| Abstract: |
Local museums can provide solutions to some common problems encountered by field archaeologists. These institutions can curate artefact collections and improve community relations by educating the local public about the research taking place in their communities. Additionally, the process of designing and installing educational exhibits in cooperation with local people can provide insights into not only community perceptions of the research project, but also of local conceptions of history and the role of the past in the present. In this article, a case study from the Banda Islands of eastern Indonesia is presented with the aim of encouraging archaeologists to embark on similar projects, and helping them avoid some of the potential pitfalls of such projects. By participating in local museum development, archaeologists can both strengthen these institutions and gain the benefits of their presence in the research locale.
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