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 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.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/01/05/details-are-in-the-dirt-archaeologists-uncover-marylands-indigenous-and-settler-history-layer-by-layer/
BTU Roundtable event connects community partners with faculty, staff
The Office of Partnerships and Outreach hosted their second roundtable event. This event brings together faculty, staff, and community partners in small groups to learn about existing partnership and outreach efforts and to explore ways to expand them across campus.
https://www.engagetu.com/2024/04/10/btu-roundtable-event-connects-community-partners-with-facultystaff/
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