The Microscopic World and Curated Collections as Entry Points to Discuss Archaeological Stewardship with Multiple Publics

Summary

The very word “archaeology” conjures interest by the public generally. Finding meaningful ways to

engage that interest, however, is less straight-forward for practitioners, educators, and researchers.

Sitting within any given repository of archaeological materials are collections in need of additional

documentation and analysis, some of which may have not been handled since the time of their initial

excavation and curation. Additionally, while much can be learned through microbotanical research

(specifically phytolith analysis), the necessary training in the laboratory preparation of samples and their

subsequent examination proves a stumbling-block. Questions involving paleoethnobotany are

doubtless of interest to many groups of people, but the very use of this term demonstrates how

archaeological jargon can discourage the participation of the general public. This paper will highlight

several cases where the author has used archaeological/paleoethnobotanical materials in innovative

ways in many settings to engage various publics with archaeology, the microbotanical record, and issues

of heritage and stewardship.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Public Engagement and Education: Developing Heritage Stewardship

Keywords

Spatial Coverage