Have you ever heard of Project Archaeology? Project Archaeology is a national heritage education program designed to teach young Americans to appreciate and protect our nation's rich cultural heritage. Sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management, Project Archaeology began in Utah in 1990. Since then, 19 states have established or are establishing programs.

Educators like Project Archaeology. It supports the existing curriculum, includes hands-on activities, and is flexible: it can be used in a variety of ways, including interdisciplinary studies. They also like Project Archaeology because it provides information about local archaeology and history, and gives teachers an opportunity to receive professional development credit. Because young people like to learn about other cultures, past and present, Project Archaeology also appeals to students. It involves them in the learning process and models a real profession and real world problems.

A complete program evaluation of Utah Project Archaeology in 1993 surveyed 550 educators who had taken workshops. It found that of the educators who returned questionnaires, 82% stated that they were still using the program and that most students changed their attitudes regarding the conservation of archaeological resources as a result of instruction.

Project Archaeology consists of three components: quality educational materials, Project Archaeology workshops, and continuing professional development.

Quality Educational Materials

Intrigue of the Past: A Teacher's Activity Guide for Fourth through Seventh Grade and each state's Student Handbook or support materials provide the lessons and the information about local archaeology and history. Intrigue contains 28 classroom-tested lessons that use history and archaeology to teach science, math, history, social studies, art, language arts, and higher-level thinking skills, such as problem solving, synthesis, and evaluation. Lessons address multiple learning and teaching styles and include many hands-on activities. All lessons are either self-contained, or require only readily available materials. Students confront archaeological preservation problems and propose solutions through discussion, debate, and problem solving.

Intrigue is divided into three sections. The first section, Fundamental Concepts, covers the basic concepts needed to understand archaeological inquiry and interpretation: observation, inference, context, chronology, classification, culture, and scientific inquiry. The second, The Process of Archaeology, simulates the profession of archaeology including data gathering and analysis. The final section, Issues in Archaeology, presents students with issues surrounding archaeological resource protection and provides opportunities for forming opinions.

The State Student Handbook or support materials are designed to supplement Intrigue. They include information about local prehistory and history, corresponding lessons or suggestions for classroom activities, and a guide to local resources/resource people.

Project Archaeology Workshops

The workshops bring archaeology to life and ensure optimal use of the activity guide. Participants discover the science of archaeology and its applications in their classrooms by doing Intrigue lessons designed to teach basic concepts and principles. Each workshop is lead by a facilitator team made up of a teacher/educator and a professional archaeologist. Participants engage in discussions and activities regarding the ethics of archaeological site protection and Native American perspectives on archaeological site preservation. All workshops are routinely evaluated for content and instructional quality.

Teachers work together on a lesson.

Continuing Professional Development

Project Archaeology workshop graduates continue their professional development through printed updates, networking opportunities, awards for educational excellence, and additional learning and teaching opportunities.

Kentucky Project Archaeology Workshops

Though workshop size is limited (20 participants), educators of all kinds may attend. To reserve a spot for yourself for an upcoming Project Archaeology Workshop contact one of the workshop organizers (see below). Participants are responsible for their own lodging.

LaDonna Brown, member of the Chickasaw Nation, shares with workshop participants one native group's views on site protection and preservation.

Participants (teachers and facilitators) at Kentucky's first Project Archaeology workshop, held February 2000 at Wickliffe Mounds Research Center, Wickliffe, Kentucky.