Applied Archaeology and Community Collaboration: Uncovering the Past and Empowering the Present

Abstract

The last two decades have witnessed archaeology's increasing concern about its position and relevance in the modern world. This dilemma was the catalyst for the widespread practice of public outreach and education. To date, the impact of public archaeology, although positive, has not been as great as one would have wished. In light of this, the discipline is currently undergoing another transformation. Recent developments demonstrate the potential for the knowledge produced through archaeological inquiries to be part of the discourse concerning contemporary social issues and public policy. The goal of this article is to make a case for archaeology's move beyond the ideology of stewardship and into a more active environment framed by applied anthropological theory and community collaboration. This article exemplifies this position through the author's community-collaborative research program in Baltimore County, Maryland.