Paul A. Shackel
Encyclopedia
Paul A. Shackel is an American
anthropologist
and a Professor of Anthropology in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Maryland, College Park
. He joined the Department of Anthropology in 1996 after working for the National Park Service
for seven and a half years. His research interests include Historical Archaeology
, Civic Engagement
, African Diaspora
, Labor Archaeology, and the development of Heritage. He teaches courses in Historical Archaeology, Archaeology of the Chesapeake, and Method and Theory in Archaeology.
in 1987. His dissertation focused on the archaeology and probate records from eighteenth-century Annapolis, Maryland
and he described the development of modern behavior and early capitalism.
, Suffolk Community College
. During the summers of 1983 and 1984, he led a team of students in an archaeological excavation to locate the homestead of the founder of the Town of Islip, on Long Island. In 1984 and 1986 he served as an instructor in the Department of Anthropology at State University of New York at Buffalo, teaching Introduction to Archaeology, and Historical Archaeology. He co-taught a course with Barbara Little and Parker Potter in the Department of Social Sciences at Anne Arundel Community College
in 1986. He served as a Lecturer in Department of Anthropology, UMCP in the 1987–88 academic year
, and served as a Visiting Asst. Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Maryland College Park in 1988–1989.
Shackel came to the Department of Anthropology at UMCP and served as an Assistant Professor
from 1996–1999; Associate Professor from 1999–2002 and Professor from 2002–present. He is currently serving as Chair of the Department.
as an archaeologist and he was part of a larger program related to the restoration of Lower Town Harpers Ferry. His extensive work at Harpers Ferry delves into issues of class and labor and has resulted in several books and articles. In 1996 Shackel came to the University of Maryland (UMCP) where he served as PI or Co-PI on several projects with the National Park Service. In 2002 he helped to initiate a long-term archaeology project at New Philadelphia, Illinois
, a multi-racial
town that was founded by a freed African American
in 1836. In the 1860s the railroad bypassed New Philadelphia and by the 1920s it was virtually abandoned. In 2002 and 2003 the UMCP partnered with the Illinois State Museum (ISM), the University of Illinois
(UI), and the friends group, the New Philadelphia Association (NPA), to perform an archaeological survey
of the land. In 2004, UMCP received a 3-year National Science Foundation
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
award that allowed Shackel to partner with UI and ISM to train undergraduates in archaeology and explore issues of race, class and ethnicity on the Illinois western frontier. New Philadelphia was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2005 and was designated as a National Historic Landmark
in 2009. The Archaeological Conservancy is currently working to help preserve the land, and a bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate
and the United States House of Representatives to perform a Special Resource Study to determine the feasibility of making it a National Park.
His recent work focuses on the Lattimer Massacre
, a coal patch town in the northeast region of Pennsylvania. In 1897, 25 miners of southern and eastern European descent were killed while protesting for equal pay and better working conditions. An archaeological survey of the massacre site was conducted in the fall of 2010 and documentary research and an oral history project is underway.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anthropologist
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
and a Professor of Anthropology in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. He joined the Department of Anthropology in 1996 after working for the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
for seven and a half years. His research interests include Historical Archaeology
Historical archaeology
Historical archaeology is a form of archaeology dealing with topics that are already attested in written records. These records can both complement and conflict with the archaeological evidence found at a particular site. Studies tend to focus on literate, historical-period societies as opposed...
, Civic Engagement
Civic engagement
Civic engagement or civic participation has been defined as "Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern."-Forms:...
, African Diaspora
African diaspora
The African diaspora was the movement of Africans and their descendants to places throughout the world—predominantly to the Americas also to Europe, the Middle East and other places around the globe...
, Labor Archaeology, and the development of Heritage. He teaches courses in Historical Archaeology, Archaeology of the Chesapeake, and Method and Theory in Archaeology.
Education
Shackel earned his PhD in Anthropology, which was awarded with distinction, at the State University of New York at BuffaloUniversity at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
in 1987. His dissertation focused on the archaeology and probate records from eighteenth-century Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
and he described the development of modern behavior and early capitalism.
Academic career
Shackel began his teaching career as an Adjunct Instructor, Department of Social SciencesSocial sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
, Suffolk Community College
Suffolk County Community College
Suffolk County Community College is a two-year public college on Long Island, NY sponsored by SUNY and Suffolk County, New York in the USA....
. During the summers of 1983 and 1984, he led a team of students in an archaeological excavation to locate the homestead of the founder of the Town of Islip, on Long Island. In 1984 and 1986 he served as an instructor in the Department of Anthropology at State University of New York at Buffalo, teaching Introduction to Archaeology, and Historical Archaeology. He co-taught a course with Barbara Little and Parker Potter in the Department of Social Sciences at Anne Arundel Community College
Anne Arundel Community College
Anne Arundel Community College, founded in 1961, is located in Arnold, Maryland. The college was named "Community College of the Year" by National Business Alliance in 2000. AACC has also received many other in recent years...
in 1986. He served as a Lecturer in Department of Anthropology, UMCP in the 1987–88 academic year
Academic term
An academic term is a division of an academic year, the time during which a school, college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called terms...
, and served as a Visiting Asst. Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Maryland College Park in 1988–1989.
Shackel came to the Department of Anthropology at UMCP and served as an Assistant Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
from 1996–1999; Associate Professor from 1999–2002 and Professor from 2002–present. He is currently serving as Chair of the Department.
Research projects
In 1989 Shackel began working for Harpers Ferry National Historical ParkHarpers Ferry National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The park includes land in Jefferson County, West Virginia; Washington County, Maryland and Loudoun County, Virginia. The park is managed by the...
as an archaeologist and he was part of a larger program related to the restoration of Lower Town Harpers Ferry. His extensive work at Harpers Ferry delves into issues of class and labor and has resulted in several books and articles. In 1996 Shackel came to the University of Maryland (UMCP) where he served as PI or Co-PI on several projects with the National Park Service. In 2002 he helped to initiate a long-term archaeology project at New Philadelphia, Illinois
New Philadelphia Town Site
The New Philadelphia Town Site is the original site of the now-vanished town of "New Philadelphia", Illinois. It is located near the city of Barry, in Pike County. Founded in 1836, it was the first town in the United States platted and registered by an African American before the American Civil War...
, a multi-racial
Multiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
town that was founded by a freed African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
in 1836. In the 1860s the railroad bypassed New Philadelphia and by the 1920s it was virtually abandoned. In 2002 and 2003 the UMCP partnered with the Illinois State Museum (ISM), the University of Illinois
University of Illinois system
The University of Illinois is a system of public universities in Illinois consisting of three campuses: Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield. Across its three campuses, the University of Illinois enrolls about 70,000 students. It had an operating budget of $4.17 billion in 2007.-System:The...
(UI), and the friends group, the New Philadelphia Association (NPA), to perform an archaeological survey
Archaeological field survey
Archaeological field survey is the method by which archaeologists search for archaeological sites and collect information about the location, distribution and organization of past human cultures across a large area...
of the land. In 2004, UMCP received a 3-year National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Research Experiences for Undergraduates are competitive summer research programs in the United States for undergraduates studying science, engineering, or mathematics. Such programs usually focus on targeting women and underrepresented minorities...
award that allowed Shackel to partner with UI and ISM to train undergraduates in archaeology and explore issues of race, class and ethnicity on the Illinois western frontier. New Philadelphia was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2005 and was designated as a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 2009. The Archaeological Conservancy is currently working to help preserve the land, and a bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and the United States House of Representatives to perform a Special Resource Study to determine the feasibility of making it a National Park.
His recent work focuses on the Lattimer Massacre
Lattimer massacre
The Lattimer massacre was the violent deaths of 19 unarmed striking immigrant anthracite coal miners at the Lattimer mine near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, on September 10, 1897. The miners, mostly of Polish, Slovak, Lithuanian and German ethnicity, were shot and killed by a Luzerne County sheriff's...
, a coal patch town in the northeast region of Pennsylvania. In 1897, 25 miners of southern and eastern European descent were killed while protesting for equal pay and better working conditions. An archaeological survey of the massacre site was conducted in the fall of 2010 and documentary research and an oral history project is underway.
Books authored
- 1993 Personal Discipline and Material Culture: An Archaeology of Annapolis, Maryland, 1695–1870. The University of Tennessee PressUniversity of Tennessee PressThe University of Tennessee Press is a university press associated with the University of Tennessee.UT Press was established in 1940 by the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees.The University of Tennessee Press issues about 35 books each year...
, Knoxville, TNKnoxville, TennesseeFounded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. - 1996 Culture Change and The New Technology: An Archaeology of The Early American Industrial Era. Plenum Publishing CorpSpringer Science+Business Media- Selected publications :* Encyclopaedia of Mathematics* Ergebnisse der Mathematik und ihrer Grenzgebiete * Graduate Texts in Mathematics * Grothendieck's Séminaire de géométrie algébrique...
, New York, NY. - 2000 Archaeology and Created Memory: Public HistoryPublic historyPublic history is a term that describes the broad range of activities undertaken by people with some training in the discipline of history who are generally working outside of specialized academic settings. Public history practice has quite deep roots in the areas of historic preservation,...
in a National Park. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishing, New York, NYNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. - 2003 Memory in Black and White: Race, Commemoration, and the Post–Bellum Landscape. AltaMira PressRowman & LittlefieldRowman & Littlefield Publishing Group is an independent publishing house founded in 1949. Under several imprints, the company offers scholarly books and journals for the academic market, as well as trade books. The company also owns a book distributor, National Book Network...
, Walnut Creek, CaliforniaWalnut Creek, CaliforniaWalnut Creek is an incorporated city located east of the city of Oakland. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa...
. - 2006 “They Worked Regular”: Craft, Labor, Family and the Archaeology of an Industrial Community (with Matthew Palus). University of TennesseeUniversity of TennesseeThe University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
Press, Knoxville. - 2008 The Making of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park: A Devil, Two Rivers, and a Dream (with Teresa Moyer). AltaMira Press, Lanham, MDLanham, MarylandLanham is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County in the State of Maryland in the United States of America. Because it is not formally incorporated, it has no official boundaries, but the United States Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place consisting of Lanham and the...
. - 2009 An Archaeology of American Labor and Working ClassWorking classWorking class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
Life. University of FloridaUniversity of FloridaThe University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
Press, Gainesville, FL. - 2011 New Philadelphia: An Archaeology of Race in the Heartland. University of California PressUniversity of California PressUniversity of California Press, also known as UC Press, is a publishing house associated with the University of California that engages in academic publishing. It was founded in 1893 to publish books and papers for the faculty of the University of California, established 25 years earlier in 1868...
, Berkeley.
Edited volumes
- 1992 Meanings and Uses of Material Culture (with Barbara J. Little). Historical Archaeology 26(3).
- 1994 An Archaeology of Harpers Ferry's Commercial and Residential District (with Susan E. Winter). Historical Archaeology 28(4).
- 1994 Historical Archaeology of The Chesapeake (with Barbara J. Little). Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian InstitutionThe Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
Press, Washington, DC. - 1998 Annapolis Pasts: Contributions From Archaeology in Annapolis, (with Paul Mullins and Mark S. Warner). The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, TN.
- 2001 Myth, Memory and The Making of The American Landscape. University Press of FloridaUniversity Press of FloridaThe University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing arm of the State University System of Florida representing all eleven universities, and is charged by the Florida Board of Governors with publishing books of intellectual distinction and significance, books that contribute to improving the...
, Gainesville, FL. (Paper edition issued in 2008). - 2003 Remembering Landscapes of Conflict. Historical Archaeology 37(3).
- 2004 Places in Mind: Archaeology as Applied AnthropologyApplied anthropologyApplied anthropology refers to the application of the method and theory of anthropology to the analysis and solution of practical problems. In as much as anthropology traditionally entails four sub-disciplines--Archaeology, biological/physical, cultural/social, and linguistic anthropology—the...
, (with Erve Chambers). Routledge Press, NY. - 2007 Archaeology as a Tool of Civic Engagement (with Barbara Little). AltaMira Press, Lanham, MD. National Council for Public History Book Award finalist, 2008
- 2009The Archaeology and Ethnography of Cultural Heritage Management (with David Gadsby and Antoinette Jackson) Practicing Anthropology 31(3).
- 2010 New Philadelphia: Racism, Community, and the Illinois (with Christopher Fennel and Terrance Martin) Historical Archaeology 44(1).
- 2011 Archaeologies of Engagement, Representation, and Identity (with David Gadsby) Historical Archaeology, 45(1).
- 2011 Heritage, Labour and the Working Class (with Laurajane Smith and Gary Campbell). Routledge Press, NY.
Awards
- 2008 NCPH Book Award finalist for Archaeology as a Tool of Civic Engagement (w/Barbara Little).
- Ethel Jane Westfeldt Bunting Fellow: School for Advanced Research (SAR), Summer Fellowship, 2007. Sante Fe, New Mexico.
- National Society Daughters of the American RevolutionDaughters of the American RevolutionThe Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
Historic PreservationHistoric preservationHistoric preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
Medal: 2006;– For work to place New Philadelphia on the National Register of Historic Places. - Choice Award, 2004;– for Outstanding Academic Title Memory in Black and White (2003 AtltaMira)
- GRB Grant (Environmental Reconstruction at New Philadelphia, Illinois) 2004–2005 Academic Year
- GRB Grant (A survey of Historic African American Churches in Frederick County) 2001–2002 Academic Year