organizations, and schedule events. States
have taken from three to thirteen months to
plan archeology week (Figure 3). On
average, planning begins at least six months
in advance, and organizational meetings
occur once or twice a month. Some
agencies and organizations might complain
that it is difficult to commit to specifics so
far in advance. An early starting point is
vital to allow coordinators and sponsors
enough time to shape quality programs.
Starting early also leaves time to raise funds
and design promotional posters and
brochures.

Sponsoring: Giving Money and Energy

Funding is the most critical element in
sustaining archeology week. Committees
must search extensively to secure sufficient
funds and be increasingly inventive in
soliciting help and finding co-sponsors.
Combining volunteer assistance with in-kind
and outright funds from Federal, State, and
private sources finances most programs

(Figure 4).

Many archeologists and their professional
organizations are asked to co-sponsor
events, donate time and money, and to
lecture and give demonstrations. In our
survey the number of participants ranged
from 6 to 100 in each state. Alaska, Hawaii,
New York, and West Virginia depend, in
large part, on professionals working in the
state. College archeology students are
pivotal contributors in Minnesota.

Avocational organizations are an important
source for volunteers and financing. In
Washington, they plan the archeology week
(personal communication, Whitlam) and in
Texas, 20 avocational societies help the state
archeologist with the program (personal
communication, Cruse 1997).

Museums and universities also provide in-
kind donations and sponsor events.
Museums have facilities for exhibits and
lectures and an audience that is prepared and
willing to learn. Universities have lecture
facilities and students who are willing to
volunteer in order to obtain experience.

More states are tapping private business for
support. Archeological consulting firms are
prominent among these sponsors. Utility
companies involved in compliance
archeology also are important contributors.
In exchange, they receive considerable
goodwill publicity. Many private
contributions are directed toward producing
posters. The list of contributors printed on
them is great publicity for a company.

Private foundations are underutilized as a
funding source. Only Kansas reported
support from a local foundation.
Foundations contribute millions to specific
causes annually including historic
preservation and education programs. These
contributions are substantial and can sustain
archeology week for several years.

Fewer states are seeking grants from their
humanities councils. These grants are for
small amounts of money and usually cover
items like the posters, brochures, copying,
postage and honoraria. These grants are
never guaranteed and may come with strings
attached. For instance, a final report is
usually required and strict documentation of
expenditures is needed. The management of
the grant is time consuming, which has
discouraged states from submitting
proposals.


Events

Attendance is often used to measure the
success of an event, though what the
audience learns is equally important. From
the survey events common to all states were
site tours, lectures, demonstrations, and
exhibits. The most popular events are those
that involve hands-on activities. Children’s
events are especially appealing to parents
who are looking for activities to share with
their kids.

Site tours are the best attended events,
particularly those with excavations in
progress. The public enjoys this “behind the
scenes” view. These tours provide a chance
to graphically demonstrate what is lost when
a site is destroyed or looted. Some states
also use tours to emphasize the importance
of reporting sites. Schools find field trips to
sites appealing, particularly if tied to lessons
being taught in the classroom.

Lectures have varied success depending on
the topic and the target audience. They are
particularly appealing to those already
interested in archeology and if the topic is of
local interest. Talks that are too technical do
not hold the attention of a general audience.
Demonstrations of tool making and other
types of experimental archeology are very
popular. Native Americans sponsor and
participate in these programs in many states.
Events that illustrate a state’s cultural
heritage are well attended.

Exhibits are useful for presenting current
information about archeology in the state to
a broad audience. Panels can be rotated to
present diverse stories, and traveling exhibits
can be shared between sponsors in remote,
rural communities. Artifact identification
emphasizes the importance of reporting finds
to an archeologist. Needless to say, the

10

promotion for such an event should be
phrased so as not to encourage looting.

The survey indicated that more events are
being designed for school groups. Teachers
are provided with study guides, traveling
trunks, children’s books, and curriculum
about archeological sites. Several states also
have essay contests and competition for
designing posters and bookmarks.

Examples of other innovative events are:
lectures held during school lunch in
Alabama; a 5K race with picnic and raffle in
Connecticut; re-enactment’s at state parks in
Florida; island to island plane tours in
Hawaii; piecing together artifacts in
Massachusetts; video-taping events for
public access TV in Missouri; archeology
sleep-ins at museums in Virginia; and historic
train rides and canoe trips in Washington.

According to organizers, the more novel the
event, the more likely people will remember
it--and become more involved in preserving
the past. New Mexico, for example, has
sponsored a murder mystery weekend at a
historic hotel. It seems that participants
listened so closely for clues that they learned
a great deal about the people who had lived
in the area (Sebastian and Cushman 1992:5).
Finally, events should always provide the
audience information on how to help protect
archeological resources, how to report a
find, and how to volunteer. Sponsors can
provide a brochure or flier which lists
telephone numbers and “how to”
information.

The Future of Archeology Weeks

Archeology weeks are extremely successful
outreach programs. They have reached
hundreds of thousands of people, raised
money for archeology, and raised public


Figure 4. Sample of Sponsors of
State Archeology Week

Source: NPS Survey 1996

There are products that may serve as
alternative sources of revenue. The public

might want to purchase posters, lesson plans,

teacher guides, children’s books, and tee
shirts. These products could be sold to
bookstores, schools and visitors.

It is nearly impossible to calculate the cost of
archeology week. Most states only track the
cost for products, committee salaries,
honorarium, postage, mailing, and supplies.
These costs ranged from $1,000 to $21,000,
the average being $8,700. Few states could
estimate in-kind donations and volunteer
time. The following estimates were
provided; Oregon ($28,000), Texas
($50,000), Vermont ($15,000), and
Washington ($30,000). Figure 5 displays the
range of total costs reported in the survey.
To assist in future fund-raising efforts, more
detailed records of expenses and in-kind
contributions should be kept.

Publicity

An archeology week will never succeed
without publicity. There is no point in
creating fabulous programs if no one knows
about them. Sponsors should plan to spend
considerable time finding ways to publicize
events.

The standard promotional kit usually
includes a governor’s proclamation, poster,
and a calendar of events. The poster has
become the symbol for archeology week. It
is a more attractive, creative and professional
product. Budgets usually cover poster
production, unless it is donated from a local
company. Contests are one means for
designing them. One suggestion is to
advertise the contest as an art contest to
generate more creative entries. Awards can
be given to winning entries. For example,
winners of the Maryland’s poster contest
spent a day at the Archeology Society of
Maryland (ASM) Field Session and the
runners up received tee shirts. The poster
can be mailed with other information on the
archeology week to schools, museums, and
libraries for public display. Posters can be
placed in high-traffic areas, such as


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bookstores, supermarkets, shopping malls,
and business offices.

The calendar of events lists the events, their
time and place, sponsor, contact person,
fees, pre-registry requirement, or age limit if
the events are for children. The calendar
may occur on the back of the poster, ina
brochure, or as a booklet. Coordinators
recommend a simple and easily
understandable design that includes several
phone numbers to call for more information.
The calendar can be sent to libraries,
museums, and schools to be displayed and
distributed to the patrons and students.

The governor’s proclamation is an effective
tool for gaining political support for
archeology. It would be beneficial as well to
contact the local officials and congressional
representatives.

Each state usually adds products with their
promotional package. These include a
brochure of sites to visit, a post-card of the
poster, bookmarks, a tabloid newspaper,
kitchen magnets, buttons, education
pamphlets, fliers, bumper stickers, and
teachers’ guides. Arizona, California, and
New Mexico have bookmark contests.
Kansas produces a bookmark template that
can be xeroxed. Hawaii and Minnesota
produce tee shirts. Washington creates an
event kit that includes a reading list,
children’s books, career information,
instruction on site etiquette, and a certificate
to sponsors and presenters.

Successful advertising methods include
newspaper stories, local and statewide press
releases, radio, television, brochures, fliers,
and newsletters. The print medium is the
most effective method for reaching the most
people. Radio and television are used less
frequently because organizers find the

coverage too narrow. However, short public
service spots are useful for targeting
audiences watching educational
programming.

The World Wide Web is becoming a popular
medium with fourteen states reporting a web
page. Other interesting methods mentioned
in the survey are: South Carolina with a
banner placed on state highways;
Massachusetts with posters on public bulletin
boards; Indiana with fliers in schools;
Vermont with advertisements in magazines;
and West Virginia with distributing
brochures at shopping malls.

Direct mailings are the most effective print
medium for contacting the public.
Information is mailed to politicians, libraries,
parks, museums, visitor centers, universities,
historic preservation organizations,
education service centers, and schools.
Schools and their administrators are being
targeted more frequently. Local and regional
organizations are including announcements
of archeology week programs in their
newsletters. Arizona mails announcements in
local utility bills. This sort of direct mailing
has enabled organizers to reach thousands
more people before the event.

Most organizers stress the importance of
local advertising in order to generate
grassroots excitement. Local sponsors have a
critical role in achieving this goal. Word-of-
mouth advertising remains an important
factor at this level.

Publicity is considered an important factor in
improving archeology week. Many
coordinators expressed the sentiment that
increasing advertising ensures a broad public
turnout. Early program advertising will help
achieve better attendance.


U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Cultural Resources

Departmental Consulting Archeologist

Technical Brief No.15
November 1997
ISBN 1057-1574

Archeology and Ethnography

State Archeology Weeks:
Interpreting Archeology for the Public

Mara Greengrass, Archeology and Ethnography Program, National Park Service
Updated by Tara Tetrault, Melissa Wadman, and Daniel Haas

This technical brief is the fourth in our
publication series on archeological public
education and outreach, It summarizes the
approaches and successes from states across
the country that have sponsored archeology
weeks.

This version of the technical brief includes
new information on state archeology week
programs. Information for this revision was
collected from a phone survey of program
coordinators in 1996 and 1997. Specific
examples are cited to benefit others
planning programs.

Why Have an Archeology Week?

“This week-long public outreach is one of
the most exciting things we are doing
collectively in Vermont to promote
archeological education” (Callum 1995: 1)

Archeology is full of discovery and attracts a
curious public, who wants to participate.
State archeology week provides a venue for
archeologists to involve the public, promote
the preservation of archeological resources
and illustrate the scientific process of the
discipline. It offers educational events for
the public and increasingly for schools to
generate understanding and support for
archeology. In 1996, over 2,000,000 people

visited state archeology week events, and
this number is a conservative estimate.

The first state archeology week was
organized by Arizona in 1983 (Hoffman and
Lerner 1988: 1-2). Originally, the program
consisted of a small exhibit and a few events
with limited publicity. It has grown to a
month-long celebration including an
Archaeology Expo, a fair where the public
may view demonstrations, tour ancient
remains, and view living history events. In
1997, thirty-nine states celebrated
archeology week or month for their citizens
(Figure 1). This large number is a tribute to
the hard work and dedication of many
professionals, avocationals and other
volunteers who recognize the value of this
annual outreach program.

Some states have struggled with either
beginning or continuing a program. Three
states have discontinued them. The reasons
often include the time and cost in managing
the program, the lack of professionals
working in the state, or the problems with
reaching a large rural population. Several
State Historic Preservation Office’s (SHPO)
cited the lack of resources and that it was
not a mandated program. Other states have
found creative ways to deal with these
problems (See Insert). States that lack
resources might consider an archeology day
or weekend, or coordinate and share


Contributors also will find working with the
public personally rewarding. As stated by
Lynne Sebastian and David Cushman of New
Mexico, veterans of archeology week, “it is
exciting for all those in the field to see so
many people taking time to participate in an
archeology week, just because they believe in
the importance of preserving our heritage”
(Sebastian and Cushman 1992:37). At every
event of every archeology celebration, it is
encouraging to realize how many members
of the public do care about archeology and
are willing to put time and energy into
sharing a love for the past.

References Cited

Bellantoni, Nicholas
1997 Personal communication.

Brooks, Robert L.

1995 A Report on Public Outreach in
Oklahoma. Oklahoma Archeological Survey,
University of Oklahoma, Norman.
Unpublished manuscript on file.

Callum, Kathleen E.

1995 A Standing Ovation for “Join Hands
With the Past”. Vermont Archaeology Week
95.

Cruse, Brett
1997 Personal Communication

Hoffman, Teresa L., and Shereen Lerner
1988 Arizona Archeology Week. Promoting
the Past to the Public. Archeological
Assistance Program Technical Brief No. 2.
U.S. Department of Interior, National Park
Service, Archeological Assistance Division,
Washington, DC.

Peebles, Giovanna
1997 Personal communication.

12

Sebastian, Lynne, and David W. Cushman
1992 "New Mexico Heritage Preservation
Week: Friendly Advice from Those on the
Front Lines." In State Archeological
Education Programs, edited by William B.
Butler. U.S. Department of Interior, National
Park Service, Interagency Archeological
Services, Denver, CO.

Whitlam, Rob
1997 Personal communication.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank each state
archeology week coordinator who took time
out of a busy schedule to answer questions
about their program and provide material.
Hopefully, all coordinators will benefit from
the new and updated information, and we
can begin to work on the issues so important
to sustaining archeology week into the next
century.


awareness. However, discussion of
archeology weeks has raised many questions
about possibilities and future direction.

Coordinators in the survey identified 4
important issues to improve archeology
week. First, a paid coordinator position is
needed to adequately develop program
content, raise funds, expand publicity, and
recruit volunteers. Vermont funded a
temporary position for 13 months without
benefits. The position description included
the ability to organize and coordinate events,
ability to work with volunteers, government
agencies and the private sector, and an
interest in archeology. But like many
temporary positions, funds were not
available to fill the position the following
year. The Arizona SHPO pays a staff
member to coordinate their archeology
month (with help from an intern for 2
months). Wisconsin, Iowa, South Carolina,
and Texas use this approach. This trend is
encouraging, especially as more SHPO
offices organize archeology week.

Second, long-term financing must be secured
to sustain archeology week. Currently, all
states rely on funds from outside the
organizing office. It was reported that
donors are becoming more consistent
supporters, though Federal agencies are
more likely to lack funds year to year.
Annual base funding is an ideal solution, but
most organizing offices fall short of this
commitment. The Arizona SHPO uses state
lottery funds, while other SHPO offices
target Historic Preservation Funds. Some
coordinators expressed the need for a
national initiative to raise sufficient funds.
Perhaps a national funding project focused
on private foundations or Federal-granting
agencies (e.g. National Endowment for the
Humanities) would provide matching funds
to states. This issue and others are being

11

considered by the State Archeology Week
subcommittee of the Society for American
Archaeology Public Education Committee.

The remaining two issues are directly related
to finding solutions to staff and funds.
Coordinators expressed the need to expand
publicity and offer more diverse events in
order to attract a larger audience. Many
states lack the resources needed to develop
advertising products and to fully use the
various media. There is a growing need to
develop new and exciting events to draw
audiences. For example, the recent surge in
educational programs for schools can not be
sustained without adequate resources for
creative designing and evaluation. Overall,
many states are unable to improve their
programs to meet the level of demand and
expectations of their audience.

As more states become involved, there have
been proposals for regional cooperation.
This approach might enable states with
limited resources to implement a joint
archeology week. It may allow for more
diversity, greater spending power, and
broader interest. It also might provide a
greater number of possible themes.

Summary

There are many benefits from archeology
week, but chief among them is enhancing the
public’s understanding of archeology and
preserving the archeological record.
Archeology week can take a lead role in this
public education effort. In many states, it is
the primary outreach effort. One can’t
underestimate its importance in bringing
professionals, avocationals and the interested
public together for a common cause: to
establish a constituency in support of
archeology. Public support is essential for
contimied funding of archeology nationally.


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Financing State Archeology
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Cost in the thousands

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Number of states claiming expenses

@ Quantity of Expenses

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resources with an adjacent state. Arizona
expanded only when more funding and
sponsors were available. States should
create models that fit their unique situation.

Organization

Archeology week requires considerable
planning and effort. States generally
coordinate their efforts from a central,
organizing office by an ad hoc steering
committee composed of professional
archeologists and avocationals. The
committee plans the overall event,
disseminates information, raises funds,
provides a mechanism for advertising, and
encourages the participation of
archeologists, volunteers, and organizations.

Local sponsors usually organize and
publicize individual events. The committee
should engage local groups in the planning
process. Local event sponsors need to feel
as though archeology relates to them. Local
community involvement also boosts public
participation in the events.

In 1993, either the state archeologist, the
SHPO, a Federal agency, an avocational
society, a professional archeology
organization, or a private contracting firm
led the organizing office. By 1997, the
SHPO had taken more responsibility for
planning and financing (Figure 2). In all
cases, an organizing function that keeps
track of events is absolutely crucial.

Most states agreed that a paid coordinator is
essential for improving and expanding state
archeology week. Individuals who perform
this job voluntarily can’t devote the needed
time for advertising, fund-raising, and
program content. Better advertising can
result in higher attendance, while finding
more permanent funding sources increases

the likelihood of continuing the program.
The few paid coordinator positions
(Vermont, Arizona and South Carolina) are
part-time and without benefits.
Unfortunately, Vermont was unable to fund
the position in 1997 (personal
communication, Giovanna Peebles). The
organizing office should consider paying for
a temporary position or using their education
coordinator to help carry out this function.

organizers sp
rather than i

Timing and Scheduling

First, a date must be chosen for the proposed
archeology week. The time frame selected
by states is usually in the Fall and Spring.
They schedule to coincide with archeological
work, good weather, and the school year. A
few states hold archeology week during
National Historic Preservation Week.
However, others felt that it should be held
separately in order to develop programs that
best suit the need of their audience.

The earlier planning is started, the more time
is available to make arrangements, get
commitments from individuals and


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