Elden Pueblo

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Elden Pueblo Case Study Public Archeology
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Current Program Its not what you find, its
what you find out

• Alternate model to traditional / NPS
  interpretation
• Hands-On Archeology visitors discover site on
  own terms
• Focus on personal services developed program as
  one on one interpretation of site
• Undeveloped
• Lack of facilities
• No paved trail
• Minimal signage
• Public Programs
• April October season
• 2 public days/month 20-30 people avg,
  reservations in time blocks
• 2 school programs/week 5th thru 7th graders
• Minimal fee for school programs, public days free
• Non-personal services
• Trail Guide
• Signs focus on etiquette and rules and regs
• Management relies on partnerships and volunteers

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Goals of Education Program

• Define Archeology
• Techniques
• Research Driven
• Interpretation of Past
• Experimental Archeology
• (garden plots, cinder mulch)
• Connect modern tribes to past cultures with
  explanations of how connections are understood
• Build stewardship ethic and connections with
  Flagstaff community
• In-class curriculum / preparation
• Archeology as recreation interactive and
  experiential

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Management Issues

• Site Setting
• Highway and nearby neighborhoods
• Access Road signs (lack of), safety issues
• (but inability to find may aid preservation)
• Not staffed Potential for vandalism
• ADA accessible?
• Environmental Impacts
• Erosion
• Vegetated unnatural fuel load,
• non-native plants
• Bark beetle kill
• Inadequate USFS monetary support
• Rely on cooperative groups/agencies
• No long-term security for program
• LE presence?

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Project Team Management

• Project Team
• Project Director Peter Pilles
• Program Mgr Grad Student
• Crew Chief and Volunteers
• Driven by Peter Pilles Passion!
• Only professional archeologist managing the site
• Anti-bureaucratic
• Just do it attitude -
• Works within the system
• Solicits input from Hopi - informal

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Role of Team Success on Interpretation Planning

• Does not use team approach now
• Used in earlier stages of planning?
• Very successful at interpretation
• Passion
• Experience
• Focused
• Personality
• Support from management
• Ad Hoc Advisory Board Disbanded

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Critique of Current Programs Recommendations

• Signs? Do we need more? Should we change the
  current signs?
• All current signs are rules/regulations
• Replace with more interpretive message
  regarding site etiquette
• (ie. why not walk on walls)
• Standardize signs
• Consider introduction/orientation sign in parking
  lot
• 65 rooms, Sinagua, site data, Hopi ancestral
  site
• importance of public archeology at the site
• public event dates
• Maintain undeveloped feel of site opportunity
  for self-discovery
• Public programs effective connection with
  community
• Publish results professional and public
  oriented
• Consider thinning vegetation

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Brochure Suggestions Stories of Elden Pueblo

• Sinagua Inhabitants
• Hopi Ties/ Oral Traditions
• Fewkes and Early Archeology start of public
  archeology
• Modern Archeology Techniques Experiential
  Education, Accessible Archeology
• Flagstaffs Heritage Place of Science
• Preservation for the future

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Recommendations for Future Interpretation

• Train replacement for Peter
• Look to coordinating groups as
  interest/availability of USFS archeologist not
  guaranteed
• Consider re-establishing Advisory Group for
  continuity
• Clear mandate to group
• How does the program continue hands-on
  experience as areas appropriate for excavation
  are eliminated
• Replicated excavations
• Switch to more artifact processing
• Non-invasive techniques of site investigation
  (resistivity survey,
• ground-penetrating radar)
• Excavation of agricultural areas
• Stabilization projects
• Consider excavation of historic trading post
• Interpret site without hands-on experience with
  an explanation of
• why excavations stopped
• Consider partnering with NPS and other agencies
  for cyclic maintenance of the ruin