Quite agree. To most people we are nerds as proved by our obsession with something as boring as old stones. On hearing I was going down to Avebury, someone asked me "so how many animals are you going to sacrifice?" I said, as many as it takes to achieve world peace, and left it at that.
You're right, we need a good name if we're going to have any clout in promoting preservation. Antiquarian doesn't work very well, it's too nineteenth century rectorish. Archaeological researcher is all I can think of.
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