Talk:Community archaeology

Public Archaeology vs Community Archaeology
In my original article a good three years ago I meant this to be an article about community archaeology - the key phrase is still the first line in the article I see. I do feel that 'Public' Archaeology - which is what this new article is mostly about - is something distinctly different - "for the people" but not by the people, organised for them, not from within our own community. I need to think about how strongly I feel and whether these should be two topics or perhaps public archaeology can be a sub-strand, but the article does not seem now to be focusing on the title - more on the sub-strand that is being re-directed here.

Anyone else got any thoughts on this? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Antreid (talk • contribs) 21:09, 6 August 2009 (UTC)


 * I agree wholeheartedly. Community archaeology is a crucial and vital field, but it isn't the same as public archaeology. The disciplinary history here is important, and should be reflected in an encyclopedic entry of this kind. Public archaeology developed (at least in the US) in the 1960s within a largely conservationist context, and argued as a governmental responsibility to preserve heritage assets as public resources--the rise of CRM (a term and acronym explicitly developed within this public archaeology framework) followed from this. For the most part the spread of such firms around the world reflects this history--even in nation-states where ownership of antiquities and heritage resources in vested in the government, there are now private firms contracting for compliance with applicable heritage laws. The result has been development of a significant economic sector (archaeological consulting firms), and this should be reflected in a separate entry. While I know we don't want to divvy things up too finely, there are really three topics conflated in these discussions; 1) community archaeology, archaeology *for* a community (very broadly defined); 2) public archaeology (management of archaeological 'resources' as a public trust, and linked to compliance with applicable laws); and 3) heritage (focusing on the uses of the past, of the salience of the past in the present). Antiquities trafficking is implicated in all three, but tends to fall most commonly in the third--largely because so much of it is governed by ethical principles inflected differently in different places, and governed (to the degree it is) through treaties and conventions that are differentially enforced or honored. As an example, currently none of the major market countries fully accept (much less enforce) the 1970 UNESCO convention. Gargoyledeluxe (talk) 15:27, 4 April 2022 (UTC)

I have one... not sure if same or opposite, but with the same end... I feel the need of two different entries, one for Public Archaeology and another one for Community Archaeology. But not for the difference in the prepositions for-from but the whole change that Public Archaeology has experimented in the last years focusing on other topics and leaving community archaeology as something totally different. The American vision of PA is mainly focused on 'for the public' (what is a reason by itself to make both articles) but the european stream is working in totally different stuff not even mentioned here like the political use/abuse of the past, economic impact of archaeology, social perception of archaeology, illicit trade of antiquities... and a long etc. This entry is really good, and I am ashamed with the bibliography, but this is not only community archaeology, and not near public archaeology. Let's try to reopen Public Archaeology article someone who knows how to... JAS 18:07, 19 February 2011 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jascabaco (talk • contribs)

I just entered in a sentence in the first paragraph, to address this somewhat -- but I am one of those who sees community archaeology as one form -- a VERY important form -- of a larger field of public archaeology. However, I also think it's vitally important that we not set up rigid boundaries and definitions. My own definition of "public archaeology" is: ANY endeavor in which archaeologists interact with the public, and any research (practical or theoretical) that examines or analyses the public dimensions of doing archaeology. It's simple and (I think!) can cover all forms of PA. I have some publications coming out which sort of tease out the distinctions and similarities, but that's the main drift. I do know that in the UK, the term "community archaeology" has a specific meaning that you mention above -- that is, archaeology BY communities. But in the US it's not usually conceived of in that way. (from Carol McDavid). — Preceding unsigned comment added by Webarchaeology (talk • contribs) 20:22, 26 August 2011 (UTC)

I am happy with the changes in the beginning... looks much better-clear now. This solves the problem with CA page... now does anyone know how to open again a page for PA in which we can explain these other things made? With a beginning like this one, it will not confuse people and will offer a deeper perspective on the other side of the field. JAS 15:34, 7 September 2011 (UTC) comment added by Jascabaco (talk • contribs)

Call to Community Archaeologists
I removed the following section from the article:

===Call to community archaeology projects and programs===

This page is an ongoing experiment, initiated by a small community of archaeologists who are at the start of establishing collaboration with members of the larger discipline and with members of other interested communities. We do not presume to speak for all archaeologists; if you are affiliated with a community archaeology project and/or program it would be greatly appreciated if you could add things that you think are missing on this page.

While such a call is important, indeed vital, to increase the participation of those familiar with the challenges and opportunities of community archaeology, including such a call in the body of the article can be confusing to the reader. 24.31.1.139 (talk) 00:47, 5 February 2011 (UTC)

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