DIG! on Summer Vacation: Experiential Learning On-Site at Colonial Williamsburg

Summary

This is an abstract from the "The Public and Our Communities: How to Present Engaging Archaeology" session, at the 2019 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

In 2015 Colonial Williamsburg introduced a participatory excavation, DIG! : Kids, Dirt, and Discovery, that is on course to engage more than 20,000 visiting children (ages 5-16) by the end of its fourth season. Making creative use of this museum’s archaeological and institutional resources, DIG!, offered on a disturbed site, provides opportunities for experiential learning on the part of participants, and of archaeologists seeking greater relevance and improved communication with general audiences. This paper examines ethical considerations in program development, educational mission, and the role that archaeology can play in helping short-term visitors to navigate and make connections within a living history museum.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2019   •
• The Public and Our Communities: How to Present Engaging Archaeology

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 289