The Granger House Project: Community Outreach and Public Archaeology in Castleton, Vermont

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Community outreach has played a major role in the Castleton Hidden History Project, which highlights a diverse and inclusive history of the Castleton, VT area from the end of the ice age through the present day. Grounded in interdisciplinary research and public participation, current archaeological work centers around Granger House, a historically significant 19th century home in the village of Castleton, VT. Since 2019, more than 300 adult and youth volunteers, ranging in age from 5-75, have participated in excavations around the house, and many more have interacted with the project through school and community presentations. This poster will present innovative outreach methodologies including the use of 3D and virtual reality technologies, together with the results of volunteer surveys designed to capture takeaways from the experience. Collectively, surveys reflect that public participation provides new knowledge of the scientific methods of archaeology, creates tangible connections to local history, and fosters an understanding of why that history is important to study and protect.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 37389.0