Baltimore Community Archaeology Lab
The Baltimore Community Archaeology Lab (BCAL) strengthens historic preservation in the greater Baltimore area through undergraduate community service-learning, civic engagement and project-based ethical stewardship of the past for the present.
The Politics of Preservation: Protecting Cultural Heritage in Times of Instability
Join members of the Baltimore Community Archaeology Lab (BCAL) External Advisory Committee
for a luncheon, panel discussion, and students networking opportunity. The BCAL External
Advisory Committee is composed of representatives from Preservation Maryland, the
Archeological Society of Maryland, the Council for Maryland Archeology, the Maryland
Commission on Indian Affairs, the Maryland Commission on African American History
and Culture, the National Park Service, and multiple international cultural resource
management firms. Panelists will discuss the current challenges their organizations
are facing in today's political climate and ways to approach the political shift away
from preservation initiatives.
April 17, 12-3 pm
West Village Commons 307
The Baltimore Community Archaeology Lab is a program that works to mitigate and protect the historic resources on Towson University’s campus. The BCAL works with multiple departments across the university to ensure this cultural heritage is protected, documented and made accessible to the campus community. Towson University archaeology students have access to education modeled in real world experience with archaeological methods and cultural heritage development both on campus and through contracts with outside partners in the greater Baltimore area.
The BCAL is committed to partnering with descendant communities to continually construct and re-construct a holistic narrative of Baltimore’s past that incorporates archaeological investigations, oral histories and archival records. Public participation in heritage preservation, conservation and interpretation contributes to community identity and a sense of place. We recognize the importance of relying on a variety of community voices for developing community-relevant research questions and ethical research design. The BCAL works with numerous community partners and public archaeology programs to make the history of the area we now know as Baltimore publicly accessible and ensure stakeholders have a voice in constructing that historical narrative.
Giving to the BCAL
Your donations help support the research and outreach efforts undertaken by the BCAL every year. If you want to support the BCAL, please donate to the BCAL Operating Fund.
Affiliated Faculty and Staff
Recent News
Details are in the dirt: Archaeologists uncover Maryland’s indigenous and settler history layer by layer
The Baltimore Community Archaeology Lab at Towson University conducts an archaeological survey of Herring Run Park.
TU archaeologist awarded grant for archaeology education
Assistant professor Katherine Sterner awarded $38k grant from Maryland Historical Trust for an archaeology professional development workshop for Maryland K-12 teachers.
Ancient artifacts create opportunities for connection
A partnership between TU archaeologists, Indigenous stakeholders is building more balanced historical narratives.
https://www.towson.edu/news/2024/bcal-connections.html