The Kids' Archaeology Program, Iceland
(Fornleifaskóli barnanna)
The Kids Archaeology Program (Fornleifaskóli barnanna) is an educational and developmental project that started in 2007, based in Þingeyjarsýslur County in North East Iceland. The founders of the project are Litlulaugaskóli (local elementary school in North East Iceland) and Narfastaðir Guesthouse. The overall goal of the project is to connect different enterprises, institutions, and individuals in the region order to increase the public awareness of cultural remains and their relationship to modern and historic environment and land use practices. At the same time the program seeks to better connect different parts of the community in order to increase the understanding and knowledge of all those involved in the project of the value of cultural remains and pass on this heritage to future generations.
Icelandic television RUV news report [29/06/2011]
The project is based on a close long term cooperation between the local community and Icelandic and international archaeologists and environmental scientists who have been working in Þingeyjarsýslur since 1996 as part of the interdisciplinary Landscapes of Settlement project (now part of the International Polar Year (IPY) effort) and several US National Science Foundation Arctic Social Sciences sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs directed by Dr. Sophia Perdikaris. These scholars and their participating home institutions (including Archaeological Institute, Iceland, University of Iceland, Mývatn Research Station, City University of New York, University of Colorado, UHI Archaeology Centre, University of Stirling, University of Edinburgh, University of Durham, University of Leeds and University of Bradford) have from the beginning provided the professional basis for the project, working in close cooperation with local educators, heritage institutions, and community organizations. All parties have worked productively together to create and refine a school program integrating hands-on learning, closely supervised student participation in scientific fieldwork, and classroom instruction that is now increasingly incorporating digital technology and map-based learning initiatives.
More details on the Kid's Archaeology Program, Iceland are available in this report.