Public archaeology should be something that not only includes the community, but also benefits it. Ideally, the community should be interested and actively engaged. Public archaeology is important because it allows people to take an active role in preserving, and in many cases, discovering their history. It can also serve to strengthen the bond of community.
Our project on the Hidalgo County Pauper Cemetery will allow us to recover lost history that is very important to the community. We will hopefully be able to pinpoint lost or forgotten graves and create a comprehensive map that the community can access. Although the community is not really physically engaged with the project, the work that we accomplish will benefit them. Our project will not only give us hands on experience, but it will also give us the opportunity to contribute to the community, which is what Public Archaeology is all about.
