| While legislation to protect and preserve archaeological sites has existed since the early twentieth century, attempts at public engagement by practitioners arrived much later. In the last forty years, efforts by the archaeological profession to engage the public with the subject, process, and results of archaeology have increased substantially, as has the theoretical considerations informing those engagement efforts. However, while circumstances have certainly improved, there is still much room for further growth. One underconsidered avenue for public engagement with archaeology is television broadcast. The ubiquity of television in the culture of the United States makes it a valuable tool for reaching the interested and, more importantly, yet-to-be-interested public. Consideration of the historical development of television broadcasting and public programming requirements underscores the importance of this media option. Moreover, critiques of representation as voiced by those involved in the arena of ethnographic filming highlight the concerns and necessary elements of ethical television programming in archaeology. Finally, a case study of a local National Park with extensive archaeological components provides the venue for a model of public engagement through television that gives local schoolchildren the opportunity to engage with archaeological practices, interpretation, and historical constructivism.; Archaeology is a powerful tool for illuminating the connections between today and what has come before. The Presidio of San Francisco ("Presidio") in San Francisco, California, is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area - the largest national park in an urban setting. The Presidio's historical structures and archaeological deposits span all eras of California, past and present. Within its history are threads that connect present-day groups in the Bay Area to people living there in the past. For the Presidio to remain viable in the face of public controversy and funding concerns, it must take advantage of the interest that the public has in archaeology. Outreach and public education about archaeology at the Presidio already has generated substantial positive press and much visitor traffic. Investigation into how to most effectively reach the broadest public will enable the Presidio to enhance its already-successful outreach efforts, and will create stronger, supportive relationships between the community and the park. |
