Utah Project Archaeology
Project Archaeology is an educational organization dedicated to teaching scientific and historical inquiry, cultural understanding, and the importance of protecting our nation’s rich cultural resources. We are a national network of archaeologists, educators, and concerned citizens working to make archaeology education accessible to students and teachers nationwide through high-quality educational materials and professional development. Project Archaeology gives students a basic understanding of how archaeology works and teaches them to respect and protect our nation’s rich cultural heritage.
Mission
Archaeologists ask questions rooted in the social sciences and research those questions using scientific methods. The fusion of social and physical sciences means that archaeology is an excellent way to teach students both scientific inquiry and cultural understanding. Studying the past gives us a rare chance to examine our place in time and forge links with the human continuum. Everyone can touch the past, but sadly our opportunities are disappearing. The number of sites that have not been disturbed or looted is dwindling at an alarming rate. Through Project Archaeology, educators can help the schoolchildren of today know and experience America’s rich cultural heritage as the adults of tomorrow.
Discover the Past and Shape the Future
Project Archaeology uses archaeological inquiry to foster understanding of past and present cultures; improve social studies and science education; and enhance citizenship education to help preserve our archaeological legacy.
What We Do
We provide services to educators, students, and learners of all ages in three ways:
- High-quality curricular materials model authentic archaeological inquiry.
- Professional development for educators including classroom and informal educators.
- Support for Project Archaeology educators through state and regional programs, conferences, new materials, and networking opportunities.
Reasons to Choose Project Archaeology
- Resources needed to teach these interdisciplinary units are included in the teachers’ manuals.
- High-interest reading material in science and social studies.
- Investigations based on real archaeological sites and authentic data.
- Students “meet” members of descendant communities through each investigation.
- Inquiry-based lessons are aligned with national standards.
- Active learning – with numerous opportunities for reading, writing, and discussing.
- Social studies, science, and math lessons are embedded within the curriculum.
- A variety of assessment tools are included.
- Online resources available.
- Culturally relevant curricula for under-served audiences.
History
Project Archaeology is a national archaeology education program founded by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for educators and their students. Project Archaeology was developed in the early 1990s for three purposes: to develop awareness of our nation’s diverse and fragile archaeological sites, to instill a sense of personal responsibility for stewardship of these sites, and to enhance science literacy and cultural understanding through the study of archaeology. Project Archaeology is a joint program of Montana State University and the Bureau of Land Management. The program began in Utah in 1990 as a statewide project to combat the vandalism and looting of archaeological sites.