Sidebar 21: Painting: “Unlocking the Past,” by Martin Pate. - John H. Jameson, Jr.

The Southeast Archeological Center, National Park Service, produced this oil painting for the SHA Unlocking the Past project. The image was developed through a conceptual collaboration between SEAC staff member John Jameson and the artist, with input from John Ehrenhard of SEAC, Lu Ann De Cunzo, and members of the SHA Public Education and Information Committee. It depicts a metaphor of modern archaeological practice that emphasizes the importance of research and public interpretation of multicultural objects and cultures. The four figures at the base represent the four main cultural groupings addressed in the Unlocking the Past project and book: European Americans, Native Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans.