Old Pueblo Archaeology Center

Old Pueblo Archaeology Center's mission is to educate children and adults to understand and appreciate archaeology and other cultures, to foster the preservation of archaeological and historical sites, and to develop a lifelong concern for the importance of nonrenewable resources and traditional cultures.

Programs offered to fulfill Old Pueblo's mission include the "OPEN" simulated archaeological dig education program for children, the "OPENOUT" educational outreach program for both children and adults, public presentations, publications, archaeological field schools, a membership program that provides research and education opportunities, an internship program for students and others, archaeological and cultural site tours, and web-based education programs, among others.

Testimonials

White Elementary School (Tucson Unified School District) teacher Margaret Watson wrote in January 2017:

"When you ask any teacher, 'What is it that you are most proud of as an educator?,' they will invariably say, 'The opportunity to help children to unlock their potential and to gain understanding and appreciation of their world; the role people have played in the past, in the present, and how they can each take their places in society in the future.' They will go on and on about the wide eyed wonder of their students when learning goes beyond textbooks, becoming real, authentic, and meaningful in the types of hands-on, minds-on learning that Old Pueblo Archaeology student programming provides for our young people.

"With our current lack of funds in Arizona schools, the education of our young people is limited to classrooms, and doesn't include these types of learning experiences. Without organizations like this to offer the programming, and help fund the costs, our students will simply be stuck in classrooms.

"About eight years ago, I had a conversation with another third grade teacher who had been taking her students every year on a 'Mock Dig' through Old Pueblo. It sounded fascinating, especially since our students had just finished learning about life in Ancient Greece, and had questions about the people that lived here in Southern Arizona during that same time period. I knew very little myself, but was eager to find out. Not only that, but many of our Tucson schoolchildren are Native American, and these are their ancestors. Suddenly, it all became very meaningful. 'Who were these ancient peoples? How did they survive? How did they use the resources that were here? How do archaeologists learn about them?' So, I signed up!

"I found out that Old Pueblo provides information for teachers to use in their class studies. We used these materials, then, teachers from Old Pueblo came to the class armed with artifacts and models. They taught the students to respect the culture of the Hohokam, and the artifacts and features they have left behind. We learned the importance of leaving these remnants "in situ", not defacing or destroying sites. Their explanations helped students imagine what it must have been like to live and survive in a Hohokam community, how they used the resources, dug canals for water, and built ramadas and pithouses.

"Then, students took a field trip to the dig, where math was integrated with science and social studies, as student took opening and closing elevations of their 'sites,' and learned to carefully and precisely (to third grade standards) excavate their site, plotting location of larger artifacts, and sifting and cataloguing shards, bone fragments, seeds, petrified wood, etc.

"Next, the students used all the data they collected to make inferences on whether their site was a ramada or a pit house, giving evidence for their thinking, and weighing and considering information from their classmate 'archaeologists.' This is critical thinking at its best. This is the kind of experience that not only inspires children to go to college to study archaeology, but to study all sciences and social sciences.

"Needless to say, I continued to bring my students every subsequent year, and have advocated successfully for many other teachers to take their students as well. It is now a yearly expectation that all fourth graders at our school take this trip.

"Here are some other testimonials:

"Sarah Reigert wrote, 'Firstly, I participated a few years back while I was working for TUSD, and this program and field experience is singlehandedly the most professionally organized field trip I've ever experienced. Additionally, the learning is bar none. I loved how the children learn about the field of archaeology in particular. I now own my own school district and have two classes of 25 (estimate) that I am planning on taking.'

"Diane Willcox wrote, 'I wouldn't change anything . . . . In my 32 years of teaching this is the best field trip I have ever done with my class. Your program and staff are outstanding.'

Challenger teacher Ms...