Partnership and Repatriation: A Community-Engaged Approach to Recovery through Archaeology

Madeleine Yakal1*, John Joseph Javier2, Jenail Marshall3, Angela Seth Tala2, and Stephen Acabado1

This presentation focuses on a collaborative and community-engaged archaeology model for the recovery of missing-in-action (MIA) American servicemen throughout the world. This approach to recovery through archaeology integrates standard archaeological methodologies with community engagement, student training, and international partnerships. We emphasize the importance and value of having a local institutional partner to achieve true community engagement that bridges American governmental agencies and universities to community members at the academic and local levels. In doing so, this model contributes to the ongoing practice of decolonizing archaeology and increasing its accessibility to early career scholars and students. Collaborations between U.S. institutions and partners in Europe and Southeast Asia have made significant forward strides in navigating the complex legal, logistical, and cultural frameworks that shape MIA recovery efforts across different national contexts. At the same time, these partnerships have allowed scholars to build invaluable archaeological networks that ensure these types of missions and research projects will be sustainable long into the future and that the next generation of archaeologists are trained and supported to carry on these initiatives.