Participate or Perish

Participate or Perish

Damned if we do, damned if we don’t?

Åsa M LarssonSocietas Archaeolgica Upsaliensis

We want to reach out

The session Social Media for Archaeology at EAA 2012 filled the room over capacity. Outreach is no longer disdained by researchers.

Public archaeology

But not this public…?

Archaeology has a different

culture…

Jared Diamond

Some disciplines take public discourse for granted

In archaeology, the discourse is often generated by people with another background

Archaeology is just about the past?

• CULTURE• STRUCTURE• NATURE/NURTURE• DEVELOPMENT• INEQUALITY• RELIGION• DEATH

etc, etc…

• IDENTITY• MINORITY RIGHTS• GENDER ROLES• ECONOMY• CLIMATE• DIET• URBANISATION• WAR AND CONFLICT• DISEASE• NATIONALISM

The debate is ongoing - with or without us

Social mediaIt’s one more tool, not an end in itself• Practice make perfect• Find networks, support• Crowdsource information, tips, advice• Establish a relationship with media/journalists

Think global, start localo Each great journey starts with a simple stepo Better chance to influenceo Unique perspectiveo Easier to make a splasho More needed!

Raiders of the lost site?

– Vi vill inte berätta för allmänheten var denna plats ligger ännu eftersom vi är rädda att det kommer hit arkeologer eller andra som vill göra egna undersökningar, säger Ingrid Cassel. (…) Det vi önskar från kommunens sida är att det inte utfärdas tillstånd för arkeologer som vill göra utgrävningar. 

”We don’t want tho tell the public where this site is yet, since we are afraid archaeologists or others will come here and do their own investigations. (…) What we from the municipality want is that no permission shall be granted to archaeologists wanting to do their own excavation.”

Ingrid Cassel, Municipality councillor

Comment: joe from colorado “I understand digging our national treasures in certain places but you ppl are ridicilous you think you are the only ones that should dig, well get off your asses and dig or sit down and let others enjoy a good relaxing hobby your laws are a power trip, I enjoy digging for treasure and lets not forget how many metal detectorist that have made major discoveries, where were you why didn't you find the saxon treasure, why don't you just leave ppl alone and worry about your own back yard.”

Why do we need

archaeologists? - anyone

can find stuff!

Putting our expertise to use

– defending our discipline

Are we free to express an opinion?

Press relations are more and more important to universities, government agencies, companies – mounting pressure to control speach and participation

But if we don’t…?

Asa M [email protected]@ArchAsawww.archasa.se

KIITOS!