Public Archaeology in Annapolis: A Critical Approach to History in Maryland's Ancient City

Front Cover
Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994 - History - 260 pages
In one of the first books to gauge the success of public history projects, Parker Potter examines the goals and specific initiatives of Archaeology in Annapolis, a city-wide research program in Annapolis, Maryland, supported by public and private funds. In a nuts-and-bolts analysis of this program, Potter addresses several issues of archaeological interpretation. Archaeologists and historians, he argues, need to take into consideration current economic, social, and political conditions, as well as the needs of sponsors, in presenting their findings. Sponsors and community leaders in Annapolis, Potter writes, are interested in preserving not only the past but also their sense of identity, especially against the encroachment of outsiders. Emphasizing self-reflection and the integration of theory and practice, Potter suggests ways archaeologists can present challenging, critically informed interpretations to modern site visitors.

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Contents

Annapolis Today
45
An Outline History of Annapolis
69
The History of History in Annapolis
89
Copyright

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