History and Archaeology Bulletin Board	2000

Great Divide between Archaeologists and Historians

Posted by Darrell Lewis on April 21, 2000 at 10:07:32:

I am a historian with the Alaska Office of History and
Archaeology. I work along side Archaeologists on a
daily basis and have come to appreciate and respect
their work. Historians and Archaeologists that look
down their noses at each other should spend some time
working with each other. We have come to realize that
their is a point in our study of the past where archaeology is no
longer effective in telling what happened at a
particular place and this is where the Historians step
into the picture. Historians have also realized that
past a certain point archaeology is a more effective
tool in studying a certain place. We realize this in
our office and take advantage of each others expertise.
Universities are the worst about fostering the sense of
superiority that pervades both fields. I think it is
childish and short sighted of both professions. As a
historian I know the limits of what my profession can
contribute to our understanding of ourselves and I
accept that. I would rather invite an archaeologist to
tell me what I can only hypothesize about than not know
at all. It is a diservice to those interested in our
past to do otherwise.

Back to Board