Additional Information

Available Through

Taylor and Francis Online

Language

English

Notes

Abstract: Archaeologists can provide useful perspectives on contemporary social problems if they are willing to engage in ‘politics’ and translate their findings into information useful for developing social policy, and if they are willing to become activists. To do this they need to emphasize the acquisition, use and distribution of material culture and work collaboratively with communities. This paper provides a brief example of how translational archaeology might work, describing an attempt to develop an archaeology of homelessness in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

Additional tags: homelessness; activism; social policy

Taxonomies

RPA Codes & Standards

• Archaeologist's Responsibility to the Public

CIfA Codes

• Principle 3: Responsibility for acquiring and recording reliable information of the past in archaeological research
• Principle 4: Responsibility for the availability of archaeological results within reasonable dispatch

Keywords & Terms

• Accountability
• Impact on Communities - Local, Descendant, etc.
• Integrity of Research Methodology and Field Procedures
• Professional Standards
• Public Interest, Collaboration, Education, and Outreach
• Respect for and Responsibility to Affected Groups

Topics & Issues

• Applied Archaeology
• Archaeological Advocacy and Activism
• Class in Archaeology
• Collaboration in Archaeology (i.e. Communities, Non-Archaeologists, etc.)
• Community Archaeology and Participatory Research
• Ethical Responsibilities of Archaeologists
• Human Rights and Social and Economic Inequalities
• Politics and Archaeology