MA in Archaeology - Heritage and Unwritten Histories in Charlotte United States | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

While written accounts capture only fragments of human history, this program employs archaeological and ethnographic techniques to study cultural heritage elements frequently omitted from conventional records and marginalized in mainstream narratives. Cultural heritage encompasses the tangible and intangible assets we receive from our ancestors, utilize in shaping contemporary society, and bequeath to posterity. It serves as a vital foundation for expressing and evolving cultural identities across all levels, from personal to national, while frequently becoming a point of contention in diverse social movements. Worldwide, heritage intersects with crucial matters such as:

Preserving vulnerable archaeological sites threatened by urban expansion and artifact theft through documentation and conservation efforts
Engaging descendant populations and local communities with heritage assets while including them in safeguarding and managing these economically valuable resources
Employing alternative historical accounts (archaeological findings, oral traditions, etc.) to strengthen marginalized, overlooked, and oppressed communities
Persistent disputes regarding cultural property ownership and intellectual rights
Various national and international institutions like the National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, and UNESCO concentrate on conserving, researching, administering, and honoring heritage. These entities sometimes advocate debated strategies such as heritage tourism - an increasingly popular economic driver generating substantial revenue. Yet heritage also functions as an influential instrument for communities fighting for civil rights and acknowledgment. Consequently, ownership disputes and heritage utilization in social movements often spark intense conflicts, carrying profound implications tied to racial histories, power structures, and political agendas. This program examines numerous culturally sensitive methods for comprehending heritage's contemporary significance, with specialized expertise in the archaeological and ethnographic oral traditions of the American South and Latin America, focusing particularly on cultural expression, collective memory, and spoken histories.