Petroglyph interpretive panel at Arches wayside, Utah

“It is widely believed that teaching history or social studies requires no special training—if you can read a textbook, you can teach history.  No one would think this was true for a math teacher or an art teacher or a science teacher.”

-Fay Metcalf, 2002

Excavations at Fort Vancouver, Washington

“An interpreter or archeologist needs to be sensitive to the fact that archeological resources have multiple intangible meanings to different peoples.  He or she must approach audiences from multiple points of view, act as a facilitator and motivator, and make interpretive connections that are broad based and accessible both intellectually and physically.”

- from “Archeology for Interpreters:
A Guide to Knowledge of the Resource,” 2003

Effective Interpretation of Archeological Resources

 With archeological resources, effective interpretation involves two steps:

1. The systematic interpretation of archeological evidence by archeologists to reach scientifically valid, defensible conclusions, and

2. The interpretation of the results to the public in an informative, educational, and more readily understood manner.

With both steps appropriately accomplished, interpretation of archeological resources then provides visitors the opportunity to make intellectual and emotional connections to those resources. These connections serve to promote a sense of stewardship.

Other issues for public interpreters to consider concern the unique nature of archeology. These issues include

	Special legislation regarding archeological sites, artifacts,   and research;
	The fragility and finite number of archeological sites; and
	Considerations of cultural sensitivity

These special issues figure into most, if not all, archeological sites in one manner or another.

Archeology for Interpreters: Online Training

This online course helps interpreters learn about archeological methods, how archeological interpretations are made, and how to encourage concern for the preservation and protection of archeological resources. Through this course, interpreters may gain the basic knowledge needed to carry out effective interpretation of archeological resources. This course covers interpreting archeological resources in all kinds of places, such as national parks, museums, and the classroom. This course is one of several additional developmental opportunities available to NPS interpretive rangers.

This course creates the opportunity for participants to:

	Learn about archeological methods;
	Explore how archeological interpretations are made;
	Ascribe meaning to archeological resources;
	Identify ways interpretation of archeological resources can provide opportunities for visitors to make emotional and intellectual connections to those resources; and
	Increase public understanding and concern for the preservation and protection of archeological resources.

Archeological resources are actively interpreted in hundreds of national parks, monuments and recreation areas across the nation.

Many parks offer a variety of ways for visitors to learn about archeology: tours, pamphlets, interpretive trails and roadside displays, films, and book sales in the visitors center. In most National Parks archeologists are not directly involved with the public but provide essential information to the "front-line" interpretive staff who then convey it to visitors. Less frequently, visitors see actual excavation in progress and get to talk to actual archeologists.

The course provides examples of how archeological resources may be effectively interpreted in national parks through web links and suggested interpretive strategies offered in the following boxes included throughout the online guide:

	FOR YOUR INFORMATION
	CASE STUDY
	TRY IT YOURSELF
	FUN FACT
	USE WHAT YOU KNOW

This online course is designed for those who are interested in or need to learn more about interpreting archeological resources for the public. Since the National Park Service developed this course, participants are expected to include the archeologists, interpreters, cultural resources managers, educators, planners, museum staff, and other NPS staff who investigate, interpret, preserve and share with the public information regarding archeological resources.

This course is primarily designed for self-motivated learning. The goal is to increase each participant’s base of knowledge about the effective interpretation of archeological resources during repeated visits to the online course. The course will be updated periodically as relevant new materials about and methods for effectively interpreting archeological resources are developed.

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An Inspiring Guide

I. Introduction

II. Overview of the Program

III. Meeting the Mission

IV. The Public Meaning of Archeological Heritage

V. Archeology and Interpretation

VI. Study Tour of Parks

VII. Interpretive Products

VIII. Credits

IX. References

X. Resources and Links

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