The Cowboys of Science

11-11-2016  

The Cowboys of Science: Tales of American Archaeology is a documentary film seventeen years in the making.  The actual production of the film didn't begin until the summer of 2014, but seeds were planted way back in 1999.  As I began my professional archaeology career, I almost immediately began thinking about the possibilities of a new kind of documentary for archaeologists.

During that first professional field work experience, I became increasingly aware of the discrepancies between authentic archaeology and the portrayals of the science on-screen.  (No, I'm not referring to Hollywood adventure movies.  Most people understand the difference between fantasy and reality.)  Unfortunately, the typical documentary on archaeology -- no matter how high the production value -- comes up short on the key ingredient of authenticity.

Authentic archaeology is a gritty experience.  The real work of this discipline is performed by the type of people you can see in my documentary.  These are the people who do the real heavy-lifting in the field.  The documentaries you may see on public television or cable channels are often fronted by an academic scholar who rarely gives sufficient credit to the crew.  The "crew" may consist of students, volunteers, or professionals.  They are generally an afterthought in those TV productions.  I wanted to change that.  The Cowboys of Science was born out of an interest in spotlighting the people who do the real work of archaeology.

At first, I wanted to make the movie entirely about Cultural Resource Management.  This is the most overlooked segment of the discipline, and it is the field that I have worked in for well over a decade.  Gradually, I realized that such a narrow focus would not serve the best interests of the film.  It would also be difficult if not impossible for an amateur filmmaker to gain the access necessary for shooting such a film.  It was best to broaden the scope of the project.

During the course of my career, I've been fortunate enough to work with archaeologists from all four aspects of the field: Academic Research, CRM Contracting, Government Agencies, and Volunteers.  When I realized that my career had provided me with contacts across the discipline of archaeology, it became time to bring The Cowboys of Science into reality.  From there, it was a simple matter of acquiring camera gear, requesting interviews, and shooting the movie . . .

Actually, it wasn't that simple.  The story of how the movie was made can be left for another time.  For now, I hope you enjoy the opportunity to see authentic archaeology in action.  Listen to the voices of four dedicated scientists explaining who we are and what we do.

One more thing: this movie is only the beginning.  We have plenty of stories to tell.  I would like to tell a few more of them myself, but you may have your own role to play in this storytelling adventure.  If you think this movie is worthy, then tell your friends about it.  If you don't like it, then tell a better story -- your way.
   

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