The Center for Public Archaeology (CfPA) at Hofstra University offers semester-long internship opportunities every fall and spring to current Hofstra students. As interns, students receive practical experience in what has come to be known as community archaeology. Interns can expect to learn conventional archaeological lab methods and techniques for cataloging, identifying, analyzing, and preserving historical objects by working with artifacts from one of the CfPA’s previous excavations on Long Island. Interns also conduct archival research, work with primary and secondary documents in local archives, libraries, and historical societies, but also those accessible on the internet. The CfPA also provides interns opportunities to engage Hofstra’s local communities and other organizations who have a stake in the research and excavation of Long Island’s historical sites. Past interns have helped maintain an open dialogue with the public, collaborate with members of descendent communities, organize open houses, forums, panels, and other public events. Interns get to learn and use basic ethnographic methods for documenting and recording their interactions, including both informal and formal interviews. As a center dedicated to applying anthropology, we make sure students learn and refine skills that will benefit students regardless of their particular career path.
The internship in community archaeology helps students develop and strengthen areas in:
- Pattern recognition
- Data classification
- Data analysis
- Spatial representation
- Planning and management
- Preservation and conservation
- Archival research
- Communication and creativity
- Moderation and negotiation.
- Cultural sensitivity
- Public speaking
- Leadership and responsibility
- Service-learning
- Engagement and outreach
How to Apply
Only current Hofstra students are eligible to apply at this time. We encourage every student with interest in archaeology, anthropology, history, community engagement, and social justice to submit an application. Interns are chosen on merit, but anthropology majors, minors, and those with special interest in or concentrating on archaeology as part of their curriculum are given special consideration.
To be considered for the Fall 2020 internship, prospective applicants should e-mail the following materials to the Center for Public Archaeology before August 24, 2020:
- Letter of interest
- Include basic information: name, Hofstra ID number, class year, etc.
- Summarize any previous archaeological experiences.
- Explain how you are a good fit for the internship (emphasize relevant qualities and skills)
- Unofficial transcript (can be obtained through the Hofstra Portal)