Archaeology in the Community's mission is to promote and facilitate the study and public understanding of archaeological heritage. Through informal educational programs, we provide hands-on learning, professional development, and community events. AITC's award-winning programming reaches thousands of students of all ages, customizing curricula to best suit the needs of local groups. In its quality, innovativeness and accessibility, few others do what AITC does.
Dr. Alexandra Jones noticed that many of the young students in her Washington, DC neighborhood had never heard of archaeology, let alone met an archaeologist. As a trained archaeologist and educator, Dr. Jones was inspired to engage young people and teach them the importance of archaeology, local heritage, cultural competence, and scientific curiosity. In 2009, she founded Archaeology in the Community as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Archaeology in the Community develops informal education programs for K-12 students. AITC staff visit local classrooms on request, designing activities to meet state standards and students’ needs. These programs focus on developing students' understanding of archaeology and how it shapes community histories. AITC also organizes a twice-yearly Young Archaeologists' Club. This five-week program aimed at children ages 7-12 meets in person in the Washington, DC area and virtually. It is free to attend and includes workshops, hands-on demonstrations, and field trips. For virtual students, AITC mails a package with all materials to follow the demonstrations along with the remote instructor.
AITC provides classroom and professional development resources for K-12 educators. With partners in DC and elsewhere, AITC develops place-based archaeology curricula. These include a Kalorama Park, DC curriculum (grades 3 and 5), an upcoming Africatown curriculum in Mobile, Alabama, and Black Wall Street curriculum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In partnership with the Archaeology Department at James Madison's Montpelier, AITC offers the Teacher LEARN Archaeology Program. This training takes place at the Montpelier Plantation in Virginia. Teachers spend a week working side-by-side with professional archaeologists through excavations and hands-on workshops, instructed by AITC staff. They learn innovative ways to bring archaeology into their classrooms, while meeting learning objectives for their grades and subject areas. AITC sponsors up to 15 teachers to attend, covering costs for lodging and instruction.
AITC organizes community events and facilitates meaningful collaboration between communities and archaeologists. The organization hosts the annual DC Day of Archaeology Festival at Dumbarton House in DC. This free summer festival gathers archaeology organizations in DC, Maryland, and Virginia to inform our community about archaeological resources with activities for all ages. In June 2024, AITC hosted the first ever DC Archaeology Month, with events throughout the city throughout the month in partnership with other local institutions.
