Archaeology Month 2023 - Q&A Taylor Brown
Kiana on an archeology dig
What is your job title and responsibilities?
While I finish up my Master’s in Historical Archaeology at the University of West Florida, I am working part time as an Archaeology Assistant with the Florida Public Archaeology Network. I spend most of my time managing our region’s museum, where I greet guests and maintain our exhibits. I also work behind the scenes writing grants, running public programs, and designing new exhibits. This role has less to do with trowels and dirt than most archaeologists, instead, I act as the connection between the field of archaeology and the public.
What does archaeology mean to you?
For me, archaeology means connecting our past to our present and future by trying to understand how people lived 100, 500, even 1,000 years ago or more. It’s all about the stories we are able to tell and share and the connections we are able to make and experience. Though archaeology tends to focus on the artifacts, for me, it’s all about the people.
Why did you decide to join the field of archaeology?
For the longest time, I was convinced I wanted to be a historian, but chance enrollment in an Introduction to Anthropology course in college made me realize that being an archaeologist combined what I loved about history with my passion for storytelling, my love for traveling, and my long standing obsession with museums. The longer I’ve worked in archaeology, the more I’ve come to realize that public archaeology makes me feel most fulfilled and rewarded, which is why I’ve shifted away from excavations and into the museum sector.
What would you say is your biggest professional accomplishment or the biggest professional challenge you've faced?
This past summer, I worked as the Lab Manager and Volunteer Coordinator for the Smith’s Island Archaeology Project in Bermuda. In this role, I got to set up and run my own public archaeology lab, where I worked with our excavation team and the Bermuda National Trust to bring what we were learning about Bermuda history to modern Bermudians. Getting to be in charge of my own lab and working with local volunteers was one of the most challenging and rewarding things I’ve ever done as an archaeologist.
What words of wisdom would you like to share with the next generations of professionals seeking to work in your field?
Archaeology can be a demanding job–physically, mentally, and emotionally. Always make sure you’re taking care of your mind and body. That being said–archaeology is much more than just digging. Make sure you explore all the different paths and positions archaeology can lead to. The skills we learn are many and applicable in all sorts of unique and exciting places.
Fun Question: What has been your coolest find since starting this field?
It’s so hard to narrow it down to just one thing. My favorites tend to be tools people once held–spoons, hair brushes, slate pencils, sewing needles… It’s exciting to hold something and imagine the life of the person who once owned and used it–the way their hand likely held it exactly as yours does.
