DePalma’s lack of a Ph.D. and support from a major institution make him vulnerable to running out of funds or otherwise losing control of the site. Fortunately, the jolt of publicity and DePalma’s connections with a local museum and a state university in Palm Beach County are likely to generate an influx of cash and political support. There is enough private wealth in Palm Beach to quickly underwrite the staff and facilities necessary to fully exploit, analyze, and display DePalma’s discoveries. And I imagine a certain prominent sometime resident of Palm Beach might even be engaged to support such an effort in his official capacity.
I gather that DePalma’s ability to control the site and leverage the popular press does not sit well with others in the field, but he has been burned twice in this cut throat world and he seems to be determined to avoid another burn. He knows someone from here in Kansas who was attacked by the “professionals” and in the end, chose to put his find on the open market. It got ugly and this one might end up the same way.