The RPA congratulates Archaeological Consultants, Inc. (ACI) on 50 years of leadership in the cultural resource management (CRM) industry.

D. Rivera MA RPA September 21, 2026

When Marion Almy founded ACI in 1976, she may not have set out to change the course of CRM. However, alongside her friend and colleague Joan Deming, that is exactly what happened. As the first woman owned CRM firm in the state of Florida, ACI began humbly at kitchen tables, typing reports on IBM Selectric typewriters, and driving to sites in personal vehicles. Paper maps, pencils, the ritual use of correction fluid, and hand drawn transfer sheets eventually gave way to LIDAR, GPS, digital archives, and a full-time staff of 30 professionals.

CRM as a field had only recently emerged. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation act established the legal framework for archaeological investigation and mitigation prompting the formation of early CRM firms such as Archaeological Research Inc, founded by Elerth S. Erickson in California in 1968. By the late 1970s, CRM companies were spreading across the continental United States. There were few firms that operated in Florida and fewer still found within the state. There were many archaeologists that initially worked independently, through universities, nonprofits or other environmental or engineering firms rather than dedicated CRM organizations.

Marion and Joan changed that landscape. ACI became a model for professional archaeological practice in Florida.

Since its inception, The Register of Professional Archaeologists has focused on establishing and upholding high professional and ethical standards, guided by its founding four organizations (SAA, SHA, AIA, & AAA). For much of Register history, the operations were run by archaeologists volunteering as board and committee members for professional archaeologists. These professionals that continue to make a voluntary commitment to excellent standards and ethics in archaeology have seen the professional landscape change over time.

During an atmosphere that was antagonistic to women or marginalized people performing in archaeology, ACI blazed a trowel.  As the first woman led CRM firm professionally operating in Florida, Marion and Joan set a new precedent for professionalism, equity, and excellence. Their commitment and leadership, through requiring and paying for RPA certification for their archaeological staff further strengthens the profession and elevates expectations for high quality and integrity statewide.

After 50 years of steadfast service, ACI’s impact is unmistakable. Generations of archaeologists have been mentored by Marion, Joan, and the ACI team, carrying for the standards and values in which the Register champions. Their legacy continues to shape the future of CRM and historic preservation.

To the dedicated staff of the ACI: your commitment, expertise, and passion have built a firm that stands the test of time, dirt, shovels, and back aches. The Register is grateful for your continued commitment to excellence and for inviting us to share in this momentous anniversary.

Here’s to the next chapter. May it be filled with continued innovation and the same unwavering dedication that has defined ACI since 1976. Congratulations on 50 extraordinary years!

 

The Field School Certification Committee has been working diligently behind the scenes to ensure that our field schools operate in a safe and ethical manner and that all available information is up to date.

See the newest additions at the Certified Field Schools page.

Registrants! It's time to elect your next Secretary/Treasurer. This is your chance to have a say in the future of the organization and help shape the direction of archaeology in the United States.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

Dr Matthew Emerson, chair of the Register's Professional Development Committee, would like to share a few tips on delivering presentations at conferences. 

Delivering a strong conference presentation isn’t just about sharing your research—it’s about communicating it clearly, confidently, and respectfully to your audience. These practical guidelines, adapted from recommendations by Dr. Matthew Emerson, help presenters prepare with intention and deliver with impact.

Before Your Presentation

Strong presentations begin long before you reach the podium.

• Use a prepared speech—not a publishable paper. Conference talks should be written for listening, not reading.

• Cite verbally. Always acknowledge others’ scholarship aloud.

• Number your pages. If you drop them, you can recover quickly.

• Format for readability. Double‑space or use a larger font to make reading easier.

• Match slides to minutes. A 15‑minute talk should not have more than 15 slides.

• Mark slide transitions. Insert slide numbers in your script (e.g., “slide 2”) so you know when to advance.

• Preview your slides.

  • Keep a copy on your device

  • Label the file with version info (e.g., emerson_3.0final)

  • Bring a backup on a thumb drive

• Practice. Read your talk aloud several times and time yourself.

During Your Presentation

Once you begin, your goal is clarity, focus, and connection.

• Skip opening remarks. Organizers and chairs will handle introductions and acknowledgments.

• Start with substance. Lead with assumptions, a major question, a problem statement, or a hypothesis.

• Speak with intention. Slow down, enunciate, use facial expression, and make eye contact.

• Pause for emphasis. Highlight key points so the audience can follow your argument.

Using Slides Effectively

Slides should support your talk—not replace it.

• Describe what’s on the slide. Don’t assume the audience will infer its significance. Use phrases like, “This slide shows…”

• Point with purpose. Mark your place in your text before looking at the screen so you stay oriented.

Podium Presence

Small habits can strengthen—or distract from—your delivery.

• Keep water nearby. A sip can give you a natural pause.

• Avoid distracting movements. Don’t lean on the podium, fidget, or adjust clothing.

• Manage your pages. Move finished pages out of the way to stay organized.

Ending Your Presentation

A strong conclusion helps your audience absorb your message.

• Signal the ending. Use a clear transition such as “In conclusion…”

• Thank your audience. It’s a simple, professional way to close.

The Department of Anthropology at Wisconsin Lutheran College will conduct a Phase 1B archaeological study of a historic site in Fillmore, Wisconsin. The property that stands at the center of this fieldwork is a German half-timber homestead built in the mid-1850s. Students and staff of Wisconsin Lutheran College will study the site to locate and document several structures associated with the homestead and its role in the lives of migrant families from Saxony who relocated to the American Midwest in the late 1840s. Learn more at: https://www.wlc.edu/academics/programs/anthropology.html

This intensive two-week course in Southwest Colorado teaches practical cultural resource management (CRM) fieldwork skills for swifter entry into the private workforce after college. This course teaches survey and site recording methods, artifact identification, in-field photography, current field technology, descriptive writing for site records and reports, and evaluating sites for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Includes lectures, lab analysis, field survey and site documentation, evening programs, and field trips in the Mesa Verde region

Learn more at: CRM Field School - Crow Canyon Archaeological Center

This 6-credit field school covers field and basic laboratory methods in archaeology for data collection, analysis and interpretation of cultural material. Emphasis is placed on archaeological questions, scientific methods, heritage preservation, cultural resource management, and culture change. The course also provides an introduction to the basics of site management and directing research. It is primarily designed for anthropology students and/or those students interested in pursuing archaeological fieldwork as either a career or life experience. Through hands-on experience, students will master the techniques and theory behind scientific archaeology. The course will provide valuable laboratory and field experience including survey, excavation, recording, mapping, and basic artifact analysis. The field school is open to students from any college who have taken at least one anthropology class. For non-EWC students, registration at EWC is required, as a non-degree-seeking student. Check with your institution to ensure credits are transferable.

Find out more at: 

https://ewc.wy.edu/academics/programs/archaeology-and-anthropology/fieldschool/

Pran'e Siddi, or the Siddi Plateau, is a high basaltic plateau located in the south-central part of the island of Sardinia (Italy), near the modern town of Siddi. The area around Siddi was inhabited by prehistoric villagers beginning in the Neolithic period (ca. 4000-3200 BCE). During the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 1700-1450 BCE), these previously egalitarian people began to develop a hierarchical social system with an elite who expressed their power and prestige through the building of monumental stone towers called nuraghi. The elites of the Nuragic community on the Siddi Plateau built sixteen nuraghi, which they lived in and added onto for three centuries. By 1450 BCE, however, the elite sites on the Siddi Plateau seem to have been abandoned, and the population moved away.

Progetto Pran'e Siddi was formed to conduct a thorough investigation of Nuragic climate, environment, land use, and economic practices in the Siddi region. We are interested in finding out what kinds of pressures – social, environmental, and/or economic – made the Nuragic people abandon their towers on the plateau. We are answering these questions through a combination of archaeological excavation and laboratory analysis. Excavation takes place at the site of Sa Conca ‘e sa Cresia, one of the largest nuraghi on the plateau. Artifact processing takes place in a community building in the nearby town of Siddi. By participating in Progetto Pran’e Siddi, students will contribute to ongoing research while gaining professional skills in excavation methods and artifact processing.

https://www.fieldsciences.org/program/2025-italy-prane-siddi/

The UTSHPO Field School is an intentionally designed "CRM Finishing School" that bridges the gap between the classroom and a professional career. Our model is built on a near 1:1 field-to-office cadence, ensuring that for every hour spent in the dirt, students spend an hour in the lab or office mastering the technical "back-end" of the industry. We train students in the full lifecycle of a compliance project—from navigating Section 106 and conducting Class III surveys to geoprocessing in ArcGIS Pro and drafting legal-standard Utah Archaeological Site Forms (UASF). By the end of the eight-week program, students have moved beyond the role of a trainee to become a professional co-author on technical reports, with their work integrated directly into the state’s master database (SEGO). What makes this program unique is its focus on "Industry Readiness" through a 1:2 mentor-to-student ratio and a "Quantity and Quality" production standard. Students are trained to operate at a professional pace while maintaining a foolproof standard of documentation, ensuring they exit the program as highly competitive candidates for federal agency and private consulting positions. This commitment to professionalization is reflected in our compensation model and our mentorship in professional dissemination, including support for conference presentations and portfolio development. By treating students as professional colleagues from day one, the UTSHPO is creating a sustainable pipeline of technically proficient, ethics-grounded archaeologists ready to lead the next generation of cultural resource stewardship in the West. Find out more at: https://ushpo.utah.gov/

The University of Utah's summer program in archaeological field techniques will be held at Range Creek Canyon in east central Utah. Jointly sponsored by the Department of Anthropology and the Natural History Museum of Utah, this course offers students the opportunity to learn modern archaeological field and lab techniques in an ongoing field research program. Under the direction of Dr. Shannon Boomgarden, participants in the program will also receive training in archaeological method and theory. Admission to the field school is by application only and is limited to 12 students. Priority for admission will be given to those pursuing a professional career in archaeology or a related discipline. Applications are welcomed from both current University of Utah students, non-students and out-of-state students. Students will earn 8 semester upper division credits upon successful completion of the field school. Over 500 archaeological sites have been recorded in Range Creek Canyon since 2002. The sites typically date to the Fremont Archaeological Complex (300 CE-1350 CE). In Range Creek, sites can be grouped into several categories. Most commonly we find Open Residential sites, Storage sites, Rock Imagery sites, Artifact Scatters, and Rock Shelters. The field school continues to survey and record undocumented sites in the canyon as well as conduct limited test excavations. Our field school allows students the opportunity to participate in experimental farming and wild food collecting experiments.

Learn more at: https://anthro.utah.edu/fieldschools/range_creek_fieldschool.php