Public Archaeology Notes (PAN) showcases useful information and resources to inspire our public archaeology work and strengthen our engagement and communication with our networks and communities. PAN also helps non-archaeologists learn about and participate in our work. 
 

The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) has stepped up its advocacy to protect America's archaeological resources and programs (see above photo from the SAA Home page). SAA now makes it easy for its members to contact their Congressional delegation through its "Take Action Now" page. SAA has also resurrected its former Government Affairs Network State Representative (GANSR) system, comprising a volunteer member in each state who keeps SAA updated on state-level legislative and regulatory issues affecting archaeology. "The GAN representatives will help bring to bear the best-informed input possible to state and federal policymakers when it is required."

Some of us were privileged to have been able to attend the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, March 30 - April 2, 2017. The SAA's Public Education Committee (PEC) sponsored an excellent, standing room only Forum on "Heritage Matters: Archaeology and Community Engagement through Political Advocacy," chaired by PEC Chair Elizabeth Reetz, also Iowa PEC State Coordinator. Nine dynamic speakers each presented a five minute "case study" for successfully advocating for a critical issue. Every case study had these elements in common:

• Find and work with partners - - it really does take a village.
• To effect change, work at the local level.
• Persevere, never give up.
• Network, network, network.
• Use both passion and facts along your journey.

If you are an archaeologist, you might be interested in joining the Archaeologists for a Just Future (AJF) Facebook Group, founded by archaeologist Barbara Voss, professor at Stanford University, and others to ensure that archaeologists get active and stay active in politics, among other goals. Co-administrator Chelsea Blackmore states, "THIS IS A GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE. Go ahead and DO STUFF! Contribute money, host a house party to raise funds, go register voters, phone bank! Watch this space for links and ideas. And when you do something, report back here to encourage us all to join in." 

The Archaeology Advocacy Alert Network (AAAN) Facebook page will keep you informed of state and national-level legislative or policy issues that need attention ASAP. AAAN is also a "closed" group but it's easy enough to join.

On Twitter (@COSSADC) follow the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) to keep abreast of immediate issues of concern and the status of various proposed legislation that impacts our nation's archaeology, anthropology, and heritage programs.
 
You can also track the #AnthroForward hashtag on Twitter to stay informed of issues and actions relating to anthropology and archaeology. Or, use this hashtag to share resources and suggestions for the broad anthropology community.
 
Robert Connolly's blog on "The Proposed Funding Cuts & the Impact on Small and Rural Museums" will hopefully encourage you to contact your Congressional delegation and let them know how the proposed budget cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Corporation for National and Community Service, and to other precious programs, will impact your museums, your projects and programs, your students, and your communities.

You can't have too many public archaeology and advocacy sites. Here's one more, brand new (April 14, 2017), blog: Public Archaeology Advocacy. Blog creator Sarah Surface-Evans says that "Here you will find information and resources about archaeology and preservation meant for the public, educators, and policy makers." The "What's at Stake" handout provides talking points for your politicians. The "Archaeology and STEM" handout was created for the April 22, 2017, March for Science, but includes useful resources for educators anytime.

Here's an awesome, creative happening! The Public Archaeology Twitter Conference (PATC, or Patsy) will be held on the 28 April 2017. There's seven public archaeology sessions and you can participate from your sofa.... or bed! Learn more below under Spotlight: Twitter.

The Pennsylvania State Museum showed off Pennsylvania archaeology at the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show, held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, during January 7-14, 2017. Each year more than 4,000 visitors view the museum's exhibits. By far this is the largest attendance for an archaeology program in the Commonwealth. The 2017 archaeology focus was on Pennsylvania's petroglyphs of which 42 have been recorded. Kids were given the opportunity to tell their own stories by creating original "petroglyphs." Read more about this great hands-on activity. Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Museum.

Last year, when IAD grew by nearly 200 events to a total of about 700 celebrations around the world, the AIA received the same number of sign ups as we currently hold by mid-June.  With that in mind, IAD 2017 is on pace to be the largest global celebration of archaeology yet. - See more at: https://www.archaeological.org/news/iad/24616#sthash.vyTTEBbR.dpuf

Last year, when IAD grew by nearly 200 events to a total of about 700 celebrations around the world, the AIA received the same number of sign ups as we currently hold by mid-June.  With that in mind, IAD 2017 is on pace to be the largest global celebration of archaeology yet. - See more at: https://www.archaeological.org/news/iad/24616#sthash.vyTTEBbR.dpuf

Last year, when IAD grew by nearly 200 events to a total of about 700 celebrations around the world, the AIA received the same number of sign ups as we currently hold by mid-June.  With that in mind, IAD 2017 is on pace to be the largest global celebration of archaeology yet. - See more at: https://www.archaeological.org/news/iad/24616#sthash.vyTTEBbR.dpuf

Last year, when IAD grew by nearly 200 events to a total of about 700 celebrations around the world, the AIA received the same number of sign ups as we currently hold by mid-June.  With that in mind, IAD 2017 is on pace to be the largest global celebration of archaeology yet. - See more at: https://www.archaeological.org/news/iad/24616#sthash.vyTTEBbR.dpu

Last year, when IAD grew by nearly 200 events to a total of about 700 celebrations around the world, the AIA received the same number of sign ups as we currently hold by mid-June.  With that in mind, IAD 2017 is on pace to be the largest global celebration of archaeology yet. - See more at: https://www.archaeological.org/news/iad/24616#sthash.vyTTEBbR.dpuf

Check out a new, heritage education non-profit, The Heritage Education Network (THEN),
"an alliance for those who use, manage, teach or create information about past or present peoples and cultures." Although THEN seeks paying members, their website contains useful resources and will contain a lot more over time: "Over the course of the next year and a half, with funding from a Wenner-Gren Foundation Innovations in Public Awareness of Anthropology Grant, we will be adding substantial content to this site including an annotated bibliography of heritage education references and materials."
 
Another important, new, education start-up is The Journal of Archaeology and Education, "a peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to disseminating research and sharing practices in archaeological education at all levels," from early childhood to graduate level. This free, open-access journal aims to "provide a home for the growing community of practitioners and scholars interested in sharing their first-hand experiences and research."

The "Archaeology and STEM" handout, created for the April 22, 2017, March for Science, includes useful resources for educators.

The American Institute for Conservation's Connecting to Collections Care website has a wide array of online resources that may be of help to your organization.

Doug Rocks-Macqueen has an important blog post on "Why People Don’t Want Their Conference Presentations Filmed… and Maybe Why You Shouldn’t Too." I'm a big proponent of video-taping (good quality, please!) lectures, programs, excavations, etc., as is Doug. But he offers some cautionary tales here. Doug notes, "This may seem like an odd post coming from someone like me, who has filmed over 1200 conference presentations and put them online,but I am a firm advocate that not everyone should have their conference presentations filmed. And no, it is not because of some snarky answer like, ‘because they suck at speaking’ or some other form of snide comment like that. No, there are some very serious reasons why not every conference presentation should be filmed and put online." Moral of the story: ALWAYS GET PERMISSION FROM THE SPEAKER BEFORE YOU FILM but read Doug's wise blog.

Sarah Miller's blog, "Going Public: The Dirt of Public Archaeology" had a thoughtful recent post on "Advocacy Tabs (2017 Edition): Where are they now?", following up her 2016 posting "Archaeology Advocacy: Where have all the tabs gone?" Bottom line: if your organization depends on raising monies from people, make sure your website clearly emphasizes "advocacy." An "advocacy" tab is a very good thing.

The Society for Historical Archaeology's Public Archaeology and Interpretation Committee (PAIC) writes an informative blog on a variety of topics of interest to everyone involved in public archaeology.

One of my favorite blogs is a tremendously useful posting by Boston City Archaeologist Joe Bagley on "Social Media Best Practices." It's a valuable, short read if you are still fearful of social media, or, if you just want some good "tips, tricks, and guidance" to social media. The City of Boston Archaeology Program "far surpasses all other Boston city social media pages." Joe says, "We shouldn’t be surprised as archaeology is interesting, engaging, and fun, but not every archaeology page succeeds. I can personally account for our success for one reason: We are original content producers." So what's "original content"? Joe explains that "Original content producer means that nearly 100% of my posts are content that I have created and are available nowhere else on the internet. That means, people who follow our pages will be the exclusive real-time consumers of new data, and that is my, and all other archaeologists, primary draw." Don't miss this read!

When using social media, don't forget to add hashtags (#)! The "Ultimate Guide to Instagram Hashtags in 2017" reports that "posts with at least one Instagram hashtag average 12.6% more engagement than posts without a hashtag."
 
2016 was a big year for OKPAN, the Oklahoma Public Archaeology Network. Instagram is a great way for OKPAN to get news and information out using good photos to help tell the story: "We became official this year and in the process we had the privilege to organize and take part in a number of events, including Oklahoma Archaeology Month, the first Oklahoma Archaeology Conference, visits to classrooms around Oklahoma, and much more. We are grateful to all who have taken part in making 2016 a success for OKPAN. Best wishes to all, and we'll see you in 2017 with plenty of new and exciting projects!"  #OKpubarch #OKPAN #oklahoma. Photo courtesy of OKPAN.