Queering Cultural Resource Management: defying norms in CRM archaeology
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Date
2025
Authors
Badger, Madison P.
Universit of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
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Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Anthropology
Abstract
Through ethnographic inquiry within the context of an Alberta-based Cultural Resource Management (CRM) firm, this thesis applies a queer perspective to CRM archaeology in the process of knowledge production and translation. Though archaeology is often thought of as being rather objective, results and analysis from this project suggest otherwise. Qualitative methods (participant observation, semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis, and discourse analysis) were used to explore and analyze how CRM employees’ ideologies regarding their role in the research process influence the production and translation of knowledge. Further, the ultimate goal of this research is to provide an example of and an argument for queering archaeology. Specifically, the analysis includes a discussion on the impact of queer as a verb on current archaeological methods, theories, and ideologies in CRM. I conclude that to queer (v.) is necessary to avoid narrowing perspectives of the past, and to move towards a more widely representative and inclusive future of CRM.
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Keywords
anthropology , Cultural Resource Management , archaeology , feminist theory , queer theory , ethnography