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Q. If you could collaborate with an engineer to design or build a solution for a problem in your archaeological work, what specific problem would you want them to address?

A.  I'd like a highly mobile little robot that can drive or walk to an artefact on the ground, record its location by scanning it on the ground, then pick it up and 3D scan the entire artefact, then put it back exactly where it found the artefact, and move on to the next artefact. I want a swarm of these robots so I can map an entire site and scan many artefacts quickly without having to collect them and take them to a lab. 
 
Q. What are some of your typical daily or weekly activities as an archaeologist?

A. Daily tasks include teaching archaeology, preparing to teach, grading, responding to messages from students. Daily tasks also include analysing data collected during field work, writing technical reports to describe the data analysis, writing articles for scholars and the public to communicate the results of our fieldwork. Planning future fieldwork. Doing labwork to analyse samples. For me I do fieldwork roughly 1-2 months per year. So while I do some digging, it is not a typical daily or weekly activity. 

Q. What are the most interesting or rewarding aspects of your job?

A. The combination of scientific research and historical research is very satisfying. The opportunity to both work outdoors and at a lab bench is very fulfilling. Teaching students new skills that are useful to them in a variety of careers is rewarding. 

Q. What are some of the biggest challenges or problems you face in your work?

A. Misinformation about the human past, and about the way archaeologists work. Conspiracy theories and sensational reports that are not supported by scientific evidence. These lead people to doubt the value of scientific research in general and archaeology in particular. This leads people to vote for cuts in research funding from the federal and state government. This means the university is firing many staff. Professors now have to do the work of the staff that have been fired. This means fewer students can learn scientific archaeology. Professors have less time to answer emails to help high school students interested in archaeology, among other things.

Q. Do you use technology (like GIS, drones, or specialized software) in your archaeological work? If so, what do you use?

A. 3D scanning of stone artefacts from the palaeolithic period to make digital models that we can study with data science

Q. Is there any difference between the technologies that you used before and now, if so what are those differences?

A. Now the scanners are much smaller and more portable, and faster to use. 


Q. What is one piece of advice you would give to students interested in archaeology?

A. Archaeology can be enjoyed at many levels, depending on your interests and abilities. On one hand, you can enjoy it a hobby by visiting museums and sites on the weekends. On the other hand, you can enjoy a full-time professional career as an archaeologist by completing a graduate degree such as a Masters or Doctorate in archaeology. You can choose which level suits you best. Regardlesss of the level that suits you best, my one piece of advice is get your hands dirty—literally and figuratively—as early and as often as you can. Volunteer on field and lab projects. Master technologies used in modern archaeology. Study more than just history, consider also geology, biology, and statistics. 

Q. Do you have any seminars that you will do in the future or recommend any that we can attend?

A You are welcome to attend my class lectures when the academic year starts in September. Please research the UW time schedule to see what time works for you, then email me to request permission to join the class at least two weeks in advance. We also have public research seminars from time to time. You can see local events in our department here: https://anthropology.washington.edu/calendar