Management Of Archaeological Sites Research Articles

Society and Archaeological Sites in Interwar Greece

Throughout the twentieth century, Greek society invested in the enhancement and management of archaeological sites and monuments seen as particularly important for the nation’s political and diplomatic agendas. Antiquities have always been part of public life in modern Greece, as evidenced by national campaigns emphasizing the timeless value of ancient Greek culture, promoted in the service of national, political and economic ends. In this context, the Greek Archaeological Service has long carried out works for landscaping and demarcating archaeological sites, as well as for enhancing access to them. This study, drawing on archival material of the Directorate for the Management of the National Archive of Monuments (DMNAM) and other sources as well as two case studies—the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae/Andritsaina and the archaeological site of Delphi—examines the factors that have determined the relationships between antiquities and Greek society. In particular, it focuses on contradictions, and occasional conflicts, related to such relationships during the interwar period (1918–1939) and the social impact of the promotion and enhancement of archaeological sites. The paper also emphasizes local communities’ and authorities’ involvement in managing archaeological sites in their regions due to high tourist interest during this period.

A Systematic Literature Review on Climate Change Adaptation Planning for Archaeological Site Management and the Prevalence of Stakeholder Engagement

AbstractThis article presents a systematic literature review of publications from 2014 to 2021 using “archaeological site” and “climate change” as keywords, in addition to several terms representing forms of stakeholder engagement. Articles were thematically coded to explore trends at the intersection of climate change, archaeology, and local and Traditional stakeholders. Results show that nearly half of the selected publications did not include local and Traditional stakeholder engagement in studies related to climate adaptation planning for archaeological sites. Synthesis of the results with insights gained from other literature on decolonizing archaeology showed that potential reasons for this gap include (1) the academic publishing culture, (2) archaeology as a predominantly Western discipline, and (3) increasingly available tools for climate change adaptation planning for archaeological sites. This article calls on the academic community to consider holistic stewardship using a landscape approach and to use climate change adaptation planning to elevate local and Traditional stakeholder input and values.

CREATION OF A 3D REFERENCE MODEL OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE FROM A LARGE SET OF GROUND AND UAV IMAGES

Abstract. The archaeological site of the monastery of Saint Hilarion, in the Gaza Strip, concentrates important social and scientific issues. Its geopolitical context puts into tension the importance of setting up a pilot project for archaeological site management and the possibility of offering stable working conditions to many people. The impossibility for us to access the site requires us to delegate the acquisition work and leads to an increase in the complexity of data processing, while maintaining a requirement for the quality of photogrammetry products for archaeology. A large site implies a large amount of data to manage, delegated acquisition increases the volume even more and the impossibility of controlling the support points imposes the control of the data set based on the orientation results. These constraints imply important computational phases influencing the processing method.

Connecting Public and Urban Archaeology: Enhancement of Urban Archaeological Heritage Through Local Archeo Plans

The paper presents some definitions and tools developed as part of the ArcheoDanube project. The contribution, as well as the project, connects the fields of urban archaeology, public archaeology, management of archaeological sites and archaeological tourism. In doing so, of course, we come across basic concepts, some of which are still lacking clear definitions. This applies especially to the term »archaeological park«, which has several uses. After reviewing various definitions in recent international doctrinal documents, we propose one based on the excellent definition in the Croatian legislation. Following is a brief discussion of the specifics of archaeological tourism. Archaeological parks namely represent an important component in its development. Afterwards, we discuss the main topic of the paper: the Local Archeo Plan, which is one of the main products of the ArcheoDanube project. The Local Archeo Plan represents a new, broader form of management plan, specially designed for the specific situation of archaeological remains. Unlike conventional management plans for monuments or monumental areas, a Local Archeo Plan can be prepared for wider areas, e.g., a city, and offers us the possibility of dealing with the archaeological remains of different areas, with various solutions for presentation and interpretation, in the frame of a common outline. We then compare the Local Archeo Plan to similar plans in force in Slovenia and elsewhere and assess its relevance and usefulness in the development of archaeological destinations.

Driving Learning Policies and Legal Regulations for Transferring the Ancient Site Mission

The aim of the article is to drive learning policies and legal regulations for transferring the ancient site mission. The target groups performed in-depth interviews, group discussions, and comparative studies with neighboring communities. The study found that 1) the delegation policy lacked the impetus, decision-making, and clarity of the competent authority for future local government projects, and 2) problematic legal measures and barriers to the exploitation and management of archaeological sites at risk under The National Antiquities, Antiquities, Artefacts, and Museums Act 1961 and as amended (No. 2) B.E. 2535 (1992), influenced policy ideas favoring the transfer of management of historic places.

CREATING GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) DATABASE WITH UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAV) IN ARCHAELOGICAL AREAS; THE CASE OF ANEMURIUM ANCIENT CITY

The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which have developed rapidly in recent years, in archaeological sites provides a basis for many studies. It is important to produce the permanent records of archaeological sites for the management cultural heritage. While many methods are used to produce permanent records and boundaries, photogrammetry and remote sensing techniques have begun to be preferred within the process by considering their advantages such as low cost, saving time, and completing studies on cultural heritage without contact. In this study, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Orthomosaic were produced using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in Anemurium Ancient City located in Mersin province. These data were used as a basis, and a relational database was created for GIS. Thus, an inventory study of all stone buildings and roads in the area was conducted, and the data sets were created according to the quality of the remains. Furthermore, the stone buildings in the ancient city were named on an address basis, and a relational database including the boundaries of the country, province, district, and ancient city area was created. This study serves as a guide for studies to be conducted on the management of archaeological sites.

Conservation and Enhancement of the Pietrabbondante Archaeological Site between History, Geology and Emerging Crowd-Based Digital Technologies

Attention to the condition assessment and conservation of cultural heritage is increasing due to growing sensitivity to the preservation of the built and natural environment and awareness of the risks associated with natural hazards. In this context, a comprehensive approach to the conservation and valorization of cultural heritage requires the combined action of different skills to achieve reliable assessment of the conditions of valuable assets and sites based on qualitative and quantitative indicators. This paper explores the issues of conservation and sustainable management of archaeological sites, considering humanistic and technical aspects. It reviews the current rules and practices concerning the maintenance and administration of archaeological heritage and outlines the implementation of a novel procedure, based on low-cost tools, to assess and describe the current condition of archaeological assets. Specific attention is paid to the interaction between experts and researchers operating in both humanistic and technical fields and to the knowledge and data contribution available on modern web-based platforms to implement reliable and low-cost data acquisition for the development of worthwhile plans for the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage. The Samnite complex of Pietrabbondante, Molise, South Italy, is employed to apply and check the proposed tools in the real world.

Embedding the remote sensing monitoring of archaeological site damage at the local level: Results from the "Archaeological practice and heritage protection in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq" project.

Today, the satellite-based monitoring of archaeological sites and site damage is a widespread practice, especially in conflict-affected regions. However, the vast majority of these remote sensing cultural heritage monitoring efforts have been led and conducted by remote researchers, and there remains an urgent need to embed this work within existing, in-country institutions at local and regional levels. Here, we present the archaeological site monitoring approach and results from the project Archaeological Practice and Heritage Protection in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, a collaborative project between the Sirwan Regional Project and Kurdish Iraqi archaeologists aimed at generating a fully functional and sustainable programme of archaeological site management co-created with, and managed by, Kurdish Iraqi archaeologists and antiquities officials. Between August 2018 and February 2020, 376 archaeological sites in the Sirwan/Upper Diyala River Valley region, located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, were assessed for damage by Kurdish Iraqi archaeologists in collaboration with the Sirwan Regional Project. This work represents the first large-scale, systematic dataset of archaeological site conditions and longer-term damage in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Our results show that 86.7% of the assessed archaeological sites and 38.6% of the site surface area in this region were affected by damage between 1951–2018, and demonstrate the great urgency with which action must be taken to develop appropriate safeguarding measures for the KRI’s archaeological heritage. On the basis of these results, we outline relevant recommendations for the immediate protection of archaeological sites in Garmian and the greater Kurdistan Region.

Archaeological site management and the legislation challenge in Vietnam: a case study of Vuon Chuoi

Purpose This paper aims to examine the management status quo of archaeological heritage in Vietnam seen in the case of Vuon Chuoi, a complex of Bronze Age sites located in Central Hanoi, which has been believed to be Hanoi’s first human settlement. Like other archaeological sites located in urban areas, this site has been under threat of destruction caused by land encroachment pressure. Although researchers have long waged a campaign for preservation, the dissensus among key stakeholders and the dispute over responsibility have left this site at the heart of an interminable polemic over legislation.Design/methodology/approach This research utilises a qualitative approach, and the primary data were collected throughout multiple field trips in 2019 and 2020. Several open-ended interviews were conducted with various state and nonstate actors involved in the Vuon Chuoi Complex’s management process. The discussion was also supported by analysing related legal documents retrieved from national archives and official online directories.Findings This paper dissects the current legislative and administrative framework applied in governing heritage in general and archaeological sites in Vietnam, in particular. The results indicate that existing flaws in Vietnam’s legal system are detectable, and the unsystematic organisation has led to deferment of the decision-making processes. Also, there is an apparent difference found in the attitude of the bodies in charge toward the treatment of listed and unlisted sites.Originality/value This research outlines that in the wake of urbanisation and industrialisation in Vietnam, a consensus among key stakeholders and an inclusive legal system are required to help preserve archaeological sites in urgent need of attention. Although several Vietnamese laws and regulations have been put into practice, they have shown critical barriers and gaps in conserving Vietnamese cultural heritage.

Critical Review of Pakistani Current Legislation on Sustainable Protection of Cultural Heritage

This paper discusses the contribution of individuals and their effects on the protection and management of archaeological sites found in the British colonies at the beginning of the 19th Century. Despite all these contributions, the most important bequest is the formation of comprehensive legislation on cultural properties that are still applicable and considered essential to the historic, standing, or ruined, monuments located in Pakistan. It should be noted that Pakistan’s heritage laws are uniformly applicable to all kinds of architectural heritage, archaeological sites, and monuments, irrespective of their nature, state, and classification. This contrasts with the lack of updates and amendments of rules and guidelines for the preservation of heritage sites and monuments across the country from further damages. The paper focuses on the current architectural and heritage management rules and policies of Pakistan, which are based on the British colonial legacy with some (partial) changes introduced since Pakistan’s independence in 1947. Finally, the paper emphasizes the need for the development of advanced management policies and proposed heritage management rules for the preservation of heritage constructions, archaeological sites, and architectural monuments to establish the link between the present and past to remain for future generations.

The Changing Policies on the Protection and Management of Archaeological Sites in Turkey: an Overview

The earliest legislation in Turkey on the protection of antiquities was devised by the Ottomans, the forerunner of modern Turkey, issued in 1869 specifically to protect archaeological sites and regulate the archaeological excavations that were taking place in various parts of the Empire. The Ottoman antiquities law continued to be in force after the foundation of the Turkish republic, and revised as late as 1973 to accord with approaches that took place in Europe. The main concern of the legislation was to establish rigid control over archaeological excavations, discouraging new projects, thus hindering the availability of new data on cultural history. It was only in the late 1990s that the government decided on a new policy to encourage tourism by encouraging new tourist routes based on coastal areas and selected ancient ruins, such as Ephesus and Pergamon. This new approach opened up fresh pathways; a concern about cultural assets, among them archaeological sites that had been overlooked. Meanwhile, priority was given to enrich Turkey's place in the UNESCO World Heritage List by proposing archaeological sites that can readily fulfil UNESCO's requirements. Thus, currently 13 out of 18 World Heritage Sites in Turkey are archaeological.

Parques arqueológicos en el sur de América Central: el aporte de Carlos Aguilar Piedra

In the 1970s, Carlos Aguilar postulated a series of guidelines for the opening of new parks in the then-named Intermediate Area. This was derived from his participation in the creation of the Guayabo archaeological monument in Costa Rica and his experience in the El Cano archaeological park in Panama. However, it took almost four decades for a second archaeological park to open to the public in Costa Rica. Heir to the rich Mexican tradition of conserving the archaeological heritage and using it as a means of research, a tool of education and nationalist exaltation, Carlos Aguilar made his proposal at the time when the teaching of archeology and his professional practice was consolidated by Costa Rican archaeologists, which augured a solid trajectory in the promotion and opening of more parks. However, his example has been difficult to follow in the countries of southern Central America. Based on Aguilar's proposal, some of the efforts, with their different degrees of success, that have been made in the conservation, protection and management of archaeological sites in Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua are discussed.

SCAN PLANNING OPTIMIZATION FOR OUTDOOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

Abstract. The protection and management of archaeological sites require from a deep documentation and analysis, and although hand measuring and documentation is the cheapest way for collecting data, laser scanner has been gradually integrated for the geometrical data capture since point clouds have a high quality in terms of accuracy, precision and resolution. Although acquisition with laser scanner is considered a quick process, scan planning is of high relevance when considering outdoor archaeological sites because of their large size and complexity. In this paper, an automatic methodology to optimize the number and position of scans in order to obtain a point cloud of high quality in terms of data completeness is proposed. The aim of the methodology is to minimize the number of scans, minimizing at the same time the estimated surveying time and the amount of repetitive acquired data. Scan candidates are generated by using a grid-based and a triangulation-based distribution, and results show a faster analysis when triangulation is implemented. The methodology is tested into two real case studies from Italy and Spain, showing the applicability of scan planning in archaeological sites.

Trends of plant communities growing on the Etruscan tombs (Cerveteri, Italy) related to different management practices

Vegetation management of archaeological sites is a recurrent problem when considering the conservation of historic structures and biodiversity. In the UNESCO site of the Etruscan necropolis “La Banditaccia” (Cerveteri, Italy), several plants grow on the ancient tumuli, which are subjected to different management practices. In order to assess the influence of interventions on plant colonisation, a comparative analysis of several tumuli was performed, through structural, chorological, phytosociological and statistical evaluations. This investigation identified and defined an ecological gradient among the tumuli. The cover values of Therophytes and Hemicryptophytes decreased by half with regular cutting, while those of Geophytes and Phanerophytes increased. Mesophilic field plants (MFP), both ephemeral and perennial, represented the most abundant group. Mediterranean bushes and forests (MBF) showed a positive trend from the entrance to the last tumuli of the necropolis. This trend was clearly defined by PCA, and it seems community changes were caused by the absence of mowing activities and to a lower tourist frequentation. SIMPER analysis highlighted which species on each tumulus mainly influence their dissimilarity. This knowledge, when combined with the evaluation of the potential risk of the different plant communities growing on the tumuli, can help to identify the best management practices.

Finding the Positive in the Negative

ABSTRACTThe impact of natural disasters and climate change on archaeological resources has garnered much recent attention, with impacts of sea level rise and coastal flooding being the two most often cited issues. However, damage caused by flooding of interior areas and waterways has received less consideration. In this article, we present a case study of a collaborative emergency response to a significant weather event and the ensuing impacts on archaeological resources. Our project, located in Middle Tennessee, documented severe erosion and subsequent anthropogenic disturbances to ancient Native American sites following massive flooding of the Cumberland River in 2010. While striving to mitigate this damage via systematic collection of imperiled archaeological samples, we were also able to strengthen partnerships among professional archaeologists working in different arenas (academia, state and federal agencies) and the avocational archaeological community. As these types of weather-related events become more common, published case studies of response efforts will be crucial in archaeological site management, planning, and disaster response.

From Hacienda Domesticity to the Archaeological Sublime: Sentiment and the Origins of Heritage Management in Yucatan, Mexico

Frictions between state-sanctioned heritage policies and the quotidian practices of local stakeholder communities often have deep historical roots. In this essay, I trace the history of conflicts in the management of archaeological sites in the Yucatan peninsula to the emergence of a romantic sensibility toward the leisured enjoyment of ruins in the mid-nineteenth century. This posited a kind of subjectivity that was radically different from the subsistence practices that brought Maya-speaking peasants into contact with archaeological sites. There are important parallels between this discourse on ruins and a philological approach to the Yucatec Maya language which tended to denigrate the vernacular of rural speakers. Interestingly, the tendency of these entwined discourses to delegitimate the speech and customs of rural agriculturalists posited a “proper” relationship to heritage that could be assumed by people from diverse ethnic categories if they adopted an attitude that was consistent with liberal perspectives on labor and identity. The heritage of this simultaneously inclusive and elitist discourse is still evident in contemporary heritage practice and neoliberal multiculturalism.

Archaeological Site Information Modelling and Management Based on Close-Range Photogrammetry and GIS

New challenges in management and restoration of archaeological sites require the utilization of advanced technologies and systems to assist in preserving the important legacy of human heritage. These challenges include monitoring and preserving of site landscapes, maintenance and rehabilitation of archaeological structures, and quality and safety management. In this research, an integrated methodology based on photogrammetry and Three-Dimensional (3D) Geographic Information System (GIS) is developed to capture and model essential details needed for the proper management of archaeological sites. Recent advances in digital imagery and modelling utilize photogrammetry as an efficient technique for 3D modelling of archaeological sites to derive accurate measurements of size, shape, position, and texture of objects using two-dimensional digital photographs. Spatial data that include aerial stereo photographs, satellite images, close-range photos, terrestrial surveying and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are integrated within the design of the proposed model. The approach is validated with a case study of Ajloun Castle, one of the ancient and important preserved structures located in Jordan. Various sequential levels of details have been developed for the castle: Orthophoto, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), structures geometry and site layout and 3D textured model. The suggested methodology is expected to be efficient in modelling and documenting archaeological structures. The developed model is utilized to assess the management of archaeological structures through feasibility analysis, rehabilitation decisions, and safety planning.

Settling the differences and enabling change: toward a more inclusive management of archaeological sites in Athens

Settling the differences and enabling change: toward a more inclusive management of archaeological sites in Athens

State Archaeology and the Private Museum: An Integrated Approach to Archaeological Site Management for Local People in China

During the emergence of Chinese archaeology, the legislative system of cultural heritage in China included archaeological excavations and investigations as being the ‘exclusive right of state’. This mode of state archaeology has proved its worth by increasing the authority and quality of archaeological research and excavations, as well as enhancing the social values and benefits at the state level. The local communities, however, have hardly been embedded into the archaeological projects, nor have the archaeological projects been employed to improve local and regional economic development. This paper considers private museums as embodying regional values and beneficial to projects under the mode of state archaeology. With a case study outlining collaborations between archaeologists and local agents under the excavation and conservation of ancient kiln sites at the town of Zichuan, I argue that private museums could be relatively prominent platforms for public engagement in activities of state archaeology. It might contribute to a reconsideration of the following: indirect archaeological concerns, local economic benefits, identities and alternative interpretations of locality.

Tracks Into the Past

The paper investigates ways to make archaeological heritage accessible to a wide public. Although archaeological sites, museums and historical monuments are amongst the most appealing cultural establishments, their visitation is occasional. Therefore, the potential of growth is significant. The diversity of sites and a wide array of valorisation strategies could support a much more intense visitation. The paper is methodologically based on a literature review of the management of archaeological sites in order to observe the solutions adopted around the world and to identify a typology of strategies in correlation with the form of archaeological sites considered. The second part of the research investigates both the reasons which facilitate and which prevent the public from visiting archaeological sites amongst Romanians and other Europeans. The final part offers some insights into strategic approaches of archaeological sites` management that could cope with the present cultural environment and help visitors to better understand the past.