At the Kentucky Archaeological Survey, we have had great success with students
of all ages working on real archaeological sites.  Everything we do is public
orieneted, but it is real research with research goals.  We have proven that
quality research can be produced from public digs and information can be
distributed via a variety of methods outside of reports.  All of our projects
are research focused with an equal public involvement focus.  The key, as
someone has mentioned is to have a managable archaeologist to student ratio and
archaeologist who have some sense of social skills.
 
I think that it is important that we not gloss over what archaeology is.
Archaeology is digging, screening, washing, analyzing, and writing.  If the
public thinks it is boring then they should not become archaeologists.  I
understand that some people who visit our sites will not like the work and that
some will.  The point is not to make everyone want to be archaeologists (It is
hard enought to find a job!) but it is to expose everyone to archaeology and try
 
to give a positive experience as much as possible.  Those people who do not like
 
archaeology will leave the site with respect for what we do and why we do
archaeology.
 
Also, students, particularly young ones know when something is fake and it has
much less of an impact on them.
 
M. Jay Stotttman
Kentucky Archaeological Survey