Rethinking Research Sites as Wilderness Activity Sites

Abstract

Field research requires careful preparation so as to protect the integrity of archaeological studies and ensure the health and wellness of our students and field crews. In this special issue, we hope to lay a foundation for securing health and wellness as elements of the ethical practice of archaeology fieldwork through discussions of common hazards and tools to prevent, prepare for, and address safety incidents in the field. Even as archaeology and other field sciences grapple with serious safety concerns such as sexual harassment and mental health, it can be tempting to view field sites as extensions of the classroom or office. But field research can be a high-risk endeavor where we are exposed to a range of hazards not typically encountered in a traditional learning or work environment. We reach across disciplinary boundaries toward outdoor leadership and backcountry medicine to introduce the concept of wilderness context to describe the remote—and not-so-remote—locations and conditions common to archaeology field research. These are places where small or unanticipated problems can quickly become serious incidents. By rethinking research sites as wilderness activity sites, we highlight how methodical preparation can help us craft more robust and ethical health and safety practices for all members of our teams.

The Fieldwork Wellness Framework: a new approach to field research in ecology

“…2020; Peixotto et al . 2021), and EECB must do the same. We expect that adopting the Fieldwork Wellness Framework for EECB will allow for the recruitment and retention of more diverse researchers who are motivated, well, and better equipped to succeed professionally and advance their fields.…”

“…Addressing major flaws in EECB's current approach to fieldwork can help remove barriers faced by historically excluded groups and strengthen the research community as a whole. Overhauls in fieldwork practices are already underway within the anthropology, archeology, and geosciences communities (King et al 2020;Marín-Spiotta et al 2020;Peixotto et al 2021), and EECB must do the same. We expect that adopting the Fieldwork Wellness Framework for EECB will allow for the recruitment and retention of more diverse researchers who are motivated, well, and better equipped to succeed professionally and advance their fields.…”

“…Leadership has a responsibility to help researchers anticipate, avoid, and mitigate unsafe field situations and to foster inclusive environments (Demery and Pipkin 2021; Peixotto et al . 2021). At nearly every research institution, training in laboratory safety is a prerequisite for engaging in labwork, and training in sexual harassment and assault prevention is usually required for new employees.…”