Kim Savage is Public Outreach
Coordinator and Research Specialist for the Archaeological Research
Institute (ARI), School of Human Evolution and Social Change
(SHESC). She facilitates ARI’s participation in public events
such as the annual Arizona Archaeology Expo, conducts tours, mentors
graduate students interested in public outreach, represents ARI in
local museum associations, and visits local elementary school
classrooms. Her presentation, “Why Archaeologists Dig Square
Holes,” focuses on scientific excavation methods and
stratigraphy, emphasizing environmental awareness and cultural
sensitivity. The basic presentation is designed to address how we
learn about the prehistory of central Arizona and the importance of
site protection.
In 2011 the Governor’s
Archaeology Advisory Commission recognized Kim’s efforts on
behalf of the Archaeological Research Institute with their Award in
Public Archaeology, Government Agency.
While earning a Museum Studies
Certificate from ASU’s Department of Anthropology, Kim
emphasized Museum Education and informal learning. She represented
the Roosevelt Platform Mound Study, Office of Cultural Resource
Management at ASU, in matters of public education including site
tours, open houses, and classroom presentations. She was later
responsible for tours, education, outreach and docent training at
the Milwaukee County Historical Society, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, prior
to her return to Arizona.
Kim received her B.A. in History
from Thiel College, Greenville, Pennsylvania, and retains her
interest in historical archaeology. She worked on a number of
excavations in the Southeastern U.S., including the Rock House in
Georgia and the slave quarters of Yaughan and Curriboo Plantations,
two eighteenth to nineteenth century rice plantations in Berkeley
County, South Carolina. After interning at the Tempe History Museum,
Kim researched topics related to the Home Front in Tempe during
World War II and developed materials for classroom use.
As an archaeological field
crew member, Kim worked with the Smithsonian Institution expedition
to Tell Jemmeh, Israel, and excavated at Tell Madaba, Jordan. She
has visited many archaeological sites in Israel, Jordan, Egypt,
Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Crete, and mainland
Greece. She is therefore also able to share her love of Old World
archaeology in the Eastern Mediterranean with students and visitors.