Archaeology Matters: Action Archaeology in the Modern World

Archaeology is perceived to study the people of long ago and far away. How could archaeology matter in the modern world? Well-known archaeologist Jeremy Sabloff points to ways in which archaeology might be important to the understanding and amelioration of contemporary problems. Though archaeologists have commonly been associated with efforts to uncover cultural identity, to restore the past of underrepresented peoples, and to preserve historical sites, their knowledge and skills can be used in many other ways. Archaeologists help Peruvian farmers increase crop yields, aid city planners in reducing landfills, and guide local communities in tourism development and water management.

This brief volume, aimed at students and other prospective archaeologists, challenges the field to go beyond merely understanding the past and actively engage in making a difference in the today’s world.

Jeremy A. Sabloff is Curator of Mesoamerican Archaeology, Williams Director Emeritus, and the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Society of Antiquaries, London. Sabloff’s research interests range from the study of ancient Maya civilisation, to archaeological theory and method, to the history of American archaeology, to pre-industrial urbanism, and to the use of settlement pattern studies. He has conducted field work in the Maya lowlands of Mexico and Guatemala including co-directing the major field project at the Yucatan site of Sayil. He is author or editor of 20 books and countless articles on the Maya and the history of archaeology. Sabloff is former president of the Society for American Archaeology.