Across the Great Divide: The Relationship Between CRM and Academia In The Modern World

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Breaking Free from the (Institutional) Matrix: Archaeological Career Pathways In and Between Academia, CRM, Non-Profit, and Museum Spheres", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Authors: Mark Wagner, Ryan Campbell, Matthew Greer, Chris Stantis

Cultural Resource Management (CRM) developed as a field of practice within Anthropology in the 1960s and 1970s. Since then, “applied” archaeology has become a major field of study with archaeologists finding employment in state and federal agencies, private companies, and universities. At the same time, a divide has developed within the profession in which many universities continue to prepare students for strictly academic, rather than applied, careers. This practice has led to many graduates being unprepared for positions with agencies or private companies. We address this situation through a series of case studies s that demonstrate how compliance work can fit within the university setting and how academic research agendas can help agencies meet their compliance goals. In particular, we highlight the role Southern Illinois University’s Center for Archaeological Investigations has played in bridging the gap between CRM and academia.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Breaking Free from the (Institutional) Matrix: Archaeological Career Pathways In and Between Academia, CRM, Non-Profit, and Museum Spheres   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2025

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow