Description
Book SynopsisFar from being a discipline focusing on the past, archaeology has boundless potential for engaging with people in the present. Encounters between archaeologists and the public with different pasts have the potential to create diverse participative dynamics. From the involvement of citizens as excavators and re-enactors to the co-organisation of research campaigns and outreach activities, public participation in archaeology has become a well-represented practice, fully incorporated into European and national cultural policies. However, the impact of this practice remains underexplored.
Unforgettable Encounters demonstrates how evaluating participation can critically influence daily practice on fieldwork, enrich the academic discussion in public archaeology, and inform the decision-making process in community-based planning. The book proposes an operational workflow, aiming to serve as a benchmark for archaeologists delivering collaborative programs in excavation-based projects. It offers a flexible set of tools, analyses, and visualisation boards which can provide a range of information about public participation and can inform the daily practice of fieldwork and the development of community projects. Three Italian case studies present the application of the operational workflow, testing its flexibility and effectiveness. By focusing on Italian community archaeology, this book aims to raise awareness of the importance of evaluating public participation in a country where this commitment has always been evident—especially in excavations—but where research on community archaeology itself has developed only in the last few years.
Table of ContentsIntroduction ;
1. Participation in archaeology ;
Introducing participation ;
Defining the fields of study ;
Exploring participation ;
Excavation as a contact zone ;
2. Public and community archaeology in Italy ;
Before public and community archaeology ;
‘Archeologia pubblica’ ;
Excavation and participation at sites in Italian archaeology ;
3. Methodological framework ;
Introduction ;
Workflow ;
4. Case studies overview ;
Selection of case studies ;
Massaciuccoli Romana ;
Poggio del Molino ;
Vignale ;
5. Exploring participation ;
Massaciuccoli Romana ;
Poggio del Molino ;
Vignale ;
6. Understanding participation ;
Social Network Analysis (SNA) ;
Participation polarised chart ;
Understanding encounters ;
From research to governance ;
Conclusion ;
Appendix I. Description of interviews and focus groups ;
Appendix II. Data collection techniques ;
Appendix III. Cross tables ;
Reference list
