Archaeology in Your Area
Get Involved

Can YOU dig it?
Do you want to try your hand at archaeology? If you want to contribute to the exciting research happening across the country, there are several ways to get involved. The US Forest Service Passport in Time (PIT) welcomes volunteers to participate in professional archaeological and historic preservation projects, as do several other nonprofit organizations. Here are just a few:
- Passport in Time (PIT) http://www.passportintime.com/
- Crow Canyon Archaeological Center http://www.crowcanyon.org/
- State Site Steward Programs http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/res/Volunteer/stewardship/site_stewards.html
If you are looking for an archaeological field school opportunity, shovelbums is a favorite resource for the professional and student alike: http://shovelbums.net/index.php/view-field-schools
Or if you want to get involved in your state, scroll down this page and check out the state-by-state list we've put together of state archaeological organizations that can provide you with local information about laws, the latest finds, and volunteer opportunities near you.
Dig into History with Some Armchair Archaeology
Want to follow the latest archaeological discoveries from home? Keep up with the latest archaeological happenings like the professionals do! In addition to scholarly journals, there are archaeological organizations that publish cutting-edge archaeological research accessible for a lay audience:
The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) provides grants, information about international fieldwork opportunities, and publishes the magazine Archaeology. http://www.archaeological.org
The Archaeological Conservancy publishes the magazine American Archaeology and works to preserve threatened archaeological sites on private land. http://www.archaeologicalconservancy.org
Putting the site in your sight!
Follow professional archaeological organizations such as the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) and the Society of American Archaeology (SAA), which provide online resources for public archaeology and educational outreach:
The Society for Historical Archaeology http://www.sha.org/unlockingthepast/links.htm#education
The Society of American Archaeology http://www.saa.org/publicftp/PUBLIC/home/home.html
The American Anthropological Association (AAA) has an interactive website featuring information about careers in anthropology careers, including profiles of working anthropologists. http://www.thisisanthropology.org/index.cfm
State archaeological societies are also great to join.
Spread the Word!
Are you an educator looking for some quality archaeology lesson plans to take into the classroom? Go to PBS Learning Media for more than 3000+ lesson plans and activities. You’ll find the ones on archaeology here: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/search/?q=Archaeology
Additional Resources:
http://www.archaeologychannel.org/
http://archaeology.mrdonn.org/lessonplans.html
http://www.archaeological.org/education/lessonplans
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/
Sites in Your State:
If you are interested in learning more about archaeology in your state below is a list of archaeological societies and associates, which promote the ethical practice of archaeology.
AL http://www.alabamaarchaeology.org
AK http://www.alaskaanthropology.org
CO http://www.coloradoarchaeology.org
CT http://www.cttrust.org/index.cgi/153
DE http://www.delawarearchaeology.org
DC http://www.uiowa.edu/~osa/nasa/in/districtofcolumbia.html
HI http://www.hawaiianarchaeology.org
IL http://www.tocynbro.com/ARCHAEOLOGY/illarch.htm
IN http://www.in.gov/dnr/historic/2781.htm
IA http://www.uiowa.edu/~osa/IAS/iashome.htm
KS http://www.kshs.org/portal_archeology
LA http://www.laarchaeology.org
ME http://mainearchsociety.org
MD http://www.marylandarcheology.org
MA http://www.massarchaeology.org
MS http://www.msarchaeology.org
MO http://associations.missouristate.edu/mas/default.htm
MT http://www.mtarchaeologicalsociety.org/index2.html
NE https://sites.google.com/site/webnas/
NM http://www.abqarchaeology.org
NY http://www.buffalostate.edu/anthropology/nysaa.xml
NC http://rla.unc.edu/ncas/Index.html
ND http://history.nd.gov/index.html
OH http://ohioarchaeology.org/joomla/
OK http://www.ou.edu/cas/archsur/oas/
OR http://www.oregonarchaeological.org
PA http://pennsylvaniaarchaeology.com
RI http://proteus.brown.edu/aianarragansett/Home
SD http://home.earthlink.net/~s_d_a_s/
TN http://frank.mtsu.edu/~kesmith/TNARCH/index.html
UT http://www.utaharchaeology.org
VT http://www.vtarchaeology.org
WA http://washingtonarchaeology.org
WI http://www4.uwm.edu/Org/was/
WY http://www.wyomingarchaeology.org
For more information in your state, contact the state archaeologist in the State Historic Preservation Office. For a list of all offices see: http://www.nps.gov/nr/shpolist.htm