Archaeology Public Outreach

When archaeologists first started using the term "public archaeology," it referred to archaeological projects funded by the public. Later, it took on meanings that included activities that engage the public in archaeology through lectures, interpretive signs, or tours of sites and excavations. Today, the term, and how archaeologists engage with communities, goes far beyond this. Public archaeologists investigate the outcomes of the various innovative ways we can engage the public in archaeological research as an audience, as clients, and as equal partners.

There are different areas of specialization within public archaeological practice, such as heritage education, cultural resource management (CRM), interpretation, museum studies, community collaboration, ethics, cultural tourism, among others. There are also different research objectives including education, awareness, activism, community-building, civic engagement, and social justice.

Archaeologists have many names for projects in which archaeologists and interested members of the public work together. These include "outreach," "public archaeology," "community archaeology," "community empowerment," "collaborative archaeology," and "applied heritage research." As the goals and methods of these projects change, so does the language.

As such, no fixed definition of public outreach is used here. Rather, these pages are designed to provide an understanding about the different ways archaeologists practice public archaeology.

Community Involvement in Archaeology

Community groups, descendants, elders, and local historians are just some of the many interested parties who work side-by-side archaeologists in exploring the past. Archaeologists frequently look to local residents for historical information, for assistance in the actual excavation of a site, or for research partnerships.

Many archaeologists encourage the public to be directly involved in archaeological projects. After all, it is their community and their heritage being studied! You could become an active participant in archaeological research and determine for yourself what archaeological resources mean to you and your community.

ATTENTION! BEWARE OF HOUSING POACHERS!

The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) has learned of a company that is attempting to do business with SAA exhibitors and attendees by soliciting them for sleeping rooms in regard to the SAA Annual Meeting. The SAA does not endorse booking hotel reservations via another company or source. The only authorized sources for making hotel room reservations for the annual meeting is the SAA website and with the hotel directly.

If you receive any solicitations either via email or telephone from other third parties/vendors incorrectly identifying themselves as an official SAA housing representative or member of exhibition services, we ask that you please delete the message immediately, ignore any further requests, and contact the SAA’s executive director immediately at +1 (202) 559-4580.