Thomas KADOR
(University College London, UK)
Keywords: Public archaeology, digital media, mobile technologies, material engagements
Abstract:
Digital – and in particular mobile digital – technologies have revolutionised the world of communications and both archaeologists and other heritage professionals have long realised that they need to make full use of these technologies to reach today’s audience. There are several hundred thousand websites and smart phone apps specifically dealing with cultural heritage and their number is growing daily. However, the majority of these resources are neither designed nor managed by heritage professionals but by a mixture of interested members of the public and organisations/businesses in various fields.
This presentation is based on my own experience of working in public archaeology for several years and especially teaching an undergraduate course in public engagement with archaeology. Apart from exploring some of the key themes in involving the public in archaeology, such as through museums, community archaeology, film/TV and digital media, as part of this course students had to design a pop-up exhibition dealing with Dublin’s urban archaeology. This was then installed in a public building (the Dublin Civic Offices). Based on this collaboration with the students in curating the exhibition – which included object displays, posters, interactive online content, Facebook pages and specifically designed websites – I would like to raise the question whether digital technologies have essentially replaced or at least trumped all other means of public communication of cultural heritage. If so, would we be best advised to dedicate most of our resources and efforts in this direction or is there still an element of public engagement with heritage that we cannot reach virtually?