The Evolution of Public Archaeology in Pensacola

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Pensacola has been invested in public archaeology since the 1980s when Dr. Judith Bense began the Hawkshaw Project. Since then, archaeologists have continued to prioritize and promote public engagement, education, and stewardship through books, exhibitions, presentations, field trips, and a variety of other methods. This research examines the evolution of public archaeology in Pensacola from the Hawkshaw Project, through the creation of the Florida Public Archaeology Network, and what it means to do public archaeology today. Using the diverse assemblage of prehistoric and historic artifacts recovered during the Hawkshaw excavation and later displayed in a public-turned-private office space, publicly accessible physical and digital exhibitions were created. This research is aimed at bringing legacy collections back to the public sphere to tell new and relevant stories while simultaneously exploring best practices in exhibit design and collections-based research.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 53310