National Park Service
2035 E. Paul Dirac Drive
Johnson Building, Suite 120
Tallahassee, Florida 32310 phone (850) 580-3011
fax (850) 580-2884 Webmaster: John Jameson
john_jameson@nps.gov
Winner of the National Park Service Keeper of
the Light Award
"Effective Interpretation of Archaeological Resources"
Interdisciplinary Course of Study
SEAC and the NPS Stephen T. Mather Employee Development Center have developed a new "Effective Interpretation of Archaeological Resources" training module. The module outlines a course of study for a interdisciplinary "shared competency" among archaeologists, interpreters, and educators. The training module is designed to meet the standards and strategies for NPS-sponsored training courses. The standards are competency-based. A "competency" is defined as a combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities in a particular Career Field, which, when acquired, allows a person to perform a task or function at a specifically defined level of proficiency. An Essential Competency is a competency that forms part of the vital knowledge, skills, and abilities for an individual career field; an essential competency is critical for an employee to perform effectively at his or her level in a Career Field. A Shared Competency is an essential competency inherent to one Career Field(s) that crosses over into another Career Field.
The Archaeology-Interpretation Shared Competency Module emphasizes the "basic tools" necessary for interpreters, archaeologists, and educators for developing effective presentations and programs that meet federal standards and agency missions. Stressed are the need for cooperative communications between disciplines and and the need for accurate and sensitive interpretation to multicultural audiences. Also addressed are topics such as interpretive planning, exhibit design, the archaeologist's and interpreter's respective roles in public interpretation; and effective application of interpretative methods in developing public programs.
Periodically, seminars
and workshops are organized at national park units and other venues
on the topics of public interpretation and education in archaeology. For
example, see "A Colonial Classroom: Fort
Frederica National Monument Workshop".
Information: For further information, contact John Jameson of SEAC
at (850) 580-3011 x243, e-mail John_Jameson@nps.gov.
Archaeological Resources Protection Training
This contracted course, offered at various times and places throughout the calender year, features essential information and skills needed in law enforcement investigation and prosecution of Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) violations. The course is meant for resource managers, compliance specialists, archaeologists and others involved in archaeological resource management who could be assigned as members of an ARPA investigation team. A 40-hour field investigation methods course is offered by in conjunction with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Enforcement Techniques Division.
Managing Archaeological Collections
This online technical assistance distance learning site covers all aspects of caring for archaeological collections.
Additional Archaeology-related Courses
Courses and workshops are offered through the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT), the National Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), and the NPS Cultural Resources Training Initiative.
NPS Training