The Phoenix Site: Attempting to Rise from the Ashes
or A Critical Assessment of Small Site Public Archaeology

Ellen Blaubergs
Ontario Archaeological Society
Toronto, Ontario

Abstract:  During the spring of 1995, the Perth Museum sponsored an 
educational / public archaeology excavation on an adjacent vacant lot. 
Although the museum is to be commended for its enlightened approach to 
this site prior to development, several unanticipated problems arose due 
to its small size. Difficulties and solutions from the Phoenix site will 
be compared to those encountered on other similar projects. Moreover, the 
author will take a rather frank and critical approach to some of the 
problems inherent in conducting educational / public archaeology which 
never seem to get into print but are frequently discussed and need to be 
addressed more often, as this kind of archaeology becomes more typical. 
The development of unique and positive partnerships with traditional and 
non-traditional funding sources will also be explored, with respect to 
continued archaeological funding cuts.