The Archaeological Research Laboratory at the University of Tennessee is committed to educating the public about archaeology and fostering an understanding that the past is important. Through various outreach activities with schools, homeschool groups, and organizations like the National Park Service, they aim to engage people of all ages in science and research. The presentation provides examples of how their outreach activities could be adapted by other researchers conducting paleoecology and geoarchaeology work to broaden the impact of their research.

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Title: Sharing Archaeological Research with School Children and the Public
Keywords: Archaeology, Outreach, Paleoecology, Geoarchaeology, Tennessee
Type: Illustrated Paper
Abstract: Most people are familiar with the field of archaeology, but its importance as a science is often not well understood by the
general public. The Archaeological Research Laboratory (ARL) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is committed to
fostering awareness that the past is a public trust and that each of us has a responsibility to know and understand the
past. Through various public education and outreach activities, ARL strives to bring archaeology to people of all ages.
We are especially interested in engaging individuals in science and scientific research as "citizen scientists." This
presentation will share examples of ARL activities that geographers conducting paleoecological and geoarchaeological
research could adapt for outreach activities that would broaden the impact of their research. Examples will be drawn
from ARL's work with local schools and homeschool groups, and from our work in collaboration with the National Park
Service and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for the Smoky Mountains Field School. We will also share our ideas
about working with the Boy Scouts of America to administer requirements for an archaeology merit badge. Although the
outreach activities we highlight were backed by the resources of a major research facility, many of our ideas can be
adapted for use by individual investigators.
Authors: Desiree Ketteringham, Department of Geography & Archaeological Research Laboratory, University of Tennessee,
Knoxville dketteri@utk.edu*
Boyce Driskell, PhD, Archaeological Research Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Knoxville bdriskel@utk.edu
Elizabeth Kellar DeCorse, PhD, Archaeological Research Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Knoxville ekellard@utk.edu
Jennifer McDonough, Archaeological Research Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Knoxville jennimc@utk.edu
Sally P. Horn, PhD, Department of Geography, University of Tennessee, Knoxville shorn@utk.edu
Topics: Geography Education
Indigenous Peoples
Applied Geography
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