Issue 67

October 2002

Contents

news

Hopeful dead clutching their tickets to heaven

Long survival of York’s Roman fortress defences

Drinking den below streets of Edinburgh

All the emotions on display in Southwark Roman cemetery

Treasure Act brings in the gold and silver once again

In Brief

features

Roads from Rome
Hugh Davies discusses Roman roads as a transport system

Shipwreck to slavery
Mike Parker Pearson on the story of an 18th century sailor

Great sites
Rosamund Cleal on the Neolithic site on Windmill Hill

letters

The origins of industry, Tolkien’s inspiration and museums

issues

George Lambrick on the power of public support

Peter Ellis

Regular column

books

Viking Weapons and Warfare by J Kim Siddorn

Prehistoric Cooking by Jacqui Wood

European Landscapes of Rock Art edited by George Nash & Christopher Chippindale

The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland by John Waddell

Vikings and the Danelaw edited by James Graham-Campbell, Richard Hall, Judith Jesch & David Parsons

Image and Power in the Archaeology of Early Medieval Britain edited by Helena Hamerow & Arthur MacGregor

favourite finds

Rob Ixer on a lump of lead ore that made a nice paperweight

ISSN 1357-4442

Editor Simon Denison

issues

Why Newport breathes new life into public participation

The newport ship campaign shows the immense value of public support for archaeology, write George Lambrick

What is it that makes archaeology so popular on tv? Judging by the content, it is all about discovery. Issues of conservation are sometimes illustrated in passing, but are secondary to the quest for knowledge.

It is the same with tv's equally compelling coverage of the natural world, which focuses on discovering the behaviour and ecology of animals and plants, not their conservation. But does this genuinely reflect the public's interests?

The CBA's recent Stakeholder survey of local societies shows that almost all regard communicating archaeological knowledge - through lectures, publications and excursions - as a key function. Over half also regard research as very important.

Most also profess an interest in conservation campaigns - though significantly fewer indicate that this is currently an important part of their activities.

Public action

However, public support for archaeological campaigns can be powerful - particularly where well-preserved (often waterlogged) remains are unexpectedly discovered and people feel that not enough is being done to save their tangible link with their own history.

In the 1980s, the campaign against destruction of spectacular Viking deposits at Wood Quay in Dublin attracted an unprecedented public demonstration of around 100,000 people - one of the largest ever held Ireland. The threatened destruction of the Rose Theatre in London also attracted a high profile campaign, supported by well-known actors, which was instrumental both in saving the site and in establishing the planning policy document PPG16 (and its equivalents outside England), which entrenched archaeology within the planning process.

In the recent campaign to save the medieval Newport ship (see News In Brief), the huge public response won a commitment for the long-term preservation and display of the ship, which exceeded the campaign's immediate objective of a stay of execution to lift the ship and then consider future options. This campaign may yet prove to be the catalyst needed to create the long-awaited Welsh maritime museum.

Numerous building preservation trusts, industrial archaeology societies and private museums involve people in looking after historic buildings, sites and antiquities. The Council for Scottish Archaeology's 'Adopt a Monument' scheme is a good example of a way of engaging local community support. The National Trust also involves volunteers in the physical conservation of sites and monuments. Leicestershire uses volunteers to act as 'parish archaeological wardens'. Indeed there is huge potential for the involvement of amateurs in archaeological conservation, on similar lines to nature conservation groups' schemes for involving volunteers in monitoring species populations.

Taking all this together, it is clear that public interest is not just confined to the armchair, but can be galvanized into action. While the Heritage Lottery Fund seems to be moving in the right direction, state heritage agencies' support for public interest (outside their own properties) often seems remote, and does not always reflect how people want to participate.

Finding a cause

With notable exceptions, organisations concerned with academic and development-led archaeology also tend to be too introspective and competitive to engage properly with the public interest. That is why a case like the Newport ship is so refreshing. It has galvanised all sectors of archaeology into working together, engaging with the public in a common cause of local, national and international interest.

Public participation in archaeology is alive, and in many places vibrantly active - but its breadth and range is under-appreciated and its full potential is certainly not being met. That is why the CBA is trying to get a clearer picture of the excellent work already being done, why some opportunities may be being missed, and what extra help is needed.

To contribute your views please respond to the survey enclosed and visit the CBA website at www.britarch.ac.uk/participation.

George Lambrick is Director of the CBA

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