Dear reader,

We are thrilled to introduce you to the inaugural issue of The Community Archaeologist (TCA), an online magazine that seeks to explore the rich history and heritage of our communities. The publication aims to bridge the divide between professionals and the public by offering accessible and engaging narratives on anthropology, archaeology, and heritage work. 

In 2018, the Oklahoma Public Archaeology Network (OKPAN) began publishing the OKPAN Quarterly as an online newsletter to keep readers up-to-date with the archaeological community of Oklahoma. Within each issue, we provided updates on OKPAN and featured pieces from and about archaeologists, students, and any member of the community who cares about the past. However, as OKPAN evolved, we began to recognize the publication’s potential to feature more accessible, educational content from diverse audiences, and in 2022, we started a year-long process restructuring the magazine into its current form. 

TCA would not exist today without the wonderful support of our networks here at the University of Oklahoma and beyond. Over the last year, we met with faculty and staff from a number of units, including the Native American Studies Department, the Native Nations Center, World Literature Today, and School of Visual Arts. Our new design is the result of one of our newly formed partnerships with Dr. Karen Hayes-Thumann and her Visual Communication students who competed in teams of two to produce the winning look. One of the winners is now our phenomenal graphic design intern, Zac Marino.

We hope this publication serves as a platform for people to connect with heritage, share ideas and perspectives, and engage in meaningful dialogue. To that task, we welcome any and all ideas, from readers and future authors, for how we can make this publication as successful as possible. We are always available at thecommunityarchaeologist@gmail.com. We also encourage everyone to provide feedback through a quick survey available here. 

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We look forward to building a community with you.

Sincerely,

Editorial Team, The Community Archaeologist