participate or perish
TRANSCRIPT
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…?
