Last month, I took on the responsibility of reproducing an outdated ceramic analysis guidebook as part of a volunteer initiative in my forest, the Apache-Sitgreaves Forest in Springerville, Arizona. The MANO Project has not only facilitated my relocation across the country to pursue my goals of becoming an archaeologist, but it has also provided me with the opportunity to teach individuals who have also traveled from different parts of the country to learn about archaeology.

I have always had a deep passion for public archaeology and the idea of sharing knowledge about human history, culture, and methodology with others. We have successfully completed the program's final project, the PIT (Passports in Time). The USFS will continue to offer a volunteer program, albeit under a different name. Volunteers from various parts of the United States traveled to our forest to help us categorize and catalog a large quantity of unclassified ceramic items.

The volunteers acquired the skills necessary for bagging, labeling, and curating. By studying many cultures and their ceramic styles, as well as the overall development of ceramics, they saw the transformation of this skill over history. I gave each volunteer a manual that I had developed. This manual equipped them with the ability to categorize the very specific information needed for pottery categorization, including characteristics like temper, paste, glaze, organic vs. mineral composition, and identification of vessel types.

At the end of the week, the volunteers had undergone comprehensive instruction in ceramic analysis and laboratory procedures! Being involved in this project and rediscovering my past enthusiasm and curiosity for public engagement in archaeology was an exciting experience. During the project, we also organized visits for the volunteers to see archaeology at the Casa Malpais archaeological site located in our town.

The volunteers left with newly acquired methodologies, heightened cultural awareness, a collection of remarkable photographs, collectible patches, and experiences. This initiative allowed me to fully fund my passion for helping others and promoting our love for archaeology to ensure the preservation of culture for future generations.