PAF Public Archaeology Facilty at Binghamton University

NEWS:.

.:4/16/2008: The 2008 New York State Archaeology Season poster has been printed and is available. Check out the design ...read more

.:1/09/2008: The new PAF photo archive is up and running. Head over to our CAP site and check out photos of some of our projects and community programs. All...read more

.:12/07/2006: The Herrick Hollow mini-site is up and running. Follow the link to learn about Archaeology on the Divide, the prehistory of the uplands...read more

.:more news:.

CURRENT PROJECTS:.

.:Hale Eddy: PAF returns to the Hale Eddy area this fall to complete the examination of several...

CAP SITE Archaeology and the Community
"Public Archaeology" is emphasized by PAF. Participation in a broad array of community outreach projects provides extensive interaction between archaeologists and lay audiences. Outreach programs include:
1. PAF has an active role in the New York State's Archaeology Week. Annual presentations as a part of Archaeology Week include: Under the Rainbow: the Archaeology of Nineteenth Century Niagara Falls. Archaeology in the Countryside: Rural Farmsteads of Broome County. Archaeology Under Asphalt: Investigations of the Binghamton Mall Site. In addition to this annual event, archaeologists from PAF routinely speak at service clubs, schools, and other organizations on the results of our research.
2. Community exhibits on archaeology and hands-on demonstrations. PAF staff have provided small exhibits on local excavations. Exhibits have been provided to community field day organizers, libraries, and municipal buildings. Currently, an eight-panel travelling exhibiton New York State archaeology is available to regional schools and libraries.
3. PAF as a resource for Southern Tier schools. Students make annual field trips to campus to participate in lab tours and hands-on activities with artifacts. We receive annual invitations to speak at Career Days and Daughters to Work Days, and have prepared a colorful handout for these children's activities.
4. PAF and CAP. Due to the strong presence of PAF in the local community, there is great interest in visiting, participating in, and volunteering for archaeological investigations. In 1996, PAF organized the Community Archaeology Program (CAP) , which was directed by advanced graduate students. This project provided non-archaeologists (aged 15 to 75) with supervised experience on a real archaeological excavation. Lectures and lab time supplemented the field experience. An additional program geared towards local teachers provides educators with materials to use in lesson plans on science and social studies.
5. Native American outreach. As part of the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), PAF staff and students have assisted Native American tribal representatives with protection of sacred areas, and assisted with the reburial of human remains inadvertently discovered during construction projects and excavations.
6. PAF is a community resource. Each year, staff and students respond to numerous calls from the public asking for assistance in the identification of artifacts found on their properties and elsewhere. Many individuals come to campus with their finds and assist archaeologists with preparing New York State Site Forms to register the site.