The public archaeology program focused on providing
    the public with information on current and past
    archaeology projects at Petersburg National
    Battlefield.  Information was provided through
    web pages, publications, brochures, exhibits
    and site tours during the Federal picket line
    excavation.  This program served as a test case
    for public programs during future archaeology
    projects within the battlefield.    The  program
    provided valuable information on which
    interpretive techniques worked for
    archaeological projects, and best provided the
    public with information.
 
 

Archaeologists provided park visitors with site tours, and allowed visitors
             the opportunity to see and touch artifacts just excavated.
                                 (Photo by: Gail Brown, July 1999)
 
 
 

    Archaeologists worked with National Park
    Service staff to create an exhibit explaining
    the overview and assessment project and
    the occurring Federal picket line excavation.
    The artifacts in the case were recovered
    during the Confederate picket line
    excavation in 1978.  There have been
    discussions for a future exhibit containing
    artifacts  from both picket lines.
    (Photo by: Gail Brown, July 1999)
 
 
 
 
 

National Park Service staff provided the excavation
with several wayside exhibits.  Park staff provided
updated exhibits throughout the excavation in order
to provide visitors with new information and photos
of excavated artifacts.  (Photo by: Gail Brown, July
1999)

Archaeologists provided the public with
new and updated information as the
excavation progressed through the
wayside exhibits and site tours.  In the
future we are recommending that programs
take more strides to use the internet and
other media to update information quicker and more often.  By using old and new technologies together we hope to provide the public with the most information about their history.  Though this program was a test case, both archaeologists and National Park Service staff feel it was a great success.   By examining how this program worked, we will be better prepared for future projects.

    Archaeologists worked with park staff during
    the battlefield's summer camp series.  Children
    attending the camp were able to assist in a
    mock archaeological dig, and learn about the
    artifacts they discovered.  Archaeologists also
    allowed the campers the opportunity to see
    and touch recently excavated material from the
    Federal picket line.
 
 

Both archaeologists and National Park Service staff hope to increase public participation and programming in
future projects in order to allow the public a chance to become involved with their national heritage.  This program
was the first in many to come in the future.