Forrest Fenn

[clovisoid]

I read this morning that Forrest Fenn passed away. Another larger than life personality who left his mark on our hobby/shared interest.

Many of us knew of him for the Fenn Cache (purchaser & publisher, not the finder) and later on he became really famous for his treasure hunt. He lived an interesting life. RIP

[clovisoid]

For a little more context- This is part of an article Forrest wrote after he helped set up and host the Clovis & Beyond conference in Santa Fe, NM back in 1999, and some people protested after the fact that collector collections and knowledge was included and put on display. It opened doors to a lot more research than many people realize.

>>>>>

Public money for archaeological research is rapidly becoming an endangered species, necessitating an increased dependence on private funding, much of which comes either directly from collectors or is heavily influenced by them. There are things professional archaeologists can do to help themselves. Here is some advice and a few observations from Indiana Jones to the SAA

1. I am born of you and am nourished by your lectures, your reports, and your beautiful museum displays. Thank you for giving me life.

2. Leave the jargon at home. Your future depends on increased public interest, and that's where your future funding will originate. If 14-year-old students don't understand your report, you're doing it wrong. And incidentally, color in books is OK.

3. Stop whining about what amateurs are doing. You have bigger problems at home, like unreported field work, for starters.

4. Collectors are not going away, and you're heavily outnumbered. Get used to it and learn from them.

5. Don't get carried away with your importance. Private property rights come first, now and always.

6. If it's a Canis Latrans bone, give us a break; say it's part of a coyote.

7. Your peers already know you're smart, so write for the rest of us sometime. We'll buy your book and read it; they probably won't

8. Lighten up. It's not as if dreaded diseases are being cured or famines being prevented by archaeology. You should be enjoying it more.

Forrest Fenn

[Kentucky point]

A true adventurer. RIP

[chase]

it's been a crazy year....rip mr Fenn...he absolutely did it his way.