by: Kalenda Eaton
As a result of their earlier decision to move to California, I was raised in a community of elders from the Great Plains, Deep South, Southwest, Mexico, Asia, and the Pacific Islands who had lives reflecting both the regional cultures “back home” and the progressive West of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Fall 2023 Introduction
In this issue of The Community Archaeologist, we bring together stories that highlight archaeology’s power to illuminate lives, anchor belonging, and capture the magic of everyday heritage. Our three featured pieces invite readers to reflect on how the past continues to shape and inspire the present.
“The Archaeology of Black Life” centers Black experiences in the archaeological record, asking how scholarship can more fully recognize resilience, creativity, and community across time. “Heritage Means Belonging” explores the personal and collective ties that heritage fosters, reminding us that the work of archaeology is as much about people as it is about artifacts. Finally, “Last Day Magic” captures the fleeting yet profound moments that connect us to place, memory, and each other.
Together, these contributions remind us that archaeology is never only about objects—it is about stories, identities, and relationships that endure.
Heritage Means Belonging
Queer Archaeology and Heritage with the Rainbow Community Heritage Project
Last Day Magic
“Learning to live with the unexpected is a lot of archaeology.”