Archaeological Research

Making Science Public

By Tom Connolly, Director of Archaeological Research

We generally think of a museum as a place—a public space in which objects and ideas are examined, interpreted, and discussed. The Museum of Natural and Cultural History is one such place, offering a rich array of exhibits and community events each year.

But our museum is as much an engine of scientific field research as it is a public space. A look behind the scenes reveals the state’s most active archaeological research organization—one that travels to sites throughout Oregon and beyond. We partner with state and federal agencies, city and county governments, engineering firms, and utility companies to locate, study, and document cultural resources across the Pacific Northwest. From public works projects like bridge and road repairs to private construction endeavors, we are on the scene to help safeguard our collective heritage.

The museum is also a center for scholarship on the First Americans and early human migration. Recent work in this area by MNCH archaeologists includes the radiocarbon dating of ancient basketry from museum collections, studies of the historical ecology of California’s Channel Islands, and our summer field schools in Oregon’s Northern Great Basin, where University of Oregon students gain professional skills while working on some of North America’s earliest cultural sites.

Whether we’re unraveling mysteries about the continent’s earliest inhabitants or uncovering the realities of more recent history, our field research reveals important stories about the past, helps us understand how our modern culture has been shaped, and provides needed perspective on adapting to our changing world.

How do we share these stories and engage our many audiences to fulfill the museum’s mission of enhancing knowledge and inspiring stewardship?

For starters, we publish widely. Over the last few years, our research efforts have resulted in dozens of publications in national and international journals ranging from Science and American Antiquity to the Journal of Archaeological Science and the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, as well as numerous book chapters.

As a cultural resource management organization, the museum shares its findings through technical reports- producing around 50 to 60 each year—that become permanent public resources, preserving and communicating important stories about Oregon’s diverse cultural history.

We are also active in sharing our work with colleagues at professional conferences and with the public at a wide range of venues. This past year, our research staff addressed more than 2,200 people at public talks throughout the state, as well as in Washington and California. We also regularly assist in heritage protection training programs organized by state agencies for law enforcement personnel and cultural resource managers.

We are especially committed to sharing our work with you, our museum family. At the MNCH, research archaeologists regularly team with public programs staff to develop and present content for our visitors and members. It’s one of the truly special aspects of our museum: We are both an engine of research and a place where that research goes public, helping to build our shared understanding and inspire thoughtful conversations about our world—past, present, and future. We look forward to continuing the conversation with you.

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