Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T19:00:11.810Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A Cultural History of Archaeological Education

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 January 2017

Carol J. Ellick*
Affiliation:
Archaeological and Cultural Education Consultants, Takoma Park, MD, (cjellick@theaceconsultants.com)

Abstract

To know where we are going, we need to know where we have been, so it seems only fitting that, to produce a special issue on designing and assessing public education programs in archaeology, we need to look back to the establishment of public outreach and archaeological education in the United States and, specifically, within the Society for American Archaeology. Archaeological education, as a subfield of archaeology, can trace its roots to individual efforts at sharing archaeology with the public, but especially to the first Save the Past for the Future Conference in Taos, New Mexico. It was here that the idea took root that, to stem vandalism and looting, we need to educate people about archaeology. This meeting was the springboard for federal initiatives like Project Archaeology and Passport in Time, and it was also the birthplace for the SAA Public Education Committee. For more than 25 years, archaeologists have been creating public outreach programs, students have graduated college thinking of public outreach as a career path, and TV shows have sensationalized our profession, but what do we really know about what we’ve done, whether we’ve made a difference, and how it can propel ourselves and future generations of archaeological educators forward?

Resumen

Resumen

Para saber a dónde vamos, hace falta saber dónde hemos estado; por tanto, para producir una edición especial acerca del diseño y evaluación de programas educativos públicos en arqueología, necesitamos realizar una retrospectiva hacia el establecimiento de actividades de divulgación y educación arqueológica en los Estados Unidos, y más específicamente dentro de la “Society for American Archaeology” (Sociedad para la Arqueología Americana). La educación arqueológica, como sub-campo de la arqueología, puede trazar sus raíces hacia los esfuerzos individuales que compartieron esta ciencia con el público, pero más específicamente, con la primera conferencia “Save the Past for the Future” (Salva el Pasado para el Futuro), llevada a cabo en Taos, Nuevo México. Fue aquí donde se introdujo formalmente la idea que, para enfrentar el vandalismo y saqueo, necesitamos educar a las personas sobre la arqueología. Esta reunión fue el trampolín para iniciativas federales como el “Project Archaeology” and “Passport in Time” (Proyecto Arqueología y Pasaporte en el Tiempo), y también el lugar de nacimiento del “SAA Public Education Committee” (Comité de Educación Pública de la SAA). Por más de 25 años los arqueólogos han creado programas de divulgación pública, los estudiantes se han graduado de la universidad pensando en la difusión pública como una carrera, y los programas de televisión han hecho sensacionalismo sobre nuestra profesión, pero ¿qué sabemos realmente sobre lo que hemos realizado?, ¿hemos hecho una diferencia?, y ¿en qué forma nosotros y las futuras generaciones de especialistas en arqueología educativa nos podemos impulsar hacia adelante?

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 2016

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References Cited

American Anthropological Association (AAA) 2016. American Anthropological Association. Electronic document, http://www.americananthro.org/LearnAndTeach/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=2642&navItemNumber=576, accessed July 20, 2016.Google Scholar
Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) 2016. Archaeological Institute of America. Electronic document, https://www.archaeological.org/about, accessed July 20, 2016.Google Scholar
Archeological Assistance Division 1990. Everything We Know about Archeology for You to Use in Your Classroom: Workshop Guide for Teachers. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Bender, Susan J., and Smith, George S. 2000. Teaching Archaeology in the Twenty-First Century. Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Berger, Edward F. 1993. Writing Down Crow Canyon. Southwest Research and Educational Services, Sedona, Arizona.Google Scholar
Center for American Archeology 2014. About Us. Electronic document, http://www.caa-archeology.org/about-us/about/, accessed July 20, 2016.Google Scholar
Derry, Linda, and Malloy, Maureen (editors) 2003. Archaeologists and Local Communities: Partners in Exploring the Past. Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Ellick, Carol J. 1990. For the Classroom. Archaeology and Public Education. 1(1):7.Google Scholar
Ellick, Carol J. 1998. Annotated Bibliography of Arizona Heritage Preservation Education Materials for Kindergarten through Twelfth Grades. Public Archaeology Series 2, Statistical Research, Inc., Tucson, Arizona.Google Scholar
Formal Education Subcommittee 1995a Guidelines for the Evaluation of Archaeology Education Materials. Society for American Archaeology, Public Education Committee. Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Formal Education Subcommittee 1995b Teaching Archaeology: A Sampler for Grades 3 to 12.. Society for American Archaeology, Public Education Committee. Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Friedman, Edward 1990. Historical Perspective. Archaeology and Public Education. 1(1):14.Google Scholar
Friedman, Edward 1991. Public Education Committee Report to the Board, submitted November 15, 1991. Manuscript on file, Society for American Archaeology Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Friedman, Edward 2000. Preface. In The Archaeology Education Handbook: Sharing the Past with Kids, edited by Smardz, Karolyn and Smith, Shelley J., pp. 1316. AltaMira Press, Walnut Creek, California.Google Scholar
Friedman, Edward, and Messenger, Phyllis Mauch (editors) 1990. Task Force on Public Education Action Plan. Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Heath, Margaret A. (editor) 1994. Intrigue of the Past: Discovering Archaeology in Arizona. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Heath, Margaret A. 2014. Past, Present, and Future Directions of Heritage Education. Paper presented at the Society for American Archaeology 79th Annual Meeting. Electronic document, http://www.saa.org/portals/0/saa/meetings/esymposium/heath.pdf, accessed February 5, 2016.Google Scholar
Hoffman, Teresa L, and Lerner, Shereen 1988. Archaeological Assistance Program Technical Brief No. 2, October 1988, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington, D.C. Electronic document, https://www.nps.gov/archeology/pubs/techbr/tch2.htm, accessed June 27, 2016.Google Scholar
Judge, James, and Bruen, Bliss 1990. Save the Past for the Future, Action Items for the ‘90s. Report on file with the Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
King, Eleanor M. 2016. Systematizing Public Education in Archaeology. Advances in Archaeological Practice. 4(4 ):415424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knoll, Patricia C. 1990. Listing of Education in Archeological Programs: The LEAP Clearinghouse 1987-1989 Summary Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service Archaeological Assistance Division, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Kowalczyk, Stefanie 2016. Excavating the “Who” and “Why” of Participation in a Public Archaeology Project. Advances in Archaeological Practice. 4(4 ):454464.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lipe, William D. 1977. A Conservation Model for American Archaeology. In Conservation Archaeology: A Guide for Cultural Resource Management Studies, edited by Schiffer, Michael and Gumerman, George, pp. 318. Academic Press, Waltham, Massachusetts.Google Scholar
Lynott, Mark 1997. Ethical Principles and Archaeological Practice: Development of an Ethics Policy. American Antiquity. 62(4 ):589599.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McNutt, Nan 1988. Project Archaeology: Saving Traditions. Archaeology for the Classroom. Sopris West, Inc., Longmont, Colorado.Google Scholar
Malloy, Maureen, and Jeppson, Patrice L. 2009. Public Outreach Efforts at SAA: Collaborating for Effective Community Engagement. SAA Archaeological Record. 9(4 ):3032.Google Scholar
Messenger, Phyllis Mauch 1992. Strategic Plan of the Public Education Committee. Manuscript on file, Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Messenger, Phyllis Mauch 1999. Highlights of a Round Table Discussions and Some Recent Developments in the Cultural Heritage Arena. In The Ethics of Collecting Cultural Property: Whose Culture? Whose Property?. 2nd ed, edited by Messenger, Phyllis Mauch, pp. 217241. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Messenger, Phyllis Mauch, and Smith, George S. (editors) 2010. Cultural Heritage Management: A Global Perspective. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, Sarah E. 2014. Archaeology Education at a Crossroads. Public Education and Interpretation, Society for Historical Archaeology. Electronic document, https://sha.org/blog/2014/05/archaeology-education-at-a-crossroads/, accessed July 20, 2016.Google Scholar
National Historic Preservation Act 1966. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. Electronic document, http://www.achp.gov/docs/nhpa%202008-final.pdf, accessed June 26, 2016.Google Scholar
Passport in Time (PIT) 2016. Passport in Time Clearinghouse. Electronic document, www.passportintime.com, accessed July 20, 2016.Google Scholar
Project Archaeology 2015. State Programs. Electronic document, http://projectarchaeology.org/state-programs, accessed July 20, 2016.Google Scholar
Ramos, Maria, and Duganne, David 2000. Exploring Public Perceptions and Attitudes about Archaeology. Report prepared by Harris Interactive for the Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Reetz, Elizabeth, and William, Quackenbush 2016. Creating Collaborative Learning Opportunities for Indigenous Youth with Archaeology-Based Environmental Education. Advances in Archaeological Practice. 4(4 ):490502.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogge, A. E., and Bell, Patti 1989. Archeology in the Classroom: A Case Study from Arizona. Archaeological Assistance Program Technical Brief. No. 4, May 1989, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington, D.C. Electronic document, https://www.nps.gov/archeology/pubs/techbr/tch4.htm, accessed June 27, 2016.Google Scholar
Sgouros, Rebecca, and Stirn, Matthew A. 2016. Community Heritage and Place-Based Learning at the Linn Site, Idaho. Advances in Archaeological Practice. 4(4 ):479491.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smardz, Karolyn, and Smith, Shelley J. (editors) 2000. The Archaeology Education Handbook: Sharing the Past with Kids. AltaMira Press, Walnut Creek, California.Google Scholar
Smith, George S., McManamon, Francis P., Anzalone, Ronald D., Hand, James W., and Maxon, James C. 1988. Archeology and the Federal Government. CRM Bulletin, Vol. 11: Special Issue. Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Smith, George S., Messenger, Phyllis M., and Soderland, Hilary A. (editors) 2010. Heritage Values in Contemporary Society. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, California.Google Scholar
Smith, K. C. 1991a At Last, a Meeting of Minds. Archaeology. 44(1):3639.Google Scholar
Smith, K. C. 1991b Classroom Sources for Archaeology Education: A Resource Guide. Public Education Committee, Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Smith, K. C, and Douglass, Amy 2001. History Beneath the Sea: Nautical Archaeology in the Classroom: Teaching with Archaeology Teaching Module No. 1.. Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Smith, Shelley, Moe, Jeanne, Letts, Kelly, and Paterson, Danielle 1990. The Intriguing Past: Investigating Archaeology. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Smith, Shelley 1993. Intrigue of the Past: A Teachers Activity Guide for Fourth through Seventh Grades. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History 2016. Anthropology Outreach Materials. Electronic document, http://anthropology.si.edu/outreach/outrch1.html, accessed July 20, 2016.Google Scholar
Society for American Archaeology (SAA) 1990. Executive Board Meeting #77, Wednesday, April 18, 1990. Electronic document. https://ecommerce.saa.org/saa/staticcontent/staticpages/board/frames.html, accessed July 20, 2016.Google Scholar
Society for American Archaeology (SAA) 1995. Save the Past for the Future II: Report of the Working Conference. Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Society for American Archaeology (SAA) 1997. Program. 62nd Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Nashville, Tennessee.Google Scholar
Thomas, Ben, and Langlitz, Meredith Anderson 2016. Archaeology Fairs and Community-Based Approaches to Heritage Education. Advances in Archaeological Practice. 4(4 ):465478.CrossRefGoogle Scholar