Redefining roles – sharing responsibility: the EAA in the European Heritage Alliance 3.3
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 24/09/2020

In the last 25 years the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) has become both: with its Annual Meeting the major platform in Europe for archaeologists to present their projects, products and plans as well as a political protagonist as recognised International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO) with the Council of Europe. In 2018, the European Year of Cultural Heritage (EYCH), the EAA forms together with more than 40 European or international networks and organisations the European Heritage Alliance 3.3. This is an informal European sectoral platform in the wider field of cultural heritage organised by Europa Nostra. The EYCH is a unique possibility to form partnerships between these organisations and to build a longterm legacy. To form new alliances EAA is rethinking its role and responsibilities among other organisations, but also more general the role of archaeology and archaeologists in heritage management and civil society: - from governance to empowerment - from representation to responsibility - from nature and culture to landscape and environment Empowerment and responsibility is at the heart of what is layed out in EAA’s Framework for Strategic Development 2016 – 2021. This move from passive participation and representation to active engagement and potency, requires a change in attitude not only from the ones elected to lead the organisation, but also from each individual member. At the same time, the original scope of EAA is challenged because archaeology as a subject, but also in its institutions is about to bridge the nature-culture divide and embrace a Big History and landscape perspective. 

Author(s): Hueglin, Sophie (European Association of Archaeologists; Newcastle University; Foundation Pro Monastery St John, Muestair) - Potrebica, Hrvoje (Institute for Archaeology, Zagreb)