Theme:
3. Sustainable archaeology and heritage in an unsustainable world
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
CANCELLED From Practices to Strategies - Community Archaeology Initiatives in Eastern European Countries
Content:
Community archaeology sections have been present at EAA conferences for years, yet speakers from former socialist countries could only report largely specific examples. The main reason for this in most of these countries is that archaeological finds are state property, and consequently not only their possession and collection, but also their research is strictly regulated. In several countries, archaeological investigation requires individual license, and there are few good examples of voluntary participation in different archaeological activities.
This practice has been transformed in many Eastern European countries in recent years in connection with a more sophisticated approach to metal detecting. Estonia was the first country that introduced new regulation in 2011, issuing license by the Heritage Board and allowing certain activities under defined conditions. Similar procedures were initiated in other countries; however the legal position of metal detecting is different between countries.
Cooperation with law-abiding metal detectorists began in many countries under strict conditions, including theoretical and practical training, close cooperation with archaeologists in different types of institutions and providing training on the obligatory documentation techniques.
A number of further developments can be observed, for example the establishment of civil society organizations to promote community archaeology and to prevent illegal archaeological activities. The range and activities of the community members are widening, volunteers are involved in site exploration, minor archaeological excavations and conclusive mapping of archaeological sites. These practices considerably help archaeologists to involve local communities into archaeological works.
In this session, we would like to hear presentations on developments in this region, positive and negative experiences and practices, dealing, in the broadest sense, with the community initiatives in Eastern European countries - including cooperation with metal detectorists - and to what extent they are part of a country's archaeological heritage management strategy.
Keywords:
metal detecting, community archaeology, community involvement
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Main organiser:
Katalin Wollak (Hungary) 1
Co-organisers:
Ulla Kadakas (Estonia) 2
Jan Mařík (Czech Republic) 3
Zoltán Rózsa (Hungary) 4
Affiliations:
1. heritage expert
2. National Heritage Board
3. Institute of Archeology of the CAS
4. Buda Castle Property Development and Management Nonprofit Co.
THIS SESSION CAN NOT BE SELECTED AT THIS MOMENT