Conservation Archaeology of the Richland/Chambers Dam and Reservoir

by L. Mark Raab; Randall W. Moir

CONSERVATION ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE RICHLAND/CHAMBERS DAM AND RESERVOIR

PRODUCED BY
Archaeology Research Program
Department of Anthropology
Southern Methodist University

WITH FUNDS PROVIDED BY
Tarrant County Water Control and
Improvement District Number 1

written by:
L. Mark Raab
and
Randall W. Moir

typesetting by:
James E. Bruseth

graphic layout by:
Chris Christopher

1981

CONSERVATION ARCHAEOLOGY

[Archaeology][1] has a number of popular stereotypes usually involving expeditions to remote parts of the Earth in search of ancient tombs, lost cities or long-extinct races of Man. The [archaeologist] is seen working a “dig” for years, looking for bits of bone or stone of little importance to anyone but other scientists.

In reality, however, [archaeology] departs from this picture considerably. Many modern archaeologists work in their own communities on projects that include things familiar to most of us. The scope of their studies may range from 10,000 year old American Indian [sites] to early twentieth century farms. Excavations are carried out with the aid of tools, including small dental instruments, large earth-moving machines, and electronic computers. Often, archaeologists do not dig at all, but gather information from maps, photographs, written histories, and living informants. In fact, more time by far is spent working on [artifacts] in a laboratory, and especially in writing reports of excavations, than is spent in the field. Even more surprising, many archaeologists today work in cooperation with private and governmental agencies to protect archaeological remains, as required by state and federal laws. A specialized field of archaeology, called public or [conservation archaeology], has come into existence in the last twenty years to meet this need.