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This field-based workshop teaches participants the methods and ethics of cemetery documentation, preservation, and conservation. Working in Cahawba’s historic burial grounds, students will clean, stabilize, and document headstones while learning to interpret cemetery landscapes through the lens of community heritage and cultural memory.
This is the ideal program for those interested in preservation, heritage tourism, or descendant community engagement.
Workshop Dates
Session 1: May 25 – 29, 2026
Session 2: June 29 – July 3, 2026
Cost
$500 per session
See Logistics page for more information about transportation, room, and board
What You’ll Learn
Legal and ethical responsibilities in cemetery work
Mapping and condition assessment of burial grounds
Hands-on cleaning, resetting, and basic headstone repair
Material identification and treatment strategies
How to draft a long-term preservation plan
Each participant will contribute to a documented conservation project including:
Assessment reports
Before-and-after photos
Stabilized and cleaned monuments
Certification & Career Development
Upon completion, participants will receive a formal certificate issued by the Alabama Historical Commission that can support:
Applications for CRM technician positions
Graduate school portfolios
University credit via independent study (where applicable)
Students will also gain:
Mentorship from experienced CRM archaeologists
Letters of recommendation (when merited)
Practical skills that employers in CRM actively seek
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