Baltimore Community Archaeology Lab
The Baltimore Community Archaeology Lab (BCAL) strengthens historic preservation in the greater Baltimore area through undergraduate community service-learning, civic engagement and project-based ethical stewardship of the past for the present.
Preservation Panel and Networking Lunch
On Friday, April 26, the BCAL is hosting a lunch panel and networking opportunity with our External Advisory Committee. The event will run from 12:30-4:30 pm in LA 4315. The BCAL External Advisory Committee consists of members from the National Park Service, Cultural Resource Management Firms, the Council for Maryland Archaeology, Preservation Maryland, the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs, and the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture. Students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to have lunch, participate in a panel discussion on historic preservation in Maryland, and network with professionals in the field of heritage preservation. Please RSVP at the following link by April 22 in order to receive lunch.
Public Archaeology Survey Day
On Saturday, April 27 from 9-4, join BCAL archaeologists in conducting a shovel test survey in North Point State Park to find the boundaries of and artifact concentrations in a pre-European Native American site originally discovered in 1988. The results of this survey will be used to plan the BCAL Archaeological Field School in the park this summer.
The Baltimore Community Archaeology Lab is a program that works to mitigate and protect the historic resources on Towson University’s campus. The BCAL works with multiple departments across the university to ensure this cultural heritage is protected, documented and made accessible to the campus community. Towson University archaeology students have access to education modeled in real world experience with archaeological methods and cultural heritage development both on campus and through contracts with outside partners in the greater Baltimore area.
The BCAL is committed to partnering with descendant communities to continually construct and re-construct a holistic narrative of Baltimore’s past that incorporates archaeological investigations, oral histories and archival records. Public participation in heritage preservation, conservation and interpretation contributes to community identity and a sense of place. We recognize the importance of relying on a variety of community voices for developing community-relevant research questions and ethical research design. The BCAL works with numerous community partners and public archaeology programs to make the history of the area we now know as Baltimore publicly accessible and ensure stakeholders have a voice in constructing that historical narrative.
Giving to the BCAL
Your donations help support the research and outreach efforts undertaken by the BCAL every year. If you want to support the BCAL, please donate to the BCAL Operating Fund.
Affiliated Faculty and Staff
Recent News
Details are in the dirt: Archaeologists uncover Maryland’s indigenous and settler history layer by layer
The Baltimore Community Archaeology Lab at Towson University conducts an archaeological survey of Herring Run Park.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/01/05/details-are-in-the-dirt-archaeologists-uncover-marylands-indigenous-and-settler-history-layer-by-layer/
TU community works together to solve the mystery of campus ruins
Cleanup creates opportunities for students, interdisciplinary collaboration
https://www.towson.edu/news/2023/auburn-house-field-survey.html
Ancient artifacts create opportunities for connection
A partnership between TU archaeologists, Indigenous stakeholders is building more balanced historical narratives
https://www.towson.edu/news/2024/bcal-connections.html