Mitigating Chronic Diseases during Archaeological Fieldwork

Abstract

Chronic diseases and preexisting conditions shape daily life for many archaeologists both in and out of the field. Chronic issues, however, can be overlooked in safety planning, which more often focuses on emergency situations because they are considered mundane, or they are imperceptible to project directors and crews until a serious problem arises. This article focuses on asthma, diabetes, and depression as common medical conditions that impact otherwise healthy archaeologists during fieldwork, with the goal of raising awareness of these conditions in particular, and the need to be more attentive to chronic diseases in general. Archaeological fieldwork presents novel situations that put those with chronic diseases and preexisting conditions at risk: environmental hazards, remoteness from medical and social resources and networks, lack of group awareness, and varying cultural norms. As a result, if chronic diseases are not attended to properly in the field, they can lead to life-threatening situations. Managing the risk presented by these conditions requires a group culture where team members are aware of issues, as appropriate, and collaborate to mitigate them during fieldwork. Descriptions of how chronic diseases affect archaeologists in the field are followed by “best practice” recommendations for self-management and for group leaders.

Archaeology in 2021: Repatriation, reclamation, and reckoning with historical trauma

“…Documenting how pervasive harassment, discrimination, exclusion, and exploitation are throughout the discipline has brought attention to the need for significant change (2021b, 448), but Voss also notes five major obstacles to that change-"normalization, exclusionary practices, fraternization, gatekeeping, and obstacles to reporting" (449). These barriers need to be addressed through clear adjustments to archaeological culture, including fieldwork , publication practices (Heath-Stout 2020), funding and career progression (Overholtzer and Jalbert 2021), and a greater understanding of holistic well-being within the discipline (Eifling 2021;Klehm, Hildebrand, and Meyers 2021), including making meaningful change to remove barriers and increase accessibility.…”

“…These barriers need to be addressed through clear adjustments to archaeological culture, including fieldwork (Davis et al. 2021; Emerson 2021), publication practices (Heath‐Stout 2020), funding and career progression (Overholtzer and Jalbert 2021), and a greater understanding of holistic well‐being within the discipline (Eifling 2021; Klehm, Hildebrand, and Meyers 2021), including making meaningful change to remove barriers and increase accessibility.…”

Chapter 1 Confronting America's Archaeological Legacies

“…Some fieldwork assumes participants have no need for electricity (Heath-Stout 2022) or other modern conveniences. As such, both the field and the lab are seen as places unfit for anyone with physical disabilities or developmental delay (Heath-Stout 2022; Klehm et al 2021;Phillips and Gilchrist 2012). Ableism "creates the illusion that all archaeologists are nondisabled and makes it difficult for those of us who have disabilities to succeed" (Heath-Stout 2022).…”