Building a Portal to the Past: Practicing Archaeology in the Present for the Future

Summary

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

It is well known that archaeology is done in the present with the future in mind, something archaeologists can sometimes easily forget. We care about the remnants of the past and put an extraordinary amount of effort into studying, preserving and protecting them because they tell a story about the people and places that matter to us, today, in the present. We often can only hope that those stories, whatever they may be, matter to others, and will continue to have value for future generations. To ensure that archaeology remains relevant to future generations and better serves Indigenous and descendant communities, it is argued here that the discipline of archaeology, through those who practice and participate in it, need to plan and prepare for the future. Our past and present can show us existing tools that can be very effective in preparing for the future and serving others, including: legislation, policies, management plans, strategies, and frameworks. When these tools are in place, and work well together, archaeology thrives, Indigenous and descendent communities are better served, and we are prepared to adapt to whatever the future of archaeology may be.

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): 53523