Archaeo-propaganda: The History of Political Engagement in Archaeology in Central Europe

Abstract

Archaeology, a science studying material sources with which mankind shaped their world and social relations in the past, may appear to be an apolitical discipline. In fact, the opposite is true. National and ideological propagandists have long set their eyes on archaeology, since its very beginnings. In this paper I am trying to give a brief overview of the development of ideology in archaeology and its application, as well as its engagement in the formation of political propaganda in the modern history of Central and Eastern Europe. In today’s globalised world, archaeology is confronted on a daily basis with changes in public opinion, with the development of the society in a diverse geopolitical context, but also with a wide range of human rights issues. There is no doubt that archaeology, as a social science, cannot develop in isolation from changes in the society and, quite to the contrary, that it is destined to reflect on major societal issues of our time. Although modern archaeology is profoundly affected by the current intellectual societal demand and ideology, archaeologists openly admit that their science is not apolitical and timeless. This awareness could hopefully help prevent its unfortunate political engagement and use for the propaganda of ideologies and regimes in the future.