Tolomato Cemetery is the oldest remaining cemetery in St. Augustine, Florida. It was founded in an era when the grim and grey church graveyard was the cultural norm in the North American colonies. In an act of compassion for a group of unfortunate Catholic refugees in British East Florida, the cemetery was established on the site of an abandoned Franciscan mission, where it remained active through the end of the 19th century. After a century of neglect, it now faces complex material conservation issues and a lack of public involvement in its care and interpretation. It sits silently locked within its gates, unable to share its own stories of St. Augustine's rich history. This book explores how the site evolved over the centuries into its present state and what can be done to ensure its survival and return to a place of prominence among the cultural resources of one of America's oldest cities. "In Reverence" was written as a graduate thesis at Cornell University in 2009 and has been revised for publication.

Improving the relationship between archaeology and local government represents one of the next great challenges facing archaeology –specifically archaeology done in urban settings. Not only does local government have access to powerful legal tools and policy mechanisms that can offer protection for privately owned archaeological sites, but because local government exists at the grassroots level, it is also often closer to people who have deep knowledge about the community itself, about its values, and about the local meaning of the sites most in need of protection. This partnership between archaeology and local government can also provide visibility and public programing for heritage sites. This book will explore the experiences, both positive and negative, of small and large cities globally. We have examined programs in the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly known as the British Commonwealth) and in the United States. These countries share similar perspectives on preservation and heritage, although the approaches these cities have taken to address municipal archaeology reveals considerable diversity. The case studies highlight how these innovative partnerships have developed, and explain how they function within local government. Engaging with the political sphere to advocate for and conduct archaeology requires creativity, flexibility, and the ability to develop collaborative partnerships. How these archaeological partnerships benefit the community is a vital part of the equation. Heritage and tourist benefits are discussed. Economic challenges during downturns in the economy are analyzed. The book also examines public outreach programs and the grassroots efforts to protect and preserve a community's archaeological heritage.