Overview
The JMT Wilderness Conservancy is looking for a temporary professional archeologist to conduct archeology and restoration monitoring in Mono County. This will be a 4-week temporary job in the backcountry of the Sierra Nevada from mid August to mid September. This position will conduct archaeological monitoring during heavy trail maintenance near artifacts and artifact concentrations. The Archaeological Specialist will work alongside a third-party restoration crew advising on protection measures in compliance with NEPA, CEQA, ARPA & Antiquities Act. This position will be working in remote, backcountry settings where they will do significant backpacking for extended periods of time. This work will support restoration of meadow ecosystem and riparian habitats in highly impacted areas. Please note that this is short-term role based out of Mammoth, CA.
Commitment: 4 weeks from mid August – mid September. Final dates are tentative and will be finalized in July as the seasonal snowpack recedes. It is important to note that the work window in the Sierra Nevada may vary based on seasonal snowpack, weather conditions and wildfire season.
Provided: accommodations, backcountry food and $1,300/week. No benefits.
Reporting & Confidentiality: Directly report to the JMT WC Project Coordinator relevant to their deployment area. The Archeology Specialist will sign a confidentiality agreement as required by Federal law.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Conduct archaeology and restoration monitoring during heavy trail maintenance near artifacts and artifact concentrations;
• Advise a restoration crew on recommended protection measures and techniques to comply with NEPA, CEQA, ARPA & Antiquities Act;
• Coordinate route plan and site progression with restoration crew and JMT WC Project Coordinator;
• Coordinate and work alongside National Forest scientists and rangers;
• Responsible for personal in-field risk management.
Required Skills:
• BA/BS degree from a recognized college or university with an emphasis in anthropology, archaeology, history of California, Native American studies, or a closely related field;
• Archeology field school experience with a minimum of 6 months of experience conducting archaeological fieldwork that includes survey, in-field artifact analysis, or site documentation;
• Have reliable transportation to the work assignment location and have a valid California Driver’s License;
Preferred Skills:
• Knowledgeable of the archaeology and cultural history of the Sierra Nevada Mountains or Inyo National Forest;
• Experienced in multi-day backcountry hiking/backpacking with the ability to perform sustained, physically-challenging work in high-elevation backcountry terrain;
• Ability to identify artifacts, cultural features, and archaeological sites;
• Strong interpersonal and management skills, preferably in outdoor recreation/education or environmental restoration;
About JMT Wilderness Conservancy
The JMT WC is dedicated to the conservation of the wilderness, wildlife and waters along the high Sierra Nevada crest defined by the John Muir Trail (est. 1915). Our mission is to restore and conserve the wilderness of the JMT corridor, in light of steeply increasing recreational use compounded by the effects of climate change. The region is roughly 20 miles wide and 220 miles north-to-south running from Yosemite Valley to just south of Mt. Whitney, and includes over 390 miles of trails and 2.8 million acres of surrounding wilderness areas along the high Sierra Nevada crest. We work with the National Park Service (NPS) and United States Forest Service (USFS) who design and implement the restoration projects, and add grants of public funds in addition to our private donations to support their efforts.
