Don Gaylord
If archaeology is to be useful, it must disseminate its findings to a variety of audiences. This often includes scientific reports (see above) to granting agencies—such as the National Science Foundation, published papers in academic journals, and presentations to our peers at annual professional meetings. Often though, the community at large is the consumer of this important information—and its funding source!
“Audience” is crucial in determining the style and content of the presentation. Portraying complex, often contradictory or ambiguous findings in a way that is true to “the facts” is a tricky endeavor indeed. Differences in audience exacerbate this challenge when stakeholders have varying economic, political, and cultural claims to the past.
We will work to navigate these issues in small groups that will produce proposals for a historic park at Liberty Hall.