Archaeology interprets past cultures and economies by studying material remains and environmental data. Long associated with analyses of classical civilizations such as Greek and Roman, it is also applicable to more modern times. For example, in 2001 the University of Arizona Press published Rubbish: The Archaeology of Garbage, an analysis of contemporary America’s disposal culture. […]

In a previous column I asked, “What should we do about ecologically valuable areas that are also rich in energy resources? At current prices, these areas act like huge electromagnets, attracting evermore attention.” Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front for example, contains oil and gas deposits. It is also excellent grizzly habitat, a place where they can […]

Last week I had the good fortune to witness and share two contrasting experiences reflecting Montana’s past. One, a hallmark of our region, is easy to appreciate. The other has been neglected, but it may have a more lively future. First, consider the easy one, a roping clinic. Our neighbor, Scott Foster, recently built a […]

With the price of oil flirting around $150 a barrel, Americans’ views on energy and the environment are changing. Polling by the Pew Research Center indicates that people across party lines believe that expanding oil drilling and building new power plants should take priority over energy conservation. Have Americans abandoned support for environmental protection? The […]