Archaeological research and the academic process

This chapter considers the experiences of the authors as regards the relevance of archaeological research in an academic setting. Comparing their careers, the authors discuss both the opportunities and constraints that they have experienced in academia (including the relationship of academia to industry), consider their primary considerations – and motivations – as they develop their programs of research, and discuss what is expected from their research in their respective academic positions. The authors explore in particular the pressures that they have faced within universities with respect to research, fieldwork schedules, grant income and publications, and thus the extent that such pressures have influenced how each has crafted or presented their research over time.