http://www.sha.org/blog/

The majority of the blogs I reviewed focus on archaeology as a discipline or the archaeology of specific eras or regions (many of which are in Europe). Comparatively few blogs it seemed center on historical archaeology. Given historical archaeology’s association with public scholarship, I found this surprising. The Society for Historical Archaeology Blog is a notable exception. As the social media outlet for the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA), the blog details the activities of the organization, including journal and conference planning, as well as the research of practicing historical archaeologists. The posts are highly informative without being intimidatingly lengthy, include numerous pictures, and are written in a straightforward and engaging style. As such, the blog appeals to both members of the SHA as well as the general public. Of the blogs I reviewed, the SHA Blog most skillfully balances public outreach and continuing scholarly education without comprising either.

http://dougsarchaeology.wordpress.com/

While many archaeology blogs are targeted toward increasing public awareness and literacy regarding archaeology, Doug’s Archaeology is directed specifically to those within the discipline. It focuses on issues confronted by practicing archaeologists within academia and the public/private sector, including funding, jobs, publishing, and public perception. The blog’s author is archaeologist Doug Rocks-Macqueen. While the academic tone and specificity of the blog’s content may limit its readership, Doug’s Archaeology stimulates important conversations that are often left unsaid. That archaeology is an exciting discipline whose practitioners uncover interesting artifacts and insights about the past is generally acknowledged. How one actually goes about being an archaeologist–securing funds, jobs, and publications–receives far less attention. For those pursuing a career in archaeology, at any level, Doug’s Archaeology provides valuable information on what to expect and how to best navigate the career path.

http://qmackie.com/

Run by University of Victoria archaeologist Quentin Mackie, the Northwest Coast Archaeology blog features information on recent finds and upcoming lectures and commentary on archaeology in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and southeastern Alaska. Academics, students, and those interested in Northwest Coast archaeology are the blog’s intended audience. Despite its relatively narrow scope–both in content and audience–readership appears high as each post contains several comments, many of which are left by practicing and prominent archaeologists in the region. The blog also serves as a repository for archaeology, anthropology, and First Nations studies graduate student theses that may be otherwise difficult to access. For those researching or simply interested in contemporary developments and discussions regarding Northwest Coast archaeology, this blog is a useful resource.

http://badarchaeology.wordpress.com/

The human past is a constant source of interest to members of the general public. However, they often receive information from non-reputable sources, which in turn generate fanciful, exaggerated, and misguided views about archaeology, artifacts, and past cultures. Run by archaeologist Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews, the Bad Archaeology blog seeks to combat these views, providing in-depth overviews of sites and artifacts that have generated considerable speculation and misinformation. Posts work to expose how distorted views of the past arise and how they are at odds with extant archaeological research. The academic tone and length of the articles may turn off causal readers, but for those looking for detailed debunkings of pseudo-science and poor scholarship, the Bad Archaeology blog has much to offer.

http://www.dayofarchaeology.com/

On its website, the Day of Archaeology project challenges readers to “find out what archaeologists really do.” This statement carries the assumption that considerable misinformation exists regarding the activities of practicing archaeologists. The Day of Archaeology project, run by a number of contract, university, and museum archaeologists, features detailed accounts of field research, lab work, and scholarship. The posts are engaging, convivial, and consistently convey archaeologists’ passion for their work and the importance of archaeological research. The blog is not organized along any obvious structure, though it contains a very useful search bar and drop down list of article categories. Its intended audience is clearly the general public, and it seems to enjoy fairly substantial readership, as evidenced by the numerous comments and dozens of Facebook likes each article receives. An excellent example of public scholarship, the blog not only imparts accurate archaeological information to the general public, but it also features a variety of contributing authors. As a result, readers are left with a diverse picture of what archaeology is and what archaeologists do.