帕梅拉·戈萨奇，2024年4月15日

Six miles from the edge of 稳定的十大彩票网站’s campus, just below the ground, there are remnants of an ancient hunting camp. There, more than a thousand years ago, an Indigenous person made tools and prepared game for transport.

This glimpse into life in our region was pieced together by Katherine Sterner, Ph.D., and 稳定的十大彩票网站 archaeology students in the 文理学院. Working side by side this spring, they excavated more than 300 pieces of debris and a dozen stone tools from what is now known as Herring Run Park in northeast Baltimore. The dig is the latest project for the 巴尔的摩社区考古实验室 (BCAL), a 稳定的十大彩票网站 program that pairs archaeology students with community partners to document and preserve cultural resources across the region.

Just weeks after their discovery, Sterner and her team brought the artifacts a few miles south to a round dance and culture class hosted by Native American LifeLines and the Baltimore American Indian Center. There, they shared their findings with members of the community and discussed the insights they provide on life in the region before European contact.

相关: 为城市居民争取权益

有些人认为这是加深了解的机会。

“I had no idea these types of materials were being found here,” says Dana Chavis, a Baltimore resident and member of the Lumbee Tribe. “The students were telling me things I didn’t know about people who lived in my own backyard.”

历史叙事中的土著声音

对斯特纳来说，与美洲原住民社区的联系是关键。 As director of the BCAL, she works closely with Indigenous organizations to ensure they have a voice in constructing the historical narratives resulting from her investigations. Tribal communities have the opportunity to weigh in during the research design phase and can participate in the interpretation of research results so, together, they can preserve the cultural heritage and share the history of the area now known as Baltimore.

“We are in a situation that’s ripe for tribes to be more of a presence in the way people think about Maryland history,” Sterner said. “It’s important to involve the urban Native American population in Baltimore in this work.”

现实世界的稳定的十大彩票网站

BCAL的另一个原则是为学生提供现实世界的学习机会。 Since 稳定的十大彩票网站 has the only local archaeology program in greater Baltimore, it’s critical that graduates are well-prepared to enter the workforce. That means having not just a degree but also field work experience, which is a requirement for even entry-level positions. The BCAL’s contract work enables students to gain that invaluable experience and to get paid while doing it. For students like Keely Vie Brock, it brings the coursework to life.

“I never imagined I’d have this opportunity in my first year at Towson,” Vie Brock says. “I’m learning so much, not only in class but also through hands-on experience in the field and with Dr. Sterner.”

斯特纳说，发现和社区的结合就是它的全部。

“We want to allow for cross pollination between those interested in studying Native American history and artifacts and those who understand current practices and traditions,” Sterner says. “这就是我们在两者之间建立联系的方式。”

庆祝文化和社区

Join us in celebrating 土著遗产和文化 and the many ways they remain vibrant and present today.

Learn more about how the 巴尔的摩社区考古实验室 is strengthening historic preservation in the greater Baltimore area.