CRM Archaeology

Grab your trowel and your tablet—because CRM archaeology isn’t just about digging holes, it’s about digging into the real-world issues that shape how we protect the past! Hosted by seasoned professionals with muddy boots and sharp minds, this podcast brings you lively discussions, field stories, expert interviews, and the occasional rant about the wild world of Cultural Resource Management. Whether you're a CRM veteran, a student, or just curious about what archaeologists actually do all day (spoiler: it’s not all Indiana Jones), this show has something for you. Tune in, geek out, and stay informed on everything from field tech life to federal regs!

PROMO - BREAKING NEWS - Monte Verde is no longer a pre-Clovis site, with Dr. Todd Surovell - Ethno 33
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

PROMO - BREAKING NEWS - Monte Verde is no longer a pre-Clovis site, with Dr. Todd Surovell - Ethno 33

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 University of Wyoming, to discuss new research that re-examines Monte Verde using modern geoarchaeological methods. The results suggest that the famous site may actually be much younger than previously believed, dating to the Holocene rather than the Ice Age.

If true, this would mean that Monte Verde is not evidence for pre-Clovis humans in South America, and it could force archaeologists to reconsider one of the most influential discoveries in American archaeology.

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Turn That Frown Upside Down - The Positives in the Current State of Archaeology - Ep 328
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Turn That Frown Upside Down - The Positives in the Current State of Archaeology - Ep 328

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 positive attitude.

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Appropriate Use of Technology in Archaeology - Ep 327
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Appropriate Use of Technology in Archaeology - Ep 327

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 thoughtfully included in work plans and archaeologists have a responsibility to understand technology’s role in our discipline to ensure it is used appropriately.

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Eliminate Anthropology - Ep 326
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Eliminate Anthropology - Ep 326

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 crisis or whether some critiques rely on weak, clickbait-style data. Much of the conversation centers on academia’s disconnect from CRM work, saying graduates often lack practical skills, critical thinking, and the ability to take feedback, leaving CRM firms to train them from scratch. They compare community college “train-to-standard” education with selective four-year programs and emphasize professional self-improvement, then invite Santos to join the podcast for a Socratic-style discussion.

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Do Unversity Rankings really matter? - Ep 325
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Do Unversity Rankings really matter? - Ep 325

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 shares examples where Ivy League graduates were not stronger candidates and notes that perceived academic “elite” advantages are often statistical noise or social bias. Overall, the episode encourages students and parents to focus on strong, field-relevant programs rather than chasing rankings or prestige.

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