Session: #48

Regular session

The practice of archaeology, as well as archaeologically derived information and objects, can inspire a wide variety of artistic expressions ranging from straightforward computer-generated reconstructions and traditional artists' conceptions to other art forms such as public sculpture, poetry, music, opera, theatrical performances, and storytelling. Although some level of conjecture will always be present in these works, they may be no less conjectural than technical interpretations and have the benefit of providing visual and conceptual metaphors that can communicate context, setting, and resource significance in compelling, novel, diverse, and unique ways. These cognitive connections between archaeology and the arts reflect an inferential approach in defining, explaining, and introducing an object or resource and making it more meaningful to the public.
The session serves as a substantive elaboration of an innovative 2003 book with a similar theme: Ancient Muses: Archaeology and the Arts (University of Alabama Press). It examines a variety of examples of this approach as it applies to more meaningful and effective processes of interpretation that emphasize public awareness, access, and inspiration. We invite illustrations that show the relationships between archaeological phenomena and artistic representation, i.e., how archaeology has inspired artistic expression, and, conversely, how artistic expression has affected the ways archaeology is perceived by the public.

archaeology, the arts, interconnections, artistic expression, public perceptions, public archaeology

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We request a laptop and moderator be supplied by EAA.

John H Jameson (United States) ^1,2

Suvi Tuominen (Finland) ³
Küllike Tint (Estonia) ⁴