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Archaeology, Heritage, and Public Participation

Fulfilling the Promise of Authentic Collaboration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2020

Michael S. Nassaney Open the ORCID record for Michael S. Nassaney [Opens in a new window]
Michael S. Nassaney*
Affiliation:
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI49008-5494, USA
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Abstract

Various descendant and community groups have long been involved in aspects of the discovery, investigation, preservation, and interpretation of archaeological remains and associated heritage. No longer content with merely being bystanders and even consultants, many have insisted on fully collaborating, co-creating, and controlling the archaeological and heritage management process. Despite the potential shared interests among archaeologists, local residents, and descendant communities, differences in ontologies, epistemologies, and deep-seated ethical values often pose challenges for an authentic collaborative archaeology that serves the needs and interests of multiple groups. In this article, I examine public participation in archaeology and heritage management, identify some of the gaps between prescription and practice, and suggest that we must adopt transformative values if we are to fulfill the promise of authentic collaboration.

Varios grupos descendientes y comunitarios han estado involucrados por mucho tiempo en distintos aspectos del descubrimiento, la investigación, preservación e interpretación de los restos arqueológicos y del patrimonio asociado a estos. Ya no se contentan con ser meros espectadores o aún consultores, muchos ya colaboran de lleno, co crean y controlan el proceso de gestión arqueológica y del patrimonio propio. No obstante, a pesar de que existen intereses compartidos entre arqueólogos, residentes locales y comunidades descendientes, las diferencias en ontologías, epistemologías y valores éticos profundamente arraigados plantean desafíos para que se dé una auténtica colaboración arqueológica que sirva a las necesidades e intereses de los múltiples grupos. En este artículo examino la participación pública en la arqueología y gestión del patrimonio, identificando algunas de las lagunas que se dan entre la prescripción y la práctica, y propongo que debemos adoptar valores transformativos si queremos conseguir la promesa de una colaboración auténtica.

Keywords

collaborative archaeologyheritage managementpublic benefits of archaeologyethical valuestransformative practicesocial justicearqueología colaborativagestión del patrimoniobeneficio público de la arqueologíavalores éticospráctica transformadorajusticia social
Type
Article
Information
Advances in Archaeological Practice , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , May 2021 , pp. 119 - 131
Copyright
Copyright 2020 © Society for American Archaeology

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