About the Roadshow
The Archaeology Roadshow is a large-scale public outreach event held on Portland State University campus and in other Oregon communities to promote heritage stewardship and educate about archaeology’s value. The fair-like experience brings together Tribes, federal and state agencies, private companies, avocational organizations, and PSU students and faculty who host hands-on activities related to heritage, science, and Indigenous history.
The Roadshow began as a 2012 Public Archaeology class project in PSU’s Cramer Hall that attracted 180 visitors. It has since expanded to support partner events in Harney County, Bend, and The Dalles, with plans to reach more communities in the future.
A Hub for Virtual & In Person Exhibits
With the COVID-19 pandemic, we could not host in-person events. We launched this website in 2021 to reach visitors virtually. Our many supporters stepped up to create virtual exhibits and gave live lectures and panel discussions which we recorded for visitors to view at any time. In 2023, we returned to live, in-person events. This website will continue to be the hub for the Archaeology Roadshow, providing help to exhibitors, sponsors, and the general public who want to learn more about archaeology and heritage.
A Show with Many Benefits
The Archaeology Roadshow has many layers of benefits. The public learns more about our region’s rich and complex human past and its connections to us today. Visitors also learn about the range of organizations that are engaged in archaeology and heritage activities — and why this work truly matters to us all. Participating college students learn about the importance of public engagement through creating an exhibit of their own. The Roadshow also provides an opportunity for organizations to address their own public outreach goals and at the same time, forges connections among individuals and organizations in our state who are passionate about heritage, site stewardship and public education.
Faces Behind the Show
The Archaeology Roadshow events would not be possible without the help of our amazing volunteer planning committees across the state.
Virgina L. Butler
Virginia L. Butler is a Professor of Anthropology at Portland State University, where she taught from 1995 until her Portland State University retirement in 2020. A zooarchaeologist, Butler studies animal remains from archaeological sites to examine long-term relationships between people and fish. The Oregon Encyclopedia She earned her B.A. from the University of Georgia and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington.
With over 40 years of experience working in western North America, Butler is particularly known for pioneering the use of ancient fish bones to address modern conservation challenges. Her work in the Klamath River Basin confirmed the prehistoric presence of anadromous fish species, validating tribal oral histories and informing dam removal debates. Vanguard Since 2012, she has been the lead organizer of the Archaeology Roadshow, an annual public outreach event at Portland State and throughout Oregon.
Lyssia Merrifield
Merrifield earned her B.A. in Anthropology from Portland State University, and brings her unique blend of event management expertise and passion for public archaeology to the Roadshow. Under her leadership, the event has grown from attracting 180 visitors in 2012 to regularly drawing over 800 attendees. She has been instrumental in expanding the Roadshow beyond Portland, helping establish sister events in Harney County, Bend, and The Dalles.
Merrifield oversees the diverse programming that makes the Roadshow accessible and engaging, from coordinating expert panels that identify artifacts brought by the public to organizing hands-on activities. She is co-author of the publication “Ten Years On: Engaging the Public Through the Archaeology Roadshow,” which documents the event’s evolution and impact on public archaeology education in Oregon.
Join in the Roadshow Fun
We’re always eager to hear from new exhibitors, volunteers, and sponsors. For more information email us at archshow@pdx.edu