This post is first in a series about the staff of the County Archaeology Research Team. It seems only fitting to begin with the archaeologist with the longest current tenure at the Park Authority, John Rutherford. John, or JR as he is known to some, has more than 35 years experience as an archaeologist in the eastern and southwestern United States. His research specialties include prehistoric stone tool replication and refitting of lithic artifact assemblages. His responsibilities have included the direction, design and implementation of large and small scale archaeological projects; field and laboratory supervision, research, artifact analysis, photography, cartography, report writing and public outreach. Below, John answered a few questions about himself and archaeology for the blog:
Educational Background: Undergraduate and some graduate work, all at Arizona State University.
What made you want to study archaeology and choose it as a career? My mom was a history teacher, and in the 1960s, collected funds from school children for the National Geographic Society to help with the removal and reconstruction of Abu Simbel prior to the construction of the Aswan Dam. They sent her literature which started my fascination with archaeology.
How long have you been with Fairfax County? 20 years in January!
What are some of your most favorite projects that you’ve worked on? Mount Air in Fairfax County. Other projects include Hickory Bluff, a Native American site in Dover Delaware, a number Native American sites found as a result of the Whitehurst Freeway and Barney Circle projects for DCDOT in Washington DC, the Kettle Creek Native American site in West Branch Susquehanna, PA, and the Las Canopas Hohokam Village site in Tempe, Arizona.
Who is your favorite archaeologist (real or fictional, living or dead) and why? Dennis Knepper, the most science based, knowledgeable and spiritually powerful pro I have ever met or heard about.
What’s your favorite historical site, city, national park etc. that you’ve visited? London, England
What do you think the work of archaeology adds to the world? The study of the past can, hopefully, help later people learn from earlier peoples mistakes.
When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing? Playing harmonica, guitar, photography, and listening to vinyl records.
John has extensive experience in computerized mapping programs such as Surfer and GIS. Since joining the Fairfax County Park Authority twenty years ago he has been involved in building and maintaining GIS databases and maps of all cultural resources in the county. He has been the cultural resource representative on many park master plan teams, including large scale projects such as Laurel Hill and Sully Woodlands. He is a major author of the Cultural Resources Management Plan and its first year implementation plan. In addition, he developed and participated in a team to georeference all of the digital historic aerial photographs of the county, from 1937, 1943 and 1954 for use in GIS. He has participated in regional and national archaeological conferences, and been published in the GSA News Bulletin and Smithsonian websites and publications.
C.A.R.T. Archaeology 