The New College Public Archaeology Lab (NCPAL) is committed to facilitating education, outreach, and the study of archaeology within a broader anthropological and interdisciplinary context. As both a physical space and intellectual project curated by New College students and faculty, NCPAL is dedicated to the ethical advancement of knowledge about past human cultures and societies in order to engage with social issues of the present. Utilizing the rich resources of the region’s diverse communities, NCPAL produces and disseminates valuable knowledge of our shared cultural heritage.

The College’s Public Archaeology Lab features more than 1,600 square feet of workspace for processing and interpreting artifacts, an office for archaeological site reports and geographic information systems, and storage space for excavated finds. The Lab facilitates faculty and student research on local and regional history.

Funds for the design and construction of New College’s Public Archaeology Laboratory, which totaled slightly more than $500,000, were provided by the State of Florida ($190,000), New College ($225,000) and a $215,174 FIPSE grant (#P116Z080257) from the U.S. Department of Education. FIPSE stands for Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education.

Public Archaeology: What is it?
Public Archaeology can stimulate an interest in archaeology among the general public while promoting an awareness that cultural resources have significance in the present. Knowledge of the history beneath our feet contributes to community spirit and a sense of place. Our understanding of the past can come from history books, archaeological sites and artifacts, the built landscape, legends and oral histories, and archives including newspapers. Heritage preservation and conservation expand access to these elements; woven together they produce a rich vision of a past that is a place for observing, pondering, and acknowledging the social dynamics and historical trajectories of this community.

How You Can Participate

Outreach programs include:

• Lectures and exhibits relevant to Florida archaeology and the region’s diverse communities
• Workshops and materials for local schools

Giving opportunities include:

• Naming opportunities for lab and outdoor classroom
• Major equipment donation
• Funding for excavations, programming, and outreach
• Volunteering to process artifacts

Undergraduate Research

Preserving regional heritage
The study of archaeology at New College falls within the broader discipline of anthropology. Students begin with work across the four major subfields of the discipline: cultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, and linguistics. New College Public Archaeology Lab serves to facilitate student learning in archaeological methods and techniques by providing workspace for student projects. NCPAL’s mission helps ground students’ understanding of the contemporary relevance and ethical practices of anthropology, and provides opportunities for them to engage in the process of public archaeology.

Uzi Baram
Professor of Anthropology
Director of the Public Archaeology Lab

NCPAL policies

Contact us:
ncpal@ncf.edu
(941) 487-4590
Map & directions

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New College of Florida  •  5800 Bay Shore Road  •  Sarasota, FL 34243