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That whole "archaeologists only dig for treasure" myth needs to stop
I was at a family dinner last week and my cousin asked if I'd found any gold lately. I've spent six summers in the Southwest digging through midden piles and counting broken pottery sherds. People see Indiana Jones and think we're all out there hunting for shiny objects. The real work is about understanding how people lived, not what they left behind that looks valuable. Has anyone else dealt with this misconception at a party or gathering?
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christopher_sullivan23d ago
Gotta admit I used to think pretty similar to your cousin. Before I got into local history stuff I figured archaeology was just digging up gold and gems and cool weapons. Then I volunteered on a dig at a old farm site and spent three days in the dirt finding nothing but rusted nails and broken clay pipes. The lead archaeologist got super excited about a single button we found. She explained how it told her where the family bought their clothes and how much money they had. That moment kind of changed everything for me. Now I get annoyed when people ask if I've found any treasure. The real treasure is understanding how regular people lived their lives.
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logan20523d ago
Three summers digging and my most exciting find was a rusty harmonica. @christopher_sullivan gets it.
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