Shovel Bum - by Trent De Boer (Paperback)

About the Book

"Shovel bums" endure weeks of flea-bitten motel beds, greasy roadhouse food, tempermental field vehicles, and long stretches of boredom to practice that most romantic of intellectual endeavors-archaeology. Ignored by the profession, working for low wages and little respect, th...

Book Synopsis

"Shovel bums" endure weeks of flea-bitten motel beds, greasy roadhouse food, tempermental field vehicles, and long stretches of boredom to practice that most romantic of intellectual endeavors-archaeology. Ignored by the profession, working for low wages and little respect, they represent the vast majority of practicing archaeologists in North America. But, unlike unwed welfare mothers and highway underpass junkies, their plight is unknown and unheralded. No longer. The comix Shovel Bum, developed by de Boer and others in those late night beer sessions at the Motel 6, has now become a book, outlining the trials and tribulations of these unsung heroes of archaeology. Which SUV works best in the mud? How do you survey in a field of unexploded military ordnance? Which motel has the biggest breakfast? How do you construct your own trowel pouch? For an entertaining look at archaeology as it is really practiced in the United States, pick up a copy of Shovel Bum.

Review Quotes

"Shovel Bum takes a humorous look at the trials and tribulations of American field archaeologists. Some of the episodes will have you in stitches; others will have you in tears. It's all great fun (in retrospect) for old hands and an education for aspiring archaeologists." --Mark Michel, President of The Archaeological Conservancy, American Archaeology

"I sat down to flip through your mags again-jumping up when I realized that I had forgotten all about the time-and breakfast was hopelessly burned! Shovel Bum is that good!" --John Porcellino, Publisher of King-Cat and Other Stories

"Trent (T-Bone) de Boer's comic book for AltaMira Press, called Shovel Bum, is a terrific introduction to the grimy world of the archaeological field technician...A shovel bum's life is an exciting, dull, difficult, hot, cold, dangerous, precarious, thrilling existence...Begun in 1977 as a way to explain how the job works, Shovel Bum the [fanzine] developed a small but very dedicated following of fans...AltaMira's book is a collection of the first few years of Shovel Bum, and it includes a wide range of comic drawings from various contributors...the book speaks for itself...Shovel Bum must be an invaluable source of amusement and advice for the working gal and guy. Wish I had it when I was in the field." --K. Kris Hirst, Archaeology.About.Com

"In a day and age when some archaeologists are beginning to think they really are rocket scientists, while others take themselves so seriously that they have forgotten archaeology is supposed to be fun, Shovel Bum puts it all back in its appropriate context." --Herbert D.G. Maschner, Idaho State Univ., Idaho State University

"De Boer makes the life of shovel bum both amusing and arresting to the uninitiated archaeologist. Shovel Bum represents a valuable expression of the worker's point of view. The book succesfully provides much needed insight in the nature of our industry and is accessible to readers of many different backgrounds." --Lithic Technology

"Providing 'human context' is one of the things that zines do best, and Shovel Bum is no exception. Recommended." --Jeremy P. Bushnell, Invisible City Productions

"The book is an exemplar of its kind, useful to material cultural specialists and archaeology or material culture teachers- not just for its information on Rockingham ware but also for its detailed explanation of methodology and its use of patterns in analysis...Claney does a great service by writing about the value of using artifacts and documents interactively to get full use of both sources. This book is a terrific resource and a good example of data-driven research." --Industrial Archeology

Shovel Bum takes a humorous look at the trials and tribulations of American field archaeologists. Some of the episodes will have you in stitches; others will have you in tears. It's all great fun (in retrospect) for old hands and an education for aspiring archaeologists.

De Boer makes the life of shovel bum both amusing and arresting to the uninitiated archaeologist. Shovel Bum represents a valuable expression of the worker's point of view. The book succesfully provides much needed insight in the nature of our industry and is accessible to readers of many different backgrounds.

I sat down to flip through your mags again-jumping up when I realized that I had forgotten all about the time-and breakfast was hopelessly burned! Shovel Bum is that good!

In a day and age when some archaeologists are beginning to think they really are rocket scientists, while others take themselves so seriously that they have forgotten archaeology is supposed to be fun, Shovel Bum puts it all back in its appropriate context.

Providing 'human context' is one of the things that zines do best, and Shovel Bum is no exception. Recommended.

The book is an exemplar of its kind, useful to material cultural specialists and archaeology or material culture teachers- not just for its information on Rockingham ware but also for its detailed explanation of methodology and its use of patterns in analysis...Claney does a great service by writing about the value of using artifacts and documents interactively to get full use of both sources. This book is a terrific resource and a good example of data-driven research.

Trent (T-Bone) de Boer's comic book for AltaMira Press, called Shovel Bum, is a terrific introduction to the grimy world of the archaeological field technician...A shovel bum's life is an exciting, dull, difficult, hot, cold, dangerous, precarious, thrilling existence...Begun in 1977 as a way to explain how the job works, Shovel Bum the [fanzine] developed a small but very dedicated following of fans...AltaMira's book is a collection of the first few years of Shovel Bum, and it includes a wide range of comic drawings from various contributors...the book speaks for itself...Shovel Bum must be an invaluable source of amusement and advice for the working gal and guy. Wish I had it when I was in the field.

About the Author

Trent de Boer is the editor of the archaeological zine SHOVEL BUM.