UT Tyler Accredited by Register of Professional Archaeologists

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler has been accredited by the Register of Professional Archaeologists, Dr. Kenneth Wink, College of Arts and Sciences interim dean, announced. From the 100 universities nationwide that have field schools, UT Tyler is one of 12 that carry the certification. University officials say it highly qualifies graduates going into the applied archaeology field of cultural resource management. �This certification demonstrates to companies across the country that our graduates have the level of expertise that the companies need,� said Dr. Thomas Guderjan, UT Tyler assistant professor of anthropology and field school principal.

According to a UTT news release, engineering firms hire archaeologists to conduct environmental impact studies on a designated site before land development and building processes begin, should any archaeological discoveries of significant value be found. The RPA defines a field school is an ongoing research project that also aims to train students in how to conduct the research. According to the UTT release, student training activities are integrated into the planned research and designed to fulfill needed data collection activities as well as expose students to best practices in the planning and implementation of field research.

UT Tyler annually sends five to 10 students to its school in Belize. �Our students interact with other participants from across the world. It�s a cross-cultural experience. It�s work they can really dig and sink their teeth into,� added Guderjan, whose nonprofit work with the Maya Research Program allows the school to coexist with its research station in Belize. �We have students who have had interest in archaeology but don�t know where to go with it, and now more and more of them are getting involved. Many move on to graduate schools, schools in anthropology, and related fields.� Visit http://www.rpanet.org/ for more information about RPA. And you can go to http://www.mayaresearchprogram.org/ for more about the Maya Research Program.