Author: paigef

Hello curious minds and lovers of science, archeology, and graphic novels!

This blog is the first in a whole series that will chronicle the writing, editing, drawing, etc. of a nonfiction graphic novel focusing on the history and science of doing archeology out at Plum Bayou Mounds – an archeological site located just outside of Little Rock, Arkansas. This project is a collaboration between Dr. Paige Ford, an archeologist with the Arkansas Archeological Survey, and Sean Fitzgibbon, an artist and author who recently published a graphic novel about the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, along with an advisory committee of educators, community members, and more. Now, you probably have some questions about the project and why we are even doing it, and maybe even some about Plum Bayou Mounds itself (more on that in upcoming blog posts). This first post tries to address some of that without getting too in the weeds – there is after all a whole site (this one!) where we can do that. More to come as we research, write, and develop this project.

So, why write a book about archeology?

Well, first and foremost, archeology is an interesting and exciting field of study with a lot to contribute to our knowledge about culture and the world around us! And, according to an Ipsos poll conducted for the Society for American Archeology in 2023, many members of the public would agree with me. If you’re curious, the stats from the survey illustrated that most Americans express at least some interest in the field, though they may not necessarily familiar with what archeologists actually do. In other words, people don’t know how we learn about past cultures and peoples using artifacts, features, and more. Most folks believe archeological sites should be protected, and that archeology is important to the nation and to a certain extent, their communities and heritage as well. We have also seen a small uptick in heritage tourism, with more people visiting archeological or historical parks than ever before! So, professionals aren’t the only ones who appreciate the awesomeness of archeology and what we learn from it.

Now. Remember when I said a lot of people aren’t familiar with what archeologists do? That 2023 survey showed that 56% of survey respondents are familiar with the field, which is a drop from a similar poll done in 2018. And while I’ll happily report that less folks think we study dinosaurs than in 2018 – a significant improvement from 54% to now 47% in 2023 – it is troubling to see archeology reaching less Americans than it has before. The reason for the drop is unclear, but it is partially why we chose to engage in this project and experiment with a relatively new form of media for widespread and accessible outreach and education in archeology. Along with the ever present need to increase archeology’s relevancy to modern communities, increase representation in the field, and more.

Plus, this isn’t JUST another book. It’s a graphic novel! It will combine the amazing worlds of art, literature, and archeology to make something fun, exciting, visually stunning, and educational. Our goal is that this book can be widely accessible across age groups, interests, demographics, and more. We hope people will want to flip through and admire the art, get lost in the story, and learn about archeology in the process.

Ok that all sounds good, but why a graphic novel?

We are not pioneering or engineering a new form of outreach in archeology. There are several people who precede our work here and have laid an amazing foundation for us to build upon (and, at least one serves as an advisor on this project). But the use of comics and graphic novels in archeology outreach is still fairly new territory. Folks like Jen Shannon, John Swogger, Sonya Atalay (see their collaborative work on NAGPRA comics), and more have delved into the world of comics in archeology and paved a path for us to experiment with this media. So we take inspiration (as well as guidance and advice) from them as we move forward!

On a personal level, I chose to pursue using a comic-style narrative because I am a big fan of graphic novels (as well as being passionate about archeology and public outreach). I’ve got an ever-expanding collection in my house, and some of my favorites are Bill Willingham’s Fables and Neil Gaiman’s popular Sandman. I think it is such an interesting avenue of literature that has different levels and powers of engagement, communication, and entertainment. There are the tried-and-true methods of writing a comic, but also a lot of freedom within the genres themselves to experiment with new visual and narrative mechanisms, and to engage readers on new and exciting levels. A well-written and drawn graphic novel can take us to new worlds and allow us to really relate to characters and almost put ourselves in the story and experience what happens on a new level.

Those are some of the reasons we chose to write a graphic novel, but there are numerous others from an outreach and education standpoint. First, comics and graphic novels are enjoyed by such a wide range of ages, demographics, and more. Many of which it is hard in archeology to reach. These forms of media can stand on their own, they’re a passive and yet incredibly informative tool for teaching, and they’re popular to boot. Graphic novels are widely accessible for various levels of literacy by associating words and phrases with images that tell their own story. And for engaging students in classrooms, this can be immensely beneficial for different learning styles, giving teachers the freedom to tailor learning to their students.

In terms of teaching archeology and history to students and the general public, graphic novels have a different kind of superpower. Teaching about the past can be difficult, because we can sometimes feel removed or distant from events or people during those times. The visual storytelling that graphic novels and comics use, however, materializes the past in a way words themselves cannot. They can make the past tangible, providing space for readers to inhabit and engage with the stories told in concrete and relatable ways. In a very satisfying parallel to archeology, graphic novels materialize the past and make it tangible and experiential.

These are just a few of many reasons we chose to write a graphic novel on archeology, as there are too many to name for an intro blog post. But hopefully you can see that we have so much to work with here, so much freedom, so many new techniques and new avenues to explore! And we are excited to take you with us on that journey, hoping this blog and our process can be a roadmap for others to experiment as well.