Archaeologies-Journal of the World Archaeological Congress最新文献

As an individual responsible for assessing the effects of federal undertakings on cultural resources, I continually stress that valuing, protecting, and studying cultural heritage does not impede progress but enriches it. Many non-cultural resource professionals lack knowledge, understanding, respect, and experience in applying the federal, state, and local laws, which has created a sharp division not only within the archaeological community but also within society as whole. In this paper, I will demonstrate and discuss examples of how thorough and clear communication increases the ability to assess cultural resources sites, and efficacy in providing guidance through the regulatory process.

The Creadan Head Archaeological Project (CHAP) utilizes four decades of archaeological research on the earliest settlement of Ireland, some 10,000–12,000 years ago, as the basis for a heritage-tourism project in County Waterford, Ireland. Using best practices, CHAP is integrated into County Waterford’s economic development and heritage plans to provide opportunities for local community members to participate in the construction of their own heritage and ultimately making the region a Heritage and Ecotourism destination that includes videography, museum exhibits and heritage trails. The project team partners Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT, Republic of Ireland) with Geoarchaeology Associates (GAI, US) with a wide variety of local, national and international stakeholders including Waterford Treasures Museum, Waterford County Council, Waterford Chamber of Commerce.

During nearly five decades of working in public archaeology at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, I have witnessed and experienced the importance of public awareness of archaeology and American Indian cultures but also have seen the need to overcome stereotypes the public has about both. This has been accomplished at Cahokia Mounds through exhibits, public field schools, on- and off-site presentations, special events, lecture series, publications, social media, and events with Native American participation. I will review the philosophy and planning behind these various approaches and how they have evolved over the years.

American archaeology within the US today is focused on the identification and evaluation of historic properties in accordance with federal and state historic preservation legislation. While this has created a substantial body of work, for the most part, these studies are not visible or frankly of much value to the general public. Citing examples from the cultural resources management industry, the importance of public education and outreach is considered.

A 2017 Amerind Foundation Seminar involving leadership representatives of the Society for American Archaeology, the Society for Historical Archaeology, the American Anthropological Association, the Archaeological Institute of America, the American Cultural Resources Association, the National Park Service, the National Geographic Society, the National Science Foundation, the SRI Foundation, and other senior scholars resulted in an Action Plan that addressed the political threats to archaeology in the US, as well as the benefits and values of archaeology and the various constituencies and stakeholders of the archaeological world. A participant in the seminar and action plan, the author reviews these values and presents two scenarios, African American community engagement and the Veterans Curation Program, that illustrate the public benefits of an engaged archaeology.

Memorial University, located in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, was created in 1925 to help build a better future for the people of Canada’s easternmost province, whose largely rural fishing communities were rapidly transforming through industrialization and urbanization. Mandated by a “special obligation to the people of the province,” university archaeologists embraced applied, community-based projects which encouraged local solutions to the social and economic issues arising from the transformation to modernity. Today, community archaeology remains integral to our research program and the majority of our research is undertaken in partnership with rural and Indigenous populations who continue to be marginalized both geographically and economically. Two case studies describe how archaeological resources are being used to promote economic and social justice, as well as reconciliation, and how archaeology has the potential to make valuable local contributions that change lives in the present.

What utility does an archaeological education provide students choosing careers off well-trodden archaeological paths? What do these students bring to their careers and society at large? This paper focuses on some of the ways academic training in anthropological archaeology in the US offers students perspectives, skills, and knowledge that fits well with non-traditional careers. Despite a relatively dismal employment outlook for traditional archaeology jobs, archaeological education cultivates valuable critical thinking, project management, and technology skills useful in other career contexts. Archaeological graduates are flexible, informed professionals who understand and embrace cultural diversity. They enrich public awareness about the importance of archaeology and the preservation of cultural resources.