Here’s the latest in our series of entertaining interviews with a diverse array of your fellow SHA members. Meet a member for the first time or learn something about a colleague that you never knew before. This blog series also offers current members an opportunity to share their thoughts on why SHA membership is important (Camaraderie? Professional service? Exchange of ideas in conference rooms and beyond? You tell us!). If you would like to be an interviewee, please email the Membership Committee Social Media Liaisons Eleanor Breen (eabreen@mountvernon.org) or Kim Pyszka (kmpyszka@aum.edu).

An Interview with Chris Jones (chriskj40@gmail.com), a board member of the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley where he manages archaeological research for the university and other public and private clients. He's also involved in a current project revision at the Rio Grande Delta and is a proud member of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I actually wanted to be a writer. I always loved to read, and I loved the idea of being able to express myself through words. I think it's really important for anyone who wants to communicate with other people. But then, down the road, I developed an interest, through watching a couple of movies, for archaeology. There's so much we don't know about our world, and I loved the idea of helping to discover things that help us understand how it all came about—what happened before we were here. It eventually became my passion as I loved the thrill of discovery and the excitement of exploring. There is nothing like being able to connect with history and the people who lived long ago. I'm a historical archaeologist now, and that's not too far from what I saw myself becoming. I mean I still contribute to our knowledge base as humans.  It's also a really good career path for someone who wants a flexible schedule, as archaeology isn't always ongoing research in a lab or museum.

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading Ethics and Burial Archaeology by Duncan Sayer published by the Bristol Classical Press. I got interested in this book when Ben told me about it. We're actually going through it together so we're on more of a slow pace and discussing its new proposals for ethical studies in mortuary investigation. The book adduces a series of case studies that can be used to understand the questions facing burial archaeology. 

Fieldwork or lab work?

I like to work in the field. I enjoy being able to interact with and study the artifacts that have been excavated, as well as being able to get a sense of how they fit into their context. The lab is great for learning about new techniques or testing theories, but it's not always a good place for hands-on learning, which is what I'm most interested in.

What would be your dream site to work at?

I’d love to work on a site that hadn’t been fully excavated, and where new information was still being discovered. I think it would be exciting to be able to contribute to the discovery of new information about an ancient culture. It would also be great if there were more of a mystery around what happened at that location, so I could get into character and really get into the mindset of whoever lived there.

Why are you a member of SHA?

This is one of the questions that I regularly find myself asking.  The SHA has a comprehensive system for access to journals and articles and there are even more extra benefits as a member. It has been my primary source of information and gaining new knowledge as well as getting to know about new developments. This, trust me, is a real time saver since the data out there is either too generalized or too niche. The SHA just puts the right focus on the necessary details.

 At what point in your career did you first join SHA?

I joined SHA early 2000s and never regretted my decision as it has been a community that's gradually growing. 

How many years have you been a member (approximately)?

North of 20 years.

Which benefit of belonging to SHA do you find the most beneficial?

The SHA has been a catalyst for the recognition of both local and foreign historical archaeologists. The conferences, I should say, has been one of the most beneficial parts of belonging to the SHA to me. Through that, I've had the opportunity to meet mentors and colleagues in person, without which, I probably wouldn't have gotten the chance.