Kaitlin M. Brown

Training for Transformation: Rethinking Archaeological Readiness in California and Beyond « Archaeology# « Cambridge Core Blog “You get in, you get out, and you get the job.” That line from a recent The CRM Archaeology Podcast (Ep 315) about academia's responsibility to CRM and vice versa stuck with me. It resonated because it echoes a broader shift happening across higher educ...

📢📢 OUT NOW: 'Training for Transformation: Rethinking Archaeological Readiness in California and Beyond' - a #blog by Kaitlin Brown to accompany new research in the #SAA journal @saa-aap.bsky.social: ⛏️🎓 https://cup.org/47HcnKE

#archaeology
#openaccess

I love everything about this - the essay, the history, the ideas, and the art project it brings you to encounter at the end

The Ethnotour Experience: Listening to Land, Story, and Memory — COMMUNITY ARCHAEOLOGY LAB This week’s class took us beyond readings and discussions and into the field. Our field trip, guided by the Tribal Chairman of the BVBMI, Matthew Vestuto, was described as an ethnotour—a journey throu...

Ethnotour through an Indigenous landscape—what some see as oil fields, others know as a place of deep connection. Place names carry history, memory, and meaning, shaping how we understand the past. #ethnotour #archaeology #ANTH575
communityarchlab.com/blog/ethnotour

Who Tells the Story? In ANTH 575, students use oral history and CBPR to center Indigenous voices in archaeology and rethink heritage preservation. The future of the field is collaborative. Here’s the Week 2 Blog! #Anth575 #OralHistory

communityarchlab.com/blog/who-tel...

Reimagining Archaeology: Collaborative Futures through Ethnography — COMMUNITY ARCHAEOLOGY LAB

I'm launching a blog about my new class, ANTH 575: Advanced Ethnographic Research Methods. It bridges archaeology, ethnography, & oral histories. We're partnering with a local tribe to reclaim their heritage. #Ethnography #PublicArchaeology #Communityarchlab

communityarchlab.com/blog/ethnogr...

The Trade Theory of Money: External Exchange and the Origins of Money - Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory For over a century, scholars have debated the merits of two competing theories for the origins of money. The commodity theory of money has traditionally held that money developed as a medium of exchan...

New paper on the origins of money:

The Trade Theory of Money: External Exchange and the Origins of Money | Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory search.app/9dcq11xvuVG4...

Lessons learned:

Human smuggling is deeply complex and driven by much larger issues. Getting to know the people involved is both eye-opening and frustrating—they make choices I can’t morally align with. The cycles of poverty and violence are heartbreaking. How far would you go to understand it?

Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling. By Jason De León. Book cover.

Amid the chaos of the LA fires, I kept reading. This past week+, I finished Jason De León's Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling. I’ve always admired his journey—from Mayan archaeology to diving into work that feels so immediate and real.

In a polarized nation, one point of agreement deserves more attention: Young adults say they feel woefully unprepared for life in the work force, and employers say they’re right. In a survey by Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation of more than 4,000 members of Gen Z, 49 percent of respondents said they did not feel prepared for the future. Employers complain that young hires lack initiative, communication skills, problem-solving abilities and resilience.

There’s a reason the system isn’t serving people well, and it goes beyond the usual culprits of social media and Covid. Many recent graduates aren’t able to set targets, take initiative, figure things out and deal with setbacks — because in school and at home they were too rarely afforded any agency.

There’s a reason the system isn’t serving people well, and it goes beyond the usual culprits of social media and Covid. Many recent graduates aren’t able to set targets, take initiative, figure things out and deal with setbacks — because in school and at home they were too rarely afforded any agency.

So: Instead of “Here is an example of a good essay. Please go write one,” the teacher might say, “Here is an example of a good essay. What is your goal for this first draft?” Rather than simply being told, students reflect on what they need to accomplish and develop a plan to make it happen. Teachers monitor and coach them along the way.

Some terminal Ted Talk Brain in the NYT today:
If it's true that millions of young people is not prepared for the workforce, we're probably going to need a more meaningful solution than teachers slightly changing the phrasing of their classroom instruction.
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/02/o...

Lessons Learned:

Diverse voices reshape how we understand the past

Collaboration thrives through deep listening

Outdated approaches need to be challenged

Reflexivity fosters growth and better practices

Nearly every author expressed hope about archaeology

CRM and academic examples

Front cover of being and becoming indigenous archaeologists. Edited by George Nicholas.

Just finished Being and Becoming Indigenous Archaeologists by George Nicholas (2010). Loved reading personal stories. Every author faced challenges in their communities and higher ed. Going to use chapters in my World Prehistory and North American Indians classes for global Indigenous perspectives.

Lessons:

Archaeology is socially constructed.

Ethnography critiques practices while addressing contemporary dilemmas.

Absolute archaeological authority must be challenged.

Reflexivity is key.

Best practices: interdisciplinary and inclusive.

Collaboration with local communities is essential.

Front cover of Ethnographic Archaeologies: Reflections on Stakeholders and Archaeological Practices

The first book I got through this last week is Ethnographic Archaeologies (2008) by Castañeda & Matthews. I’m definitely late to the party on this one! Essential for archaeologists, especially in CA, it’s packed with insights for those looking to think beyond traditional applications of archaeology.

Starting a one-chapter-a-day challenge for the new year! With two kids & a busy schedule, the bite-sized chunk seems doable—could be up to 25 books a year. Mostly archaeology & education, but no strict theme. Excited to tackle my unread list & share updates!

I made a Historical Archaeology (and adjacent historians in some cases) starter pack! This is a trickier niche group, because that term means different things in different places. This one has lots of room, so let me know if you'd like to be added! 🧪🏺
go.bsky.app/AWGszDA

This thread 🧵 collects all the #archaeology 🏺 starter packs

Share far & wide. We could all use a little more archaeology in our lives

@cjfrieman.bsky.social made the OG Archaeology and heritage list with first wave Twitter refugee scholars & orgs. Go follow Catherine now!
bsky.app/starter-pack...