Project Archaeology operates through a national network of state and regional programs.
These programs offer workshops for educators, experiences for school groups and family learners at archaeological sites, museums, and visitor centers, and continuing support for teachers.
We are an educational organization dedicated to teaching scientific and historical inquiry, cultural understanding, and the importance of protecting our nation’s rich cultural resources. Our members are archaeologists, educators, and concerned citizens working to make archaeology education accessible to students and teachers nationwide through educational materials and professional development. This organization gives students a basic understanding of how archaeology works, and teaches them to respect and protect our nation’s rich cultural heritage. We provide services to school and museums educators, students of all ages, and archaeologists including: high-quality curricular materials which model authentic archaeological inquiry; professional development for educators and archaeologists; and support for educators through state and regional programs.
Be a part of this education adventure by making a one-time or monthly gift of $35.
Together, we inspire curiosity, confidence, and engagement as students investigate the past.
WE ENVISION A WORLD IN WHICH ALL PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THEIR OWN CULTURE AND HISTORY AND THOSE OF OTHERS.
Why Teach Archaeology Today?

Archaeologists ask questions rooted in the social sciences and research those questions using scientific methods. The fusion of social and physical sciences means that archaeology is an excellent way to teach students both scientific inquiry and cultural understanding. Studying the past gives us a rare chance to examine our place in time and forge links with the human continuum. Everyone can touch the past, but sadly our opportunities are disappearing. The number of sites that have not been disturbed or looted is dwindling at an alarming rate. Through Project Archaeology, educators can help the schoolchildren of today know and experience America’s rich cultural heritage as the adults of tomorrow.
10 REASONS TO CHOOSE PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGY
Resources needed to teach these interdisciplinary units are included in the teachers’ manuals.
High-interest reading material in science and social studies.
Investigations based on real archaeological sites and authentic data.
Students “meet” members of descendant communities through each investigation.
Inquiry-based lessons are aligned with national standards.
Active learning – with numerous opportunities for reading, writing, and discussing.
Social studies, science, and math lessons are embedded within the curriculum.
A variety of assessment tools are included.
A variety of online resources are available and updated regularly.
Culturally relevant curricula for underserved audiences.
BLOG POSTS
Why Would a Roman Create a Permanent Wall Painting?
Art is a form of communication. In ancient Roman culture, decoration of walls was meant to communicate the wealth and sophistication of the villa’s owner. Continue reading→
What Can Mosaics Tell Us About Life in Ancient Roman Culture?
Decoration takes on many forms to define a culture’s aesthetic. Mosaics use symmetry, shapes, and angles to create patterns that are a means of storytelling.Continue reading→
What Clues Help Us Understand the Lives of People in the Past?
Scientific studies of the Vesuvius AD 79 eruption provide information about the phases of eruption and the evidence archaeologists use to interpret the past. Continue reading→
Voices of the Ancients: Archaeology and Oral Tradition
Southern Utah University (SUU), home of our Utah Project Archaeology Program, received a Landmarks of American History and Culture from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).Continue reading→
Teacher Appreciation Week 2024
Discover Tree Ring Dating and How People Adapted to Climate Change. Archaeologists work with other scientists to reconstruct the climate that past people like the Fremont experienced by studying tree rings.Continue reading→
The Power of Descendant Community Voices in the Classroom
At the core of Project Archaeology curricula is inclusion of Descendant Community Member Voices. We want students to link archaeology to the people connected to it today.Continue reading→
The Place, the People, and the Preservation of Fourmile Petroglyph
Fourmile Petroglyph is a landmark along Fourmile Creek in the Arkansas River Basin of Southcentral Colorado. The sandstone boulder was once a quarry for stone tool making. Continue reading→
Medicine Rocks State Park: As Beautiful a Place as I Have Ever Seen
Located in southeastern Montana, Medicine Rocks State Park encompasses 330 acres of rolling grassland, prairie hills, and sandstone formations. Continue reading→
Can an Assistant State Archaeologist Use Project Archaeology
Learn more about Rebecca (Becca) Simon, the Assistant State Archaeologist in the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation at History Colorado.Continue reading→
Archaeology and Accessibility
Project Archaeology curricula have been carefully crafted to teach math, science, social studies, art, and engineering using archaeology as the focus point, but how to adapt that for students who are visually impaired?Continue reading→
