Chapter 11: Presenting the Past

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Weblinks

This chapter focuses on the social and political purpose of archaeological knowledge and the way in which it is presented to its public.

11.0 Which past? Archaeology and politics

This section will include political debates about archaeological subjects.

A good gateway site for heritage issues is:
http://www.heritagelink.org.uk/publications.asp

The UCL website is also useful http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/research/research-groups/heritage/index.htm

11.1 Which past? Archaeology and land rights

In many countries, indigenous people have seen archaeology as looting of their heritage by outsiders. In some cases however, they have turned to archaeology to help support claims for land or compensation.

The Kennewick Man debate in the USA can be followed at:
http://www.kennewick-man.com/

The Umatilla tribal confederation:
http://www.umatilla.nsn.us/
http://www.nps.gov/archeology/kennewick/

11.2 Which past? Archaeology and identity

This section will include links on the way archaeology helps shape modern identities.

11.3 Debates over ownership and access

This section will include debates over the control of archaeological sites and resources:
http://www.stonehenge-avebury.net/
http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/
The Battle of the Beanfield http://tash.gn.apc.org/sh_bean.htm

11.4 New technology and archaeological communication

As a subject where visual companion images are so important, the web and other new technologies are ideal for presenting sites, artefacts and ideas. The following websites illustrate the diversity of approaches being used.

Computer modelling
http://www.iaa.bham.ac.uk/Computing/HP_VISTA/HPindex.htm

BBC Education (includes excavations e.g. Wetwang, lots of multimedia activities and a section on maritime archaeology)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/archaeology/index.shtml

The superb anthropology site (includes loads of accessible archaeology with videos) of Mesa Community College, Arizona:
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/asb/anthro2003/

A virtual museum Aberdeen:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/virtualmuseum/

Vikings at the Smithsonian Institute:
http://www.mnh.si.edu/vikings/start.html

Computer applications in archaeology:
http://www.u.arizona.edu/%7Emlittler/

An account by an artist of how they present the Mesolithic is at:
http://www.archaeoart.co.uk/landscape/mesolithic_methods.htm

A virtual tour through a Viking farm is at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/launch_vt_viking_farm.shtml

11.5 Presentations of sites

There are thousands of web-based presentations on individual sites now. The following list offers a range of examples of presentations including virtual tours.

Lascaux Cave (France) http://www.culture.fr/culture/arcnat/lascaux/fr/
Crannog Centre (Scotland) http://www.crannog.co.uk/
Archaeolink theme park (Scotland) http://www.archaeolink.co.uk/index.html
Megalithic sites http://www.stonepages.com/
Viking Centre (Sweden) http://www.foteviken.se/
Sutton Hoo http://www.suttonhoo.org/
Acton Trussell Roman Villa http://website.lineone.net/~pvag/
Timeteam (UK) http://www.channel4.com/history/timeteam/index.html
Knowth (Ireland) http://knowth.powernet.co.uk/neolithic-religion-status.htm
Whittlewood Medieval Settlement http://www.le.ac.uk/elh/whittlewood/index.htm
A virtual reconstruction of a roundhouse is at http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/british_prehistory

11.6 Archaeological journals and bulletin sites

Most archaeology publications have a website. Many publications and bulletin boards are only available online. The following is a sample of useful links.

The Modern Antiquarian http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/home/
Archaeology Magazine http://www.he.net/~archaeol/index.html
Antiquity http://antiquity.ac.uk/
Assemblage (Sheffield University) http://www.shef.ac.uk/assem/
Current Archaeology http://www.archaeology.co.uk/
American Scientist online http://www.americanscientist.org/amsci/amsci.html
National Geographic Archaeology http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/archaeology.html
An internet magazine of European archaeology http://www.e-a-a.org/tea.htm

11.7 Gateway archaeological sites

There are thousands of sites out there devoted to archaeology. Sites which catalogue links are particularly useful. The following are recommended starting points for a range of topics.

Articles on world archaeology http://archaeology.about.com/od/worldarchaeology/
Archnet (USA) http://archnet.asu.edu/
A superb set of articles on European archaeology is at http://www.comp-archaeology.org/
Archaeology in Europe http://archaeology.eu.com/weblog/
Archaeological resource guide for Europe http://odur.let.rug.nl/arge/
Ireland http://www.xs4all.nl/~tbreen/links.html
Kevin Greene's website http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/kevin.greene/wintro/

There are also sites which are useful for particular periods. For example:
Early Palaeolithic http://www.originsnet.org/eraep.html
Middle Palaeolithic http://www.originsnet.org/eramp.html
Upper Palaeolithic http://www.originsnet.org/eraup.html

11.8 Teaching archaeology

Teaching archaeology:
http://hca.ltsn.ac.uk/archaeology/

A series of articles on teaching archaeology in its broadest sense is at:
http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue12/index.html

The Higher Education Academy for Archaeology encourages the development of teaching and learning methods:
http://hca.ltsn.ac.uk/archaeology/index.php?section=archaeology

There are also educational sites run by charities or funded by developers to develop understanding of particular themes, places or periods. A recent initiative in the UK is the National Ice Age Network, funded by quarrying companies:
http://www.le.ac.uk/archaeology/research/projects/nian/index.htm