Ohio University alum Josh McConaughy ’06, Associate Director of Midwest Region for the Archaeological Conservancy, gave a feature presentation on “The Archaeological Conservancy in the Midwest” for Archaeology Month in October at the Athens County Historical Society & Museum.
He says his job at the conservancy was a “lucky break” that combines his anthropology and real estate interests and allows him to buy and preserve important archaeological sites in the Midwest.
McConaughy earned a B.A. in Anthropology from the College of Arts & Sciences at Ohio University. The Archaeological Conservancy is the only national non-profit organization that permanently preserves significant archaeological sites that are located on private property.
Josh McConaughy ’06
McConaughy gave a brief history of the conservancy, from its beginning in 1980 as a three-person operation to its current nationwide preservation efforts. He also talked about several sites that the conservancy has preserved throughout the Midwest, and he discussed what people can do to help in its efforts to preserve important archaeological sites for the future.
From Journalism to Anthropology
“Like many people my career in anthropology was a bit accidental,” he says. “I was not a kid that grew up dreaming of digging up tombs in Egypt or studying native tribes in different parts of the world. I never really even knew what anthropology was as a teenager thinking about my future career and college experience. My original interest in Ohio University was because of the renowned Scripps School of Journalism, and I was very excited when I was accepted into the broadcast journalism program back in 2001.
“During my freshman year, I took an introductory biological anthropology course, and all of that changed. To the dismay of my parents, I changed my major to anthropology my sophomore year and started to learn things and experience the world in a very different way.
“Flash forward to the beginning of my senior year, and I can truly say that I had learned a lot studying in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology,” he continues. “I had participated in an Archaeology Field School, and I’d done a summer internship at a primate sanctuary. I was lucky enough to be a studying under a department of instructors who really taught me how to think and cared about my learning experience.
“I still wasn’t quite sure what I was qualified to do with this degree, and I could hear my mother’s voice of doubt ringing in the back of my mind. I still had some time left before I graduated, so I decided to take some classes in real estate and get my license to sell houses. My timing could not have been worse as the recession and housing crisis hit its stride in 2006, but I did alright and was glad to have a job. About a year later, a friend of mine was looking through job listings on a website focused on archaeological work and came across something that he thought was very well suited for me,” McConaughy says.
The Archaeological Conservancy
“The job listing was for a position with the national nonprofit organization The Archaeological Conservancy. This organization buys land to preserve archaeological sites all over the United States. I got an interview with the Midwest regional office, and it seemed like a good match so I was offered the job. I had found a job that combined my experience in archaeology and real estate, which seemed pretty miraculous at a time when the economy was in bad shape and a lot of my friends were having trouble finding any type of job.
“I’ve been with The Archaeological Conservancy for eight years and it’s been a great job. I focus on site acquisition in an 11-state region. I research sites that are privately owned and contain archaeological sites and then work with the owners to purchase the land. We own sites that were occupied and utilized thousands of years ago, ones that are part of the more recent history of this country, and everything in-between. I have helped to acquire many important archaeological sites in the Midwest, and I’m proud to work for an organization that has preserved 500 different sites nationwide since our founding in 1980. So many archaeological sites have been and continue to be destroyed in this country and it’s nice to be part of something that helps to preserve our history for the future.
A Solid Foundation
“I didn’t study anthropology and sociology with the intent of preparing myself for a specific job, and maybe the fact that I found this career path was just a lucky break. I chose to study something that inspired me and really taught me how to interact with the world around me. My time at Ohio University gave me a solid foundation and allowed me to start to build my future after graduation. I’m proud to be part of this university and the department of sociology and anthropology and I’m grateful for all the help I received along the way.”
The Archaeological Conservancy is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to acquiring and preserving archaeological sites discovered on private land. They identify, acquire, secure, and manage the archaeological site as part of a long-term preservation plan. They also engage with and educate the general public about the preservation of our cultural heritage.
The purpose of the Athens County Historical Society & Museum is to collect, preserve, and display items of historical nature; to promote interest in and disseminate information about the history of Athens County and its people and to provide an organizational structure for affiliations by groups with similar historical interests.
Josh will speak at the Department of Sociology & Anthropology OHIO Archaeology Field School Alumni Panel on Oct. 14.
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