Audio Gallery Guide
Our Material World
The following is an audio guide to the archaeology gallery. We recommend you listen to it in the order of the gallery for the best visiting experience.
Station 1 — Welcome
The first audio goes along with the introduction panel. This panel can be found immediately to the left of the south elevator (the one closest to the museum entrance).
If you take the north elevator (the larger one located in the Northwest Native Art gallery) go along the bannister all the way to the left, past the bathrooms, until the metal bannister ends. Then go slightly to the left and forward to the intro panel. If you take the stairs, turn immediately left and then a second left at the top of the staircase and follow the same instructions as above.
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Station 2 — First Display
Please note this is a pilot project and not all of the displays have a complete audio guide. A comprehensive audio version of this display will be coming soon.
Going from the introduction panel, this display can be found by turning slightly right and then going forward. It is a two-sided display. One side faces east (in the direction of campus) and the other west (towards University Way NE or "The Ave").
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Station 3 — Trash Columns
The next section is the four trash columns immediately south of the first display. If you walk straight along the left/east side of the first display you should reach the trash columns. Start the audio at the first left column. A more detailed description of the columns and their space is included in the audio file.
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Station 4 — Middle Gallery
Behind the trash columns the gallery forms an L shape. Behind the left column there is a touchable display. Start here when listening to this section. Further directions are provided in the audio file.
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Station 5 — Back Right Wall and Petroglyph Rock
Turning right from where the middle gallery opens up to the back gallery, walk until you reach the wall. Follow the wall down until you find the petroglyph rock. Listen to the audio here.
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Station 6 — Waterways
Please note this is a pilot project and not all of the displays have a complete audio guide. A comprehensive audio version of this display will be coming soon.
Opposite the back right wall are two topographical displays. To reach the next section walk between these two displays.
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Station 7 — Hearth and Story
Walking straight between the two topographical displays you will reach a half moon seating area curved around a hearth. Listen to the description and story here.
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Station 8 — Foodways
Across the hearth from the bench is the basket wall and Foodways display. The display forms a crescent along the wall.
We recommend you start by listening to the story behind the display with the “Basket Wall” audio narrated by Polly Olsen (Yakama).
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From there it is helpful to listen to “Foodways description/guide” to orient yourself with the display.
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Then starting at the far left (when you’re facing the display from the hearth), listen to “Foodways audio version of the text.”
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Archaeology Accessibility Kits
In addition to the audio guide, the Burke has two Archaeology Accessibility Kits which provide a touchable guide to the gallery for visitors who are blind, or have other sensory or learning difficulties. The kits are designed to be as easy to manage as possible for all of our patrons with physical disabilities. Though the kits do not need to be reserved in advance, we ask that you please only ask for the kit if it is something you need. We want to prioritize this experience for visitors with disabilities who cannot otherwise get the full Archaeology gallery experience. Alternatives exist for school groups or children. These kits are designed for users ages 12 and up. Ask a staff member at the admissions desk about checking out one of these kits.
The audio guide to the kits is provided below. The kits also include a large print and Braille version of this guide.
Archaeology Access Kits Audio Guide
Part 1, Instructions
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Part 2, Introduction to Material Culture
Adze
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Bone points
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Obsidian points
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Labrets
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Part 3, Trash Columns
Trash introduction
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Bottles
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Pottery fragments
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Shells
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Shell middens
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Part 4, Foodways
Points
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Mortar
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Net weight
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Bird bones
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Fish bones
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Ungulate bones
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Part 5, Credits
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How can I use an Archaeology Accessibility Kit?
- If you would like to check out the Archaeology Accessibility Kit, go to the admissions desk and ask about accessibility options.
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To return the kit, leave it in the box outside the Archaeology Workroom and ring the doorbell to alert staff that it has been returned.
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If you are returning the kit on a weekend or holiday, alert a nearby volunteer or staff member that you have returned the kit to the box outside the Archaeology Workroom. Most often a volunteer or staff member will be in the Experience Alcove near the Paleontology Fossil Prep Lab.
Learn about the voices behind the audio
Lucinda Axtelle is a student at the University of Washington (class of 2023), studying anthropology and ethnomusicology. She helped create the kits, recorded and edited the audio, and facilitated the project at the Burke. She has been working as an archaeology assistant in the Burke since Winter 2022. Lucinda is visually impaired and has albinism.
Adelyn McNew is a blind high school student who helped with the creation of this project. She worked on picking out items for the kits, helping write the scripts for the audio, and providing her skills in Braille. In addition Addy was a consultant for creating accurate audio guides. She interned at Burke over the summer through the YES-2 program. In her spare time Addy loves to travel and is a big animal lover.
Nuha Sabbah participated in the creation of this project, by helping with writing the scripts, being one of the narrators in the audio recordings, and picking out items for the kits. She is a visually impaired student in high school who interned at the Burke over the Summer through the YES-2 program. Some of her interests are learning about history and the past, art, and music.
Justice McNeeley is an Inupiaq woman and descendant of the Kaniqmiut people. She currently works at the Burke Museum as the Archaeology Repatriation Coordinator and the Assistant Registrar. She graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor's in Archaeology from UW, and is a 2022 UW Museology MA graduate. She centers her work on pursuing repatriation, decolonization, and healing for indigenous communities.
Polly Olsen is a member of the Yakama Nation. She is the Director of Diversity, Equity, Access, Inclusion & Decolonization and the Tribal Liaison for the Burke Museum. Her work is focused enhancing reciprocal partnerships with tribes and communities. She is a UW graduate with a bachelors degree in Cultural Anthropology. Her work at the Burke Museum began in June 2017. Polly can be heard telling the story of Badger and Coyote as well as the story behind our basket wall, in the audio guide to the archaeology gallery.
Mary Jane Topash,Tulalip Tribes, is the Assistant Director of Cultural Education Initiatives at the Burke Museum. Her undergrad is in Anthropology and American Indian Studies and her graduate degree is in Cultural Studies Mary Jane has worked in informal education in the museum field for over 10 years, focusing on Coast Salish Tribal history. Her work focuses on decolonial practices, equity and inclusion, informal teaching, anti-stereotyping, and anti-appropriation.
Our Material World
Floor 3, Archaeology
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