3 replies to this topic

[egwess]

Hi I'm currently an Archaeology Technician Intern at Joshua Tree National Park, Southern California.. I want to pursue parks archaeology and I love GIS.. and data management for archaeological sites is generally pretty wanting from what i've seen of the national parks.

Looking forward to learning a lot with Cartotalk on how to make things work well and look cool with GIS!

LIZZY

[frax]

Hi and welcome, I think you will learn loads of useful things here!

[DaveB]

That sounds like an interesting job/field (although, I wouldn't want to work in Joshua Tree in the summertime. ha ha). Welcome !

[Adam Wilbert]

Hi Lizzy,

My grandfather lives in Joshua Tree and many of my most cherished childhood memories were forged in that beautiful landscape. Summertime or not, I would take a job in Joshua Tree in a heartbeat!

I'm surprised that you mentioned that the data management program is lacking. From my extremely limited experience talking to NPS archaeologists and watching them methodically dig through and screen a patch of land up here at Ebey's Landing NHR, I got the complete opposite impression. The size of the team and attention to detail astounded me. And all of that activity was in response to someone finding a single human tooth that I would have mistaken for a pebble.

NPS (and for that matter, the SHPOs) keeps most of their archaeology info hidden from the public in an effort to protect sites and artifacts from looters. As an outsider, I've always just imagined this treasure trove of complete awesomeness that the Top Secret NPS Archaeology Data and Mapping Center must house. I picture a place like Hollywood's version of NORAD, except filled with people like me. So, please don't tell me that it doesn't exist!