[3] Shelly Davis-King began her career in archaeology studying at the Pierce School for Girls in Athens, Greece followed by four years at University of California, Santa Barbara in the late 1960s.
[5] Although Davis-King had already engaged in professional consulting work while a student, her premature departure from Cambridge in 1979 led to a hiatus from the field of archaeology.
During this time, she contributed heavily to California's archeological record through various compliance documents, field reports, and historic context statements.
This work is done in conjunction with a variety of groups including federal and state agencies, utility companies, and Native American tribes themselves.
[6] In addition to her paid work throughout her career, Davis-King has been active in many professional associations, historic preservation organizations, and advocacy groups.
She has held or continues to hold leadership and service positions with the Society of California Archaeology,[1] the American Cultural Resources Association, and the Register of Professional Archaeologists.