With Grit and Determination

A Century of Change for Women in Great Basin and American Archaeology

Edited by Suzanne Eskenazi, Nicole M. Herzog

Spanning more than one hundred years of women’s careers and lives, this collection illuminates what it was and is to be a female archaeologist. These personal accounts of researchers, ethnographers, and field archaeologists in the private, public, and academic sectors highlight the unique role women have played in the development of American and Great Basin archaeology. Written by women trained or working in the Great Basin, these accounts reflect the broader landscape of American archaeology, offering a glimpse into a larger narrative about making one’s way in a historically male field. By sharing their stories, the authors highlight the positive aspects of the field, recognize the challenges that still exist, and encourage conversations about inclusion, diversity, and the future of archaeology in the Great Basin and beyond. Their authentic and intimate narratives inspire us to look at challenges not as roadblocks, but as opportunities for lifelong growth and success.

Suzanne Eskenazi is an archaeologist and principal investigator at SWCA Environmental Consultants in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Nicole M. Herzog is an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Denver, Colorado.

Table of Contents:List of Figures
List of Tables
A Personal Foreword by Lorann S. A. Pendleton
Introduction: Women in (Great Basin) Archaeology – Nicole M. Herzog and Suzanne Eskenazi
1. Following Isabel Kelly: Fifty Years Plus on the Trail of a Pioneer Ethnologist/Archaeologist – Catherine S. Fowler
2. Landscapes of Change: Shifting Perspectives in the Great Basin – Melinda Leach
3. The Quick and the Dead: The Showdown Between the Sexes in Great Basin Archaeology – Heidi Roberts
4. From Stewardess to Archaeologist: How I Got Where I Am Today – Charlotte Beck
5. Becoming a Boss(y) Archaeologist: Grumpy Old Men, Female Cohorts, and Not Taking the Academic Route – Barbara Frank
6. The Road Home: A Winding Path to Agency Archaeologist – Laurel H. Glidden
7. How Did I Arrive Here, and What’s Next? – Linda Scott Cummings
8. Great Basin Women Scholars: A View through the University of Utah Anthropological Papers – Rebecca L. Rauch
9. Who Writes the Past? The Evolving Gender and Professional Landscape of Great Basin Archaeology (1954–2018) – Shannon Tushingham and Tiffany J. Fulkerson
Bibliography
List of Contributors

Praise and Reviews:

“This is a significant work in the history of the science of archaeology. The book will be useful for women considering archaeology as a career choice. I know of no other book that is similar to this one.”
—Barbara Voorhies, research professor and professor emerita, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara

“Any archaeologist involved in field science will find kinship with the authors in this volume. General readers will find this interesting as well. The world needs to know more about strong women and why they were successful.”
—Mary Lou Larson, professor of archaeology, University of Wyoming