Why archaeology matters? Digging up archaeology role in modern societies
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 22/09/2020

More then what archaeology is or how archaeologists work, or even what the society can ask/ expect from us, nowadays the main question concerning archaeology is how we approach and assume a more practical and effective role in the society. Not in terms of scientific value, undeniable in large scale around the world, but in a more approachable and visible way. Making use of the new technologies and using new ways to communicate our role in the society is a big challenge that we must embrace. Our proposal to face this challenge can be divided in two projects: 1. create the first MOOC on African Archaeology and Heritage; 2. create a podcast about archaeology, culture and heritage, with an approachable and friendly voice. The MOOC, organized by the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) in a consortium with the ICArEHB from the Algarve University, Portugal, the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland, and the University of Louisville, United States of America, will be accessible to anyone in the world. Our main goal is to form the next generation of experts on African Archaeology and Heritage wherever they are by offering the possibility of study and learn how to preserve African heritage to future generations. With the podcast our mission is to bring archaeology to the daily life, explaining why archaeology and heritage matters and how they can connect us in our collective journey, creating bridges where nowadays we build walls. It will be a podcast from archaeologist and scientist of the human cultures to the general public. In this meeting we will present our projects and discuss their strength and weaknesses with the archaeological community, hoping to have new and interesting insights.  

Author(s): Fonseca, Sofia (ICArEHB, Algarve University; IEPOA, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona; Deutsches Archaologisches Institut, DAI) - Linstadter, Jorg (Deutsches Archaologisches Institut, DAI) - BICHO, Nuno (ICArEHB, Algarve University) - HONEGGER, Matthieu (Institut d’archeologie, Universite de Neuchatel) - Haws, Jonathan (Department of Anthropology, University of Louisville)