bust in the history of US archaeology.

 

1.  Museum & wealthy sponsor archaeology (circa 1840s to 1920s); federal money & wealthy people sponsor museum led archaeology. (Archaeology as method of antiquarian inquiry)

 

2.  New Deal Archaeology (1929-1940); federal funding to small number of universities. Archaeology is a "work relief" (put people to work) program.

 

3.  Salvage Archaeology (1946-1984). Federal funding to large number of universities & and creation of state offices. Archaeology becomes mature profession with lofty ideals, becomes an end unto itself.

 

4.  CRM--Cultural Resource Management (1971-present); federal & state funding and supporting policies, private corporation funding, rise of consulting corporations, decline of university involvement in CRM as they refocus on "pure" research. Fragmentation: CRM Archaeology becomes cyclical business industry; universities stay lofty.

 

I think we are headed into a #5 era which may be simply called Public Archaeology, with a strong egalitarian-partnership emphasis (i.e. meritocracy is passé). It will be characterized by mostly local funding & public/private partnerships. Think of it as a Co-Operative model such as Crow Canyon, Florida's Public Archaeology network, and the volunteer programs around DC (Alexandria, Fairfax, Loundoun, Mount Vernon, George Mason park, Anne Arundel, and the NPS DC Region programs).  Historic archaeology will surpass prehistoric in popularity.

 

The hard part to grasp is the idea that federal leadership will decline. When you recognize that today's federal gov is actually insolvent and we are just pretending that there is a viable economy then it is easier to grasp that the feds will not bailout archaeology. (On a personal note, I am entrenched in the federal system and likely have to ride it as long as I can, knowing it may collapse before I can retire).  

 

Good luck

 

 

Thanks for starting this thread KB, and everyone's response, especially yours moorele.   This is important information to learn as I am considering going back to college and getting a degree in anthropology/archaeology.  In the mean time though, I am curious as to what fieldwork/labwork opportunities there may be for someone, such as I, who has yet to be trained in either.  I am mainly thinking of volunteering for fieldwork, if I can get it this summer, somewhere down here in the Southern U.S.  Is it realistic that any site manager would hire someone who has an Associates in Arts in Anthropology but has not been to field school?  I am willing to learn-on-the-job. Any suggestions?  Tips?

I was field teching in the later 90s and it seems like there were always more jobs than I could take, times are a lot more slim now.

However, I don't see CRM going away.  Our industry is primarily dependent on developers, both public and private.  If they are not developing, then there is no work.  Most of the jobs around my neck of the woods seem to be older government projects that were already funded and development jobs related to recovery act moneys.  So, private developers have cut back in light of the uncertain economy and public entities are facing huge budget deficits that won't allow them to bring aboard new projects/spending.  For CRM to go away would take a complete repeal of the NHPA, which I don't see happening.  More importantly it would also require major changes to NEPA, which as our society becomes more and more interested in preserving the environment will be difficult to get changed; regardless of who is in office.  I agree with moorele that it is probably going to get worse before it is going to get better, but I don't foresee it getting that bad.  The fact that the markets and the banks are recovering, as well as number of other industries, is a good sign that things will pick up eventually.  It may get worse for the individual, but that will come around eventually, maybe a few years.

Ngold--Volunteering is a good way to get experience and meet people who may help in your career. To find volunteer opportunities contact the state historic preservation office  for your state as they likely know who's doing what.  You said you were in the south; I am familiar with the VA, AR and FL programs and there may be several more.  Good luck.

edit: I don;t think the economic contraction is recovering. Here is a good summary from yesterday. Review the charts closely; this downturn is deeper and broader than anything since the last depression.

http://dailycapitalist.com/2010/04/12/is-the-recession-over/#more-4020

His last sentance is "I think we will see a softening of economic activity in H2." (meaning 2nd half of 2010 will be weaker than now). We are just taking a break from the carnage.

ACRA released the results of their survey of businesses regarding the economy and CRM:

http://acra-crm.org/associations/9221/files/ACRA%20Effects%20of%20the%20Economy%20Results%2C%2005-05-10.pdf