The SHA Public Education and Information Committee is sponsoring a two part session on Public Archaeology. Please see abstract below. We invite all those interested in participating to contact the session chairs listed below:
Part 1:
Jay Stottman [log in to unmask]
John Jameson [log in to unmask]
Part 2:
Carol McDavid [log in to unmask]
Many Archaeologies for Many Publics:
Public Archaeology Then, Now, and in the Future
Sponsored by
Society for Historical Archaeology Public Education and Information Committee
Part One: Paper Session
Chairs:
John Jameson and M. Jay Stottman
Since the first public site tour, archeological booklet, and museum exhibit, there has been public archaeology. However, public archaeology has become much more than just exposing the public to the products of archaeological research. It is developing into a subfield of archaeology with its own theory, methods, and research objectives. Most, if not all archaeological projects consist of some type of public archaeology and from it have developed related archaeologies, such as educational archaeology, archaeology activism, applied archaeology, civically engaged archaeology, and the archaeology of social justice. This session will focus on examining the current issues and trends in public archaeology and how we can redefine it for the future. Is it a subfield of archaeology? What are the theoretical and methodological underpinnings? What are its goals? How do we educate and train practitioners of public archaeology? What is public archaeology’s role in archaeology and anthropology as a whole? And how does it interface with related fields, such as public history and interpretation? The purpose of the session is not to create a fixed definition of public archaeology, but instead seeks to provide a snapshot of where public archaeology is in 2007, as this part of archaeological practice gallops towards the future.
Part Two: Forum
Chairs:
Carol McDavid and Patti Jepson
As described in the abstract for Part One, public archaeology has become much more than just exposing the public to the products of archaeological research. It is developing into a subfield of archaeology with its own theory, methods, and research objectives. Most, if not all archaeological projects consist of some type of public archaeology and from it have developed related archaeologies, such as educational archaeology, archaeology activism, applied archaeology, civically engaged archaeology, and the archaeology of social justice. This forum will serve as a place to further discuss the issues raised in “Part One”, and continue to examine current issues and trends in public archaeology in terms of potential future developments. Panelists will attempt to bring the formal session papers into greater relief, and to connect the issues raised in the session to those which may not be formally represented in the session papers. "Real" discussion between panelists and attendees will be a feature of this forum as well. To recap a key point from the session abstract: the purpose of both session and forum is not to create a fixed definition of public archaeology, but instead to provide a snapshot of where public archaeology is in 2007, as this part of archaeological practice gallops towards the future.
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