Eastern Pequot Archaeological Field School

Department of AnthropologyHistorical Archaeology Master’s Program

Eastern Pequot Archaeological Field School

Anthropology 485 (Summer 2013)One section of department’s “field school” rubricOngoing for eight summers since 2003

Course description and objectivesTeach standard archaeological field methodsStudy Indigenous cultural and community persistence within and responses to colonialismCollaborate with Native American community members to ensure that archaeological work meets their needsInvolve students in community-engaged scholarship and learning

North Stonington, Connecticut

Eastern Pequot Archaeological Field School

Stephen W. SillimanProfessor of Anthropology, Graduate Program DirectorUMass Boston

Judith F. Zeitlin (participant for CESI grant)Professor of Anthropology, Department ChairUMass Boston

Katherine Sebastian DringTribal CouncilorEastern Pequot Tribal Nation

Brenda GeerTribal Councilor, Corresponding SecretaryEastern Pequot Tribal Nation

J. Cedric WoodsInstitute for New England Native American Studies, DirectorUMass Boston

Eastern Pequot Archaeological Field School

Project goalsMaintain current level of community engagement Involve tribal community members

in fieldworkSeek Tribal Council approval for project componentsParticipate in cultural and social events involving students and community membersIntegrate community preferences into archaeological practice and student training

Eastern Pequot Archaeological Field School

Project goalsMaintain current level of community engagement Involve tribal community members

in fieldworkSeek Tribal Council approval for project components

Develop new kinds of community engagement Design public/private website for

more sustained conversations and better pedagogical anchor…

Participate in cultural and social events involving students and community membersIntegrate community preferences into archaeological practice and student training

Before, during, and after field courseInvolving students and community membersMainly within private virtual collaborative space

Eastern Pequot Archaeological Field School

Anticipated project outcomesDesign and launch course website for Summer 2013 or shortly thereafterContinue to involve Eastern Pequot community members in fieldwork, planning, and interpretation

Provide students with perspectives and tools for achieving positive outcomes for communitiesDemonstrate to students (and the archaeological community) why community engagement makes research better

Further train Eastern Pequot tribal members in archaeological techniques and offer course credit

Advance academic research on colonialism, indigeneity, and the politics of heritage

Eastern Pequot Archaeological Field School

Hopes for workshopConsider other Web 2.0 collaborative options to make most informed decisionDiscover new venues, relationships, and outcomes possible with community engagementDiscuss relationship between scholarship, community work, and activism/advocacyBetter connect with other faculty members pursuing a diversity of community-engagement projects