Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 09:15:23 -0500
From: "Geraldine E. Baldwin" <[log in to unmask]>
Interesting. Here in the US we hardly ever excavate an entire
site-preservation of a portion of the site for future research and for the
ultimate costs involved in hand excavation. Yes, I do agree that if a site
is excavated in it's entirety that there is no point in "hiding" the
location; but this is rarely ever done.
I agree also that dissemination of information regarding a site is
important. Not only to the professionals, but to the public as well, since
it is their tax-paying money that ultimately sponsors most of our contract
CRM work.
We have a huge Public Education and Outreach program designed specifically
for educating the public about significant sites; through brochures, class
room lectures and slide presentations, public lectures, etc. Additionally,
in Maine, we have the Maine Archaeology Awareness Month (October). I
believe that most other states have a week dedicated to public education and
outreach. Through the PE&O program, we have found out that people do care
and are extremely interested in the archaeology "in their own back yard".
It is true that our younger "history" is being constantly torn down and
replaced by "overachieving" private housing or businesses, but that is also
something we are gaining on through preservation laws and public interest.
Thanks for the opportunity to express my opinions.
Geraldine
UMF ARC
Farmington, ME
----- Original Message ----->
> Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 12:09:23 -0500
> From: Andrew Schoenhofer <[log in to unmask]>
>
> I think that web publishing of site reports that are "safe" (the site's
> been dug completely) is vital to teaching people about the worth of
> historical inquiry.
>
> As well, I think it's very important to for archaeologists to learn from
> each other, and if they spend some time keeping up with reports from
> around
> the world they will learn something new. Here in Ontario people ossify
> their theories and interpretations about 5 minutes after they defend their
> dissertations. Symposia and conferences are under-attended . . . but
> that's another problem.
>
> >Or are we in fact protecting by publishing - by explaining exactly why
> >site X is important?
>
> This would be fine if people cared, but generally here in the New World
> the
> history of an area is far less important than ethnocentric history (people
> and movements, not place). People find it interesting that Natives have
> lived in Toronto for 10,000 years but don't really care enough to save
> sites or learn more about them. The idea that we Europeans are conquerors
> and therefore can overrun anything in our way is still very strong. Even
> "our own" buildings are being destroyed for modern development with nary a
> thought, and they're only 200 years old (which may be nothing to Europeans
> but is about 1/2 of the span of Euro-Canadian history).
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