By: Becky O’Sullivan
So it’s the last day of SHA, it’s been a long conference but I heard a lot of great papers.
While I went to hear some fantastic papers in the morning, in the afternoon Barbara and I went to check out the SHA Public Archaeology Day at Fort McHenry.
Checkin’ out the tent at the SHA Public Archaeology Day.
It was nice to talk to some of the groups that are engaged in presenting archaeology to the public in the region, and a few even had out some artifacts and activities that they use in their outreach programming.
Learning about Archaeobotany by sorting and identifying different kinds of seeds.
After checking out the tent, Barbara and I headed over to some park ranger led interp (it was obvious he had NAI training because of how engaging his talk was!) One thing he had the visitors do was unfurl a replica of the “Star Spangled Banner” that had once famously flown over the fort. He talked about the importance of this material item to the people of Baltimore during the War of 1812, but also of that importance to people today in this country. Then he tied that in to the importance of artifacts to archaeologists, how we learn from material objects not just about past people but about ourselves.
Unfurling the flag in the shadow of where the “Star Spangled Banner” once flew over Fort McHenry.
All in all a great day, but very happy to be back in the warmth of Tampa!
