Archaeology in the real world

Shovel Bum is an excellent collection of comic strips that portray the daily life of contract archaeology. You won't find these images or stories in the media through which the public typically experiences archaeology. In fact, I doubt the public even realizes that archaeological research in North America is almost exclusively done in this setting -- by Cultural Resource Management (aka CRM) companies who are working ahead of highway construction and other projects on public land. This is a billion-dollar industry that employs the vast majority of archaeologists in North America. What Shovel Bum does so well is to convey the real life, humorous   challenges of CRM life-on-the-road. The use of black-on-white sketches inject real humor, and I can't think of a form of media that would make these stories more compelling. This collection of comics will never have the exposure of other graphic illustrations of our discipline (it's currently ranking 1,336,773 in sales at Amazon.com!). Too bad the public will miss out on the real archaeology.

 

Hey Isabel, stop looting Machu Picchu!

In my mind, one of the central questions to explore in this blog is where the public's distorted perception of archaeology comes from. I think I have the answer, well, sort of: Isabel Soto. You can see from this  educational comic book cover and the ones below that she dabbles in all sorts of adventures. Archaeology isn't the only mysterious subject that needs "uncovering" or "investigating." And why is she taking that golden llama away from the site? I think you might rename this "An Isabel Soto Looting Adventure."

In all fairness, these comics are relatively harmless and they do highlight some of the important themes of the discipline. Just before jumping back in time in the page, Isabel smartly notes that archaeology can contribute to the present...and I might add, even the future. That's a basic mantra for the discipline. Nonetheless, some of the classic stereotypes are reinforced here; his outfit is a prime example. Why not base this on real-life archaeologists who are working in South America as we speak, and then use the comic to profile contemporary findings? And why dumb it down and pick the only famous sites (Machu Picchu and Pompeii)? I want to see Isabel take on a topic without reinforcing the same old tired notions about archaeologists and what they do. I'm guessing that it is not going to happen -- too many Bigfoots to track and mummies to uncover.

Dude, I see your future in this flame

I love these illustrations of prehistoric "man" from 1950s Life magazines.  They are simultaneously ridiculous and intriguing.  These colorful depictions have the power to widen our vision of ancient worlds. At the same time, they are fictional narratives that either stretch the truth of current research, or are purely products of the artist's imagination.  Some 60 years later we still don't have a firm grasp of when and where fire was first utilized or even purposely created by early hominids.  In this early image from Life, the answers seem pretty clear: a few guys stumble upon the utility of fire while the women and children panic and flee the eruption.

Neanderthals are a common player in these early media.  Here's another humorous depiction -- the clan seems terribly frenzied and naive as they try to take down a Ice-age mammoth.  Any relation to reality?  Nope.  Does this image capture the public's attention and fuel their interest in the ancient past?  Most definitely.

I see you Muammar Gaddafi...

I'm convinced that the illustrator who authored this 1970s-era, grossly out-of-date Time-Life illustration depicting our human lineage intentionally depicted Muammar Gaddafi in the rendering of Homo habilis in the center of the image. If I'm correct, it's a fascinating example of a science illustrator interjecting--albeit subtlety--political commentary through an artistic representation of the past.  Of course, this was the younger, rouge Gaddafi who ruled the 'pariah state' of the 1980s.