Inventory Historic Archaeological Resources at Keweenaw National Historic Park and Isle Royale Naitonal Park

Description

Conduct archeological inventory at Kewenaw NHP and Isle Royale NP. This project aligns with SOI priorities 1, 3, and 4. The work will enable KEWE to make informed and more efficient decisions about how to facilitate public use and access to park lands in the Quincy Unit (Priority 1b & 1g), while meeting the need for baseline information that will allow for rapid responses to regulatory processes (Priority 1c). The project will include partner organizations at KEWE and stakeholders at ISRO fostering conservation relationships with private organizations while balancing stewardship and use of public lands and public-private partnerships within in the park (Priority 1e).The project addresses Priorities 3a and 3b by working with neighboring groups, including private land owners adjacent to park boundaries. It enables a partnership with the Keweenaw Time Traveler, a web-based interactive mapping tool that enables local residents to document the history or their communities; the Time Traveler will serve as an additional, public platform for communicating the archeological work with local residents. It also addresses the community request for more active involvement in archeological work at both parks.The project supports Priority 4b. The survey and the contextual studies that it will generate will help address the under-representation of tribal communities in the history of both parks. The collaboration will go further to open more discussions between tribal leaders, NPS staff, and the university community. It will provide opportunities to strengthen tribal involvement in the stewardship and interpretation of park resources. In addition, this project aligns with Key Initiative 4. It will create historical documentation to expand interpretive programming so that the public can make even better use of the resources when visiting both parks. Documenting baseline conditions in previously unsurveyed park lands, particularly at KEWE, will facilitate the planning needed to open those areas to the public in a way that protects the resource while safely facilitating public access. Understanding the nature and location of historic sites at ISRO also supports the safety of island visitors.

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