Public Education and Outreach

Public Education and Outreach Archaeological studies carried out in Mississippi need to interpret project results for the public benefit and present those findings to the public. The expected level of education and outreach increases for each successive phase of investigation and depends on project scale, investigation results, project sponsor, and anticipated affects to one or multiple sites. Archaeological consultants are encouraged to adopt new and innovative methods as well as those that are described below. Public education supplements data recovery as mitigation for the destruction of all or part of a significant archaeological site. The extent of public education and outreach efforts needed to achieve mitigation is based on the extent of the loss of archaeological information and the site’s importance. Sections 15.1 through 15.4 are intended to provide guidance to consultants who generally must take the “lead” role in all aspects of education and outreach.