It takes a community to bridge the professional-avocational divide: Collaborative archaeology at the Yahoola High Trestle

Abstract

ABSTRACTSupervised metal detecting is one way that community members can volunteer in the archaeological process, contributing to interpretations of the archaeological record. Given their demonstrated utility in archaeology, metal detector surveys are more frequently being incorporated into site investigations, adding an additional resource to better understand sites. Many archaeological projects limit opportunities for volunteer participation by requiring extensive metal detection training and equipment. We suggest that hobby metal detectorists with minimal formal training should, under close professional supervision, be incorporated into research strategies to evaluate sites. As a case study, we present the results of a collaboration between volunteers and professionals that incorporated metal detection to better understand the Yahoola High Trestle, a gold-rush era archaeological site in Lumpkin County, Georgia. The results of this project demonstrate the importance of collaboration and how hobby metal detectorists can contribute to archaeological fieldwork in a positive manner.