American Veterans Archaeological Recovery (AVAR) conducts expert archaeological fieldwork worldwide by combining the drive and precision of military veterans with academic training and supervision. Bonds made on excavations help veterans work through feelings of isolation, disempowerment, and loss of purpose that often occur when service members transition into the civilian world. While our program primarily serves disabled veterans, our emphasis is on ability. We work diligently to create a program that accommodates a diverse community of veterans. Unique in the United States, the AVAR program helps veterans find their future while exploring the past. We describe the enhancement of archaeological fieldwork processes to benefit and develop the participant over the long-term as ‘Rehabilitation Archaeology’.
