To: HistArch members
From: The Society for American Archaeology

         The Society for American Archaeology recently awarded the 2005
Excellence in Public Education Award to the Museum of New Mexico's Office
of Archaeological Studies. [Press Release available at
http://www.saa.org/new/index.html]

         SAA confers this award annually to recognize outstanding
achievements by individuals or institutions in the sharing of
archaeological knowledge and preservation issues with the public. Since
1991, OAS has been a leader in exploring and identifying effective ways to
share archaeology knowledge with the public, including with audiences not
otherwise predisposed towards archaeological research and preservation.

         OAS invests time and effort in matching archaeological resources
to different community needs and interests. They engage the public at,
among other venues, county fairs, shopping malls, and at regional events
such the Festival of Cranes at the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge,
Alamogordo Earth Day, and the Inter-Tribal Ceremonial at Gallup. OAS
piloted an archaeology program for Santa Fe Girls, Inc, targeted at middle
school-aged girls and, in working with the Santa Fe Public Schools Indian
Education Program, has developed after-school science and math enrichment
lessons that explore the scientific foundations of traditional lifeways and
technologies.

         More recently, OAS has conducted archaeology tours for youth and
adults in substance-abuse recovery programs that are designed to help
rekindle pride in traditional knowledge and accomplishments. Through such
flexible customized programming OAS shares archaeology information with
traditional museum and academic audiences as well as with smaller, often
neglected groups such as Pueblo elders, artists, and home schoolers.

         OAS archaeologists believe that archaeological knowledge
complements the traditional histories and beliefs of the region s native
peoples. OAS laboratory specialists have worked with traditional religious
practitioners to identify ritual materials when supplies were depleted and
when elders have died and knowledge of plant sources has been lost. Staff
have also applied archaeology s science to investigate pottery firing and
locate new resources for the needs of the Native American artistic community.

         OAS furthermore expands its educational impact exponentially by
providing resources and expertise to local, state, and federal institutions
engaged in archaeology education. Among many examples, they have an ongoing
role in supporting the efforts to train staff, docents, and volunteers at
the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, New Mexico State Monuments, and
Bandelier National Monument. OAS efforts have also expanded across the
border into neighboring Mexico where staff have shared Southwest prehistory
in classrooms in cooperation with the Museo de las Culturas del Norte in
Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua.

         In sum, through their educational tours, lectures, artifact
displays, and direct assistance, OAS helps to generate an appreciation for
the richness of the cultural heritage of New Mexico. This is important
because the archaeological record is fragile, it warrants respect, and it
requires special care.

         For further information on the Office of Archaeological Studies at
the Museum of New Mexico, or for background on OAS archaeology education
activities, contact:

Tim Maxwell, PhD, Director
228 E. Palace Ave.
Santa Fe, NM 87501
telephone: 505-827-6343
fax 505-827-3904
email: [log in to unmask]

Direct Contact for the SAA Excellence in Public Education Award Committee:
Patrice L. Jeppson, Chair
Day and Evening Phone: (215) 563-9262
Email Address: [log in to unmask]


SAA Contact: John Neikirk (202/789-8200)
The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) is an international organization
dedicated to the research, interpretation, and protection of the
archaeological heritage of the Americas. With more than 7,000 members, the
Society represents professional, student, and avocational archaeologists
working in a variety of settings including government agencies, colleges
and universities, museums, and the private sector. SAA s annual meeting
attracts more than 3,000 archaeologists from around the world. For more
information on the Society for American Archaeology and its annual meeting,
visit its website at www.saa.org.