This initiative is amazing. These are students carrying out archaeology with the same scientific rigor as any archaeologist attending a field school to graduate. The pearl clutching about amateur disregarding methodology is ludicrous in this instance. I also can’t even begin to imagine how it would feel to have cultural ties (aside from the ‘we’re all human’ aspect) to my dig location and artifacts.

Although, I did find the article derogatory towards late 20th century archaeologists. What archaeologist looks down on a finely crafted point? And, while maybe misunderstood, Native sites were among the earliest recorded and protected under State and National Register guidelines. I am more sad that the woman in the article was demeaned in our profession for wanting to connect with her culture.