[Archport] Fwd: Reminder: Session on public engagement at Megalithic and Neolithic landscapes

[Leonor Maria Pereira Rocha <lrocha@uevora.pt>]

Dear Colleagues,

This is a reminder to invite you to join us in Rome in our session that expands our 2023 discussions to focus on community engagement schemes. As stated in the session abstract (see below), we plan, following the session, to move forward with a proposed publication. The paper submission deadline of 8 February 2024 is almost upon us. The link to submit is: 

https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2024/Programme.aspx?WebsiteKey=20b5538d-68f8-4056-9596-1ae1ce0ead47&hkey=fe6595a9-39e9-47f1-8159-520091f89dfa&Program=3#Program. The rules for submission are described at #EAA2024 Call for Papers and Posters:https://mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/204/messages/AGBDTQsuJ3yMZYBYFAZ4QA4Oezg

We look forward to working with you at the session and with a planned follow-up publication.

Thank you!

With best regards,

John Jameson and Heather Sebire

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EAA 2024 Session #240

MEGALITHS AND THE COMMUNITY: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC PRESENTATION, AND

PROTECTION OF NEOLITHIC LANDSCAPES

Theme: The Life of Archaeological Heritage in Society

Organizers: Jameson, John H (United States) - ICOMOS ICIP/ ICAHM - U.S. National Park

Service, Retired; and Sebire, Heather (United Kingdom) - English Heritage

Session Abstract:

    UNESCO World Heritage Guidelines, public interpretation conservation, & protection

UNESCO’s updated Operational Guidelines on managing World Heritage sites are useful

as an advisory guide for interpretation and community engagement across many types

of sites and landscapes. The objectives are to: a) enhance capacity building and

research; b) raise general public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the need

to preserve cultural and natural heritage; c) enhance the function of World Heritage in

the life of the community; and d) increase equitable, inclusive, and effective participation

of local and national populations, including indigenous peoples, in the protection and

presentation of heritage. An important element in any interpretation scheme for long-term

sustainability is the effectiveness of its community engagement programmes. Our

proposed session aims to augment our EAA 2023 session that focused on the public

interpretation and presentation of Megaliths with case studies that address the broader

landscape with attention to community involvement in both private and public spheres.

    The goal is to provide a wide geographic scope of exemplary case studies as a basis for

developing an ICOMOS-endorsed best practices document. We also plan to use these

best practice examples to create an edited volume that will be informative and useful for

both professional and public audiences.

Papers will address topics such as:

    1) Roles that Megaliths and Neolithic landscapes play in shaping the identity of local

communities, recognizing public values of the resource, and supporting the local

economy as a driver for tourism;

    2) Examples of community engagement in developing effective management strategies

for public interpretation, conservation, and protection;

    3) Examples of enhanced stakeholder involvement in cooperative relationships among

special interest groups, local government, and non-profit organizations in fostering

effective protection of natural and cultural features of the landscape;

    4) Case studies on the interpretation of Megaliths in their landscapes, not just in World

Heritage sites, but in any context.

Keywords: Megaliths, Neolithic landscapes, community Involvement/engagement,