Interpretation for Archeologists   3. What Do Interpreters Do? 
Distance Learning   (photo) Archeologists speaking with visitors
at Harpers Ferry.  Archeologists speak with visitors at Harpers
Ferry National Historic Park. (Paul A. Shackel, University of
Maryland)  An effective interpreter provides visitors with
accurate information in an engaging and entertaining way, is
sensitive to their needs, and inspires them to take a personal
interest in a resource. Interpretation involves far more than
storytelling-it requires a set of skills that an interpreter
learns and practices and constantly evaluates, updates, and
adjusts.  Archeologists can learn a lot from what interpreters
do. Archeologists as a whole are fairly new to public
interpretation and outreach, yet in some ways public
interpretation is not a huge leap for archeologists to make.
Archeologists can find wider applications for their work and
reach a broader, non-professional audience by acquiring skills
in public outreach through interpretation.  In