What is "shovelbum"

n. (context US archaeology English) A professional excavator on cultural resource management projects, who has done extensive field work. vb. (context US archaeology English) To excavate, to do archaeology digs.

Shovelbum (from the Old English words scofl = shovel/an excavating tool and American English bum = person with no settled residence) is a term used by some archaeologists in the United States to refer to the professional excavators on cultural resource management projects. "Shovelbum" or "Digbum" is pejorative when used by non-professionals but defiantly proud when used by archaeologists about themselves. It is considered poor form for a professional who has not done time as a shovelbum to use the term in a derogatory fashion, especially in a classroom setting. Unlike a beach bum, the title "shovelbum" is conferred only after extensive field/lab work. Thomas F. King, an author of many influential CRM books quotes R. Joe Brandon, the founder of the Shovelbums in Doing Archaeology that "...any archaeologist worth their salt has spent time as a Shovel Bum."

When an archaeologist can say they have spent a certain number of years "on the road shovelbumming", peers and students alike understand that to mean that when the chips are down, regardless of the circumstances, this individual can produce quality scientific data and reports.