Unforgettable Encounters: Understanding Participation in Italian Community Archaeology

Description

Far 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. Cover About Access Archaeology Title Page Copyright Information Contents Introduction 1. Participation in archaeology Introducing participation Defining the fields of study Enhancing participation in cultural heritage Public participation as a democratic process Questioning participation in public and community archaeology Exploring participation Approaching terminology Investigating stakeholders Assessing levels of participation Measuring values Excavation as a contact zone The encounter with the audience The encounter with the digger Excavation as a metabolic system The encounter with the devotee Meaningful encounters 2. Public and community archaeology in Italy Before public and community archaeology ‘Archeologia pubblica’ Excavation and participation at sites in Italian archaeology Online search Online questionnaire The characteristic traits of Italian public archaeology 3. Methodological framework Introduction Workflow Drafting a value-based stakeholder analysis Data analysis and interpretation 4. Case studies overview Selection of case studies Massaciuccoli Romana About Massaciuccoli Romana Research and project over time The archaeological settlement The recent investigations in the Venulei’s villa (1990-1992) Poggio del Molino About Poggio del Molino The archaeological settlement Research and project over time Vignale About Vignale The Archaeological Settlement Research and project over time 5. Exploring participation Massaciuccoli Romana Stakeholders data collection Visualising the participation Participation milestones Poggio del Molino Stakeholders data collection Visualizing the participation Participation milestones Vignale Stakeholders data collection Visualizing the participation Participation milestones 6. Understanding participation Social Network Analysis (SNA) Massaciuccoli Romana Poggio del Molino Vignale Participation polarised chart Understanding encounters Meeting the audience Meeting the diggers Meeting the devotee Who are the volunteers? From research to governance Sustainable participation Ideas for future participation Envisioning the future in a participative present Conclusion Appendix I. Description of interviews and focus groups Description of interviews Massaciuccoli Romana Poggio del Molino Description of focus group Massaciuccoli Romana – Focus group with GAM Vignale – Focus group with students Appendix II. Data collection techniques The questionnaire (English) Expert interview (English) Interview Introductory section Semi-structured interview (English) Introductory section Interview Appendix III. Cross tables Case study: Massaciuccoli Romana Age Education Gender Local visitors Returning visitors Case study: Poggio del Molino Age Education Gender Local visitors Returning visitors Case study: Vignale Age Education Gender Local visitors Returning visitors Reference list