When someone says archaeologist, most people think of Indiana Jones or the Mummy movie series. Pretty much not how it really goes.
Neil Weintraub is a Forest Service archaeologist on the Kaibab National Forest.
Weintraub wrote this on the Kaibab Forest website:
"The archaeologist's role has changed substantially over our Forest Service tenure. Originally hired to conduct archaeological surveys prior to timber sales, we now coordinate the forest's program; manage projects involving volunteers; conduct educational programs across northern Arizona; conduct Passport in Time (PIT) projects; facilitate tribal consultations for forest managers; maintain heritage databases in the forest's Geographic Information Systems; nominate sites to the National Register of Historic Places; and survey, record and protect sites in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966."
According to Weintraub, more than 6,000 archaeological and historic sites have been recorded on the Kaibab National Forest.
More from Weintraub via the website:
"The majority of these sites are associated with "Cohonina," who occupied the Kaibab between AD 700 and AD 1100. They left stone houses, pottery shards, stone tools, grinding stones and rock art across the forest. The Williams Region Arizona Site Stewards monitor many of these sensitive sites, helping to report and deter vandalism."
Weintraub will lead a discussion and tour of some abandoned railroad spurs around Williams, Ariz. later this month as part of Archaeology Month. Above, Weintraub stands on stairs he speculates lead to an abandoned railroad spur in Williams.