Editor's Corner

The authors propose reasons why we see more Canadian women than men in PhD programs but not in tenure-track positions, and they forewarn that the current COVID-19 pandemic may only increase these inequities. In order to determine if the number of submissions was relatively equal between men and women, perceived gender was based on multiple factors, including pronouns used on web pages and e-mail signatures, as well as other sources of information. In an attempt to tease out possible patterns, I looked at accepted articles from 2018 to 2020 by geographic area of study to determine if there were differences depending on the region of research (Table 1). Because of the subjectivity in identifying articles by topic, even with authors’ keywords, these data are not presented.

Editor's Corner

Cambridge University Press, along with the SAA, decided that it was time to update the covers of all the Society's journals, starting with the first issues in 2021. In the last issue of American Antiquity, Tim Kohler and Marcy Rockman challenged archaeologists to become actively involved in global climate responses and decision making. The process started organically with a Google Doc, where board members wrote their ideas on direction or added sections they thought were related and significant.

Finding Archaeological Relevance during a Pandemic and What Comes After

This article emerged as the human species collectively have been experiencing the worst global pandemic in a century. With a long view of the ecological, economic, social, and political factors that promote the emergence and spread of infectious disease, archaeologists are well positioned to examine the antecedents of the present crisis. In this article, we bring together a variety of perspectives on the issues surrounding the emergence, spread, and effects of disease in both the Americas and Afro-Eurasian contexts. Recognizing that human populations most severely impacted by COVID-19 are typically descendants of marginalized groups, we investigate pre- and postcontact disease vectors among Indigenous and Black communities in North America, outlining the systemic impacts of diseases and the conditions that exacerbate their spread. We look at how material culture both reflects and changes as a result of social transformations brought about by disease, the insights that paleopathology provides about the ancient human condition, and the impacts of ancient globalization on the spread of disease worldwide. By understanding the differential effects of past epidemics on diverse communities and contributing to more equitable sociopolitical agendas, archaeology can play a key role in helping to pursue a more just future.