Shovelbum
Encyclopedia
Shovelbum is a term used by some archaeologists in the United States
to refer to the professional excavators on cultural resource management projects. "Shovelbum" or "Digbum" is pejorative when used by non-professionals but defiantly proud when used by archaeologists about themselves. It is considered poor form for a professional who has not done time as a shovelbum to use the term in a derogatory fashion, especially in a classroom setting. Unlike a beach bum, the title "shovelbum" is conferred only after extensive field/lab work. Thomas F. King, an author of many influential CRM books quotes R. Joe Brandon, the founder of the Shovelbums
in Doing Archaeology that "...any archaeologist worth their salt has spent time as a Shovel Bum."
When an archaeologist can say they have spent a certain number of years "on the road shovelbumming", peers and students alike understand that to mean that when the chips are down, regardless of the circumstances, this individual can produce quality scientific data and reports.
about archaeological field life that was created by Trent de Boer in 1997 (http://www.shovelbum.com). Trent and Betsy de Boer used comics to help explain their archaeological field technician jobs to friends and family. Later issues included submissions from other shovel bums around the country. The Archaeology Channel (http://www.archaeologychannel.org) hosts two Shovel Bum short videos.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to refer to the professional excavators on cultural resource management projects. "Shovelbum" or "Digbum" is pejorative when used by non-professionals but defiantly proud when used by archaeologists about themselves. It is considered poor form for a professional who has not done time as a shovelbum to use the term in a derogatory fashion, especially in a classroom setting. Unlike a beach bum, the title "shovelbum" is conferred only after extensive field/lab work. Thomas F. King, an author of many influential CRM books quotes R. Joe Brandon, the founder of the Shovelbums
in Doing Archaeology that "...any archaeologist worth their salt has spent time as a Shovel Bum."
When an archaeologist can say they have spent a certain number of years "on the road shovelbumming", peers and students alike understand that to mean that when the chips are down, regardless of the circumstances, this individual can produce quality scientific data and reports.
Popular culture
Shovel Bum is a zineZine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
about archaeological field life that was created by Trent de Boer in 1997 (http://www.shovelbum.com). Trent and Betsy de Boer used comics to help explain their archaeological field technician jobs to friends and family. Later issues included submissions from other shovel bums around the country. The Archaeology Channel (http://www.archaeologychannel.org) hosts two Shovel Bum short videos.