Transforming Heritage Practice in the 21st Century: Contributions from Community Archaeology

The rapid growth of cultural heritage studies and community archaeology has led to debates about who owns the past, who has knowledge, and how heritage values can be shared more effectively with communities. Globalization forces have created a need for contextualizing knowledge and collaboration across academic disciplines, with successful programs providing power-sharing mechanisms and motivation for more active involvement by lay persons in archaeological fieldwork and interpretation. This volume aims to move community archaeology beyond descriptions of outreach and public engagement to more critical and reflexive actions and thinking, with contributions from 28 chapters and 59 authors covering an extensive geographical range.

Format: Hardback
Length: 460 pages
Publication date: 27 June 2019
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

The fields of cultural heritage studies and community archaeology have experienced a remarkable surge in recent years, fueled by expanding discussions on the mechanisms and outcomes of community participation. This trend has ignited intense debates regarding the ownership of the past, the distribution of knowledge, and the effective sharing of heritage values with communities who imbue them with meaning and significance.

In response to the globalizing forces that have shaped our world, there is a pressing need to contextualize knowledge and foster collaboration across and beyond academic disciplines. This requires the adoption of more integrated methodologies that involve the participation of non-academics and increased stakeholder involvement. Successful programs have implemented power-sharing mechanisms and motivational factors to encourage more active engagement by lay persons in archaeological fieldwork, interpretation, and information dissemination processes.

With the contents of this volume, we aim to push the boundaries of community archaeology beyond mere descriptions of outreach and public engagement to more critical and reflexive actions and thinking. We position the volume within the context of the evolution of cultural heritage studies from the 20th-century "expert approach" to the 21st-century "people-centered approach," where public participation and community involvement are integral to decision-making processes at all stages.

The volume comprises 28 chapters authored by 59 distinguished scholars, representing a diverse geographical range, including Africa, South America, Central America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, and Australasia. These chapters offer exemplary cases in the growing lexicon of public archaeology, showcasing power-sharing frameworks within voluntary activism in a wide array of cooperative settings.

By exploring these themes, this volume seeks to contribute to the ongoing dialogue and advancement of community archaeology, fostering a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between heritage, society, and power. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community members alike, as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of preserving and promoting cultural heritage in a rapidly changing world.

Weight: 860g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030143268
Edition number: 1st ed. 2019