Exploring Public Perceptions and Attitudes about Archaeology

Harris Interactive was commissioned by a coalition of archaeological organizations in June of 1999 to conduct a study among the American public to understand their perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes about archaeology. The overall purpose of this study is to gain insight on the American public's views and understanding of archaeology.

The overall purpose of this study is to gain insight on the American public's views and understanding of archaeology. The information that is provided in this report is important because archaeology is a public endeavor. Archaeology is uniquely dependent on the public for the identification and protection of its resource base. And in some way, all archaeological research is supported by the public's money. Federal, state, and local laws protect sites on public land and on land being developed with public monies.

However, while lessons about archaeology are included in classroom teachings, archaeology has not been an integral part of the school curriculum in the American education system. As archaeologists strive to share information with the public about archaeology and seek public support in protecting and identifying archaeological resources, it is important to understand what Americans know, perceive, and feel about these pressing and important issues.

The coalition of archaeological organizations is composed of the following organizations: the Archaeological Conservancy, the Archaeological Institute of America, the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Society for American Archaeology, and the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The main objective of this research is to learn how well Americans understand archaeology- its practice, its results, and its value. Core issues include understanding:

• What Americans think archaeology is
• What they think archaeologists do
• How Americans learn about archaeology
• How they think archaeological resources should be treated
• Their opinions about the importance and value of archaeology to different aspects of society and to their own personal lives.

Additional issues of interest include:
• Measuring the American public’s interest and participation in archaeology and archaeological activities
• Understanding public attitudes toward archaeology, laws, and conservation issues.

These dimensions were categorized into the following five areas.
1. Awareness, Perceptions, and Knowledge
2. Interest and Participation
3. Importance and Value
4. Attitudes
5. Demographic Information

1999年6月，哈里斯互动公司（Harris Interactive）受多个考古组织组成的联盟委托，面向美国公众开展调研，以了解其对考古学的认知、知识储备与态度。本研究的核心目的在于深入洞察美国公众对考古学的看法与理解。

本研究的核心目的在于深入洞察美国公众对考古学的看法与理解。本报告所呈现的信息意义重大，因为考古学是一项公共事业。考古学的资源基础识别与保护高度依赖公众；且从根本而言，所有考古研究均依托公众资金开展。联邦、州及地方法律对公共土地及使用公共资金开发的土地上的考古遗址予以保护。

尽管课堂教学中会涉及考古学相关内容，但考古学并未成为美国教育体系中学校课程的有机组成部分。当考古学家致力于向公众普及考古学知识，并寻求公众在保护与识别考古资源方面的支持时，了解美国人对这些紧迫且重要的议题的认知、看法与态度就显得尤为关键。

该考古组织联盟由以下机构组成：美国考古保护协会（Archaeological Conservancy）、美国考古学会（Archaeological Institute of America）、美国土地管理局（Bureau of Land Management）、美国鱼类和野生动物管理局（Fish and Wildlife Service）、美国林务局（Forest Service）、美国国家公园管理局（National Park Service）、美国考古学会（Society for American Archaeology）以及历史考古学会（Society for Historical Archaeology）。

本研究的主要目标是探究美国人对考古学的理解程度——包括其实践路径、研究成果与社会价值。核心议题涵盖：
• 美国人对考古学的定义
• 公众对考古学家工作范畴的认知
• 美国人了解考古学的渠道
• 公众认为应如何规范对待考古资源
• 公众对考古学在社会各领域及个人生活中的重要性与价值的看法。

附加关注议题包括：
• 评估美国公众对考古学及各类考古活动的兴趣与参与度
• 了解公众对考古学、相关法律法规及保护议题的态度。

上述研究维度被划分为以下五大板块：
1. 认知、看法与知识储备
2. 兴趣与参与度
3. 重要性与价值
4. 态度倾向
5. 人口统计学信息