| Abstract: | Abstract“Planning” has come to be an increasingly popular word in preservation-oriented archeology, and rightly so. We now recognize the value of getting involved in the process of planning construction and land-use projects early in the game, so that archeological concerns can be treated in an orderly manner as the projects proceed. More broadly, we are becoming increasingly involved in general, regional planning, fitting our concerns and our resources into the long-range conservation and development programs of nations, regions, states, municipalities, and other natural and political entities.The following paper, by James Fitting, now of Science Applications, Inc. (Sonora, California), deals with a different kind of planning — forecasting the future of the archeological profession itself in a given region, assuming the existence of a variety of social, political, and economic futures, and identifying potential problem areas. While the problem areas identified are not terribly surprising, the work of Fitting and his Conference on Michigan Archeology (COMA) colleagues for the first time gives us semi-quantitative data that can be used in future institutional and organizational planning.I cannot resist a comment on Fitting's “second major crisis area”, that of publication. I do not believe this crisis will be effectively met until archeology gives up the idea that the only way to publish is on paper, between covers. There simply is not going to be the money for traditional publication of all field reports, nor do I think there should be. More often than not, when we print up 500 copies of a site report, 400 languish in a storeroom for years; on the other hand, the more popular reports (and presumably the more useful ones) go out of print quickly and then are available only in libraries subject to the usual theft and vandalism. It is ridiculous to keep doing this kind of thing when microfilm, microfiche, and videodisc can provide cheap reproduction on demand in perpetuity. I think the profession would do well to develop some sort of definitive policy about what sorts of things should be published in the traditional manner and which should be banked in some more modern, more flexible information retrieval system. As usual, comments on all aspects of Fitting's paper, and this introduction, are solicited. |
