Tom King is an American archaeologist who has gone beyond archaeology to practice in, and preach about, the evolving field of heritage or cultural resource management. His career includes the conduct of archaeological research in California and the Micronesian islands, management of academy-based and private cultural resource consulting organisations, helping establish government historic preservation systems in the freely associated states of Micronesia, oversight of US government project review for the federal government’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, service as a litigant and expert witness in heritage-related lawsuits, and extensive work as a consultant and educator in heritage-related topics.
He is best known for his work with indigenous groups and local communities, using US historic preservation laws to insist that their cultural places and concerns be considered in planning projects that threaten them.
Tom King is the author of eight books on archaeology and heritage/cultural resource management through Left Coast Press and Altamira Press, well as many journal articles, popular articles, and internet offerings on heritage topics. His most recent non-fiction book Our Unprotected Heritage is a critique of contemporary cultural resource management and environmental impact assessment, with recommendations for improvement.
Tom King also conducts archaeological research with The Historic Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR), particularly focusing on the 1937 disappearance of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. His co-authored 2004 book, Amelia Earhart’s Shoes recounts TIGHAR’s adventures in pursuit of Earhart – the search continues, with an expedition planned for 2010. His 2009 novel, Thirteen Bones, imagines the 1940 discovery of Earhart’s remains on Nikumaroro, an island in the Republic of Kiribati, based on historical and archaeological data.
