The Archaeology Channel

In 2000, an experiment in online resources was launched by a small nonprofit group in Oregon called the Archaeological Legacy Institute. Called the Archaeology Channel (TAC), the project has delivered and more on its primary mission as "to develop ways to make archaeology more effective both in gathering important information about past human lifeways and in delivering that information to the public and the profession." Using streaming technology, TAC is in the process of presenting archaeological data in an attractive, informative and interesting manner.

To date, TAC has nearly fifty online videos on its website, on archaeological sites and topics ranging from the fires at Mesa Verde to the Akha Way in Thailand to mounds in Uruguay to the Parthenon in Greece. Each video is available online, free to the public with (free) versions of Real Player or Windows Media Player; and copies of each video may be purchased online as well.

But the primary purpose of TAC, according to Archaeological Legacy President Rick Pettigrew, will always be public education. To this end, the Archaeological Legacy Institute has developed partnerships with such diverse organizations as the Smithsonian Institution and Art and Archaeology Magazine; and received donations and support from such diverse individuals as Jean Clottes, excavator of Chauvet Cave, and Jean Auel, author of Clan of the Cave Bear.

TAC also has conducted a series of audio interviews, from individuals as diverse as Jessica Paladini discussing her efforts to save the Black Creek Site, to Bill Doleman's work investigating the Roswell Crash site in New Mexico.

The Archaeology Channel and Archaeological Legacy Institute promises to be an influential leader in the creative use of the Internet to present user-friendly, adaptable resources for learning about archaeology. I for one surely look forward to the next permutation of this wonderful resource.