How to Combine Virtual and Reality in Archaeology Communication

Within digital archaeology, an important part is centered on technologies that allow representing, or replaying, ancient environments. It is a field where scientific competences' contribution to contents makes a difference, and pedagogical repercussion are stimulating. Among the other reality technologies, the Mixed Reality, giving the possibility to experience in front of the users' eyes both static models of individual objects and entire landscapes, it is increasingly used in archaeological contexts as display technology, with different purposes such as educational, informative, or simply for entertainment. This chapter provides a high-level overview about possible orientations and uses of this technology in cultural heritage, also sketching its use in gaming within the role of gaming itself in smart communication of archaeological contents and issues.

Digital Transformation and Archaeology

In the era of digital archaeology, the communication of archaeological data/contexts/work can be enhanced by Cloud computing, AI, and other emergent technologies. The authors explore the most recent and efficient examples, ranging from some intrinsic properties of AI, i.e. capabilities of sense, comprehend and act, and looking at their application in communication both among specialists of the archaeological sector and from them to other recipients. The chapter will also provide a high-level overview of knowledge extraction solutions from tons of structured and unstructured data, to make it available through software applications that perform automated tasks. Archaeologists must be ready to go down in trenches and communicate their studies with a deep consciousness of chances given by these technologies, and with adequate skills to master them.

Museum, Not Temple

A Museum is not a temple but a place giving an ethical, moral framework to the meeting of people and cultural assets. Museum's outfitting must be able to make visitors understand, without any further mediation. Two aspects are shown: the need to be suitable for early childhood and the capacity of being a reference of citizenship. For centuries, some Museums and Collectors have used illegal digs as a source to acquire antique objects, with the result that most Museums and Collections possess a large amount of objects with no trace of their provenance. The countries of origin, on the other hand, feel deprived of their past. There is a change necessary: a change in how to deal with ancient objects, which should be presented because of their historical evidence. A new way of dealing with objects is possible: examples of new collaborations between the officials of the Countries of origin and the Museums are given. In the new ways of working in the culture sector the public will be the profiteer, beginning with everyone's own personal experience.

The Contribution of Archaeology to WWI Commemoration in Flanders

When the First World War ended, the landscape had been transformed into a wasteland. Later, the population faced the challenge of rebuilding the region. Many traces of the war were then wiped out. Everywhere, the archaeological remains are slumbering in the soil, barely 30 cm deep and invisible to the visitors. It took a while before the remains of the war have been considered as archaeological heritage. It was not until 2002-2004 that professional archaeologists in Belgium began to show an interest in this special heritage. Since then, the importance of this archaeology has only increased and today it is part of mainstream archaeological research. Several initiatives built on the successful first commemorative year 2014 in Belgium, with record numbers of visitors in the Westhoek. During the commemorations, various archaeological projects were put in the spotlight and were picked up with great interest from the public. This chapter highlights a series of high-profile initiatives that shaped specific parts of the remembrance of the First World War in Belgium.

Archaeological Interpretation

This chapter explores the role of archaeological interpretation in relation to public memory. Tools from the fields of rhetoric and composition studies offer productive avenues to consider the role and responsibility of archaeologists in the earliest rhetorical shaping of public memory. Scholarship on publics and public memory apply to understanding the rhetorical process as archaeologists' texts circulate through filters of stakeholders, journalists, or other cultural heritage specialists. Case studies of texts produced during excavations at Mes Aynak, Afghanistan, and Chedworth Roman Villa, UK are rhetorically analyzed to understand their contribution to public discourses, offering insight into new approaches to ethical best practice in archaeological communication. Acknowledging the work texts is important for any author contributing to the social sphere, though there is a burden unique to archaeology as authoring history into modern cultural consciousness.

Public Archaeology, Archaeology and the Public

Public archaeology is a flexible notion with several meanings: public engagement in protecting archaeological heritage, public interest in the results of research, and archaeology as a public service offered by qualified staff. Such a broad range of purposes and approaches involves various professionals and includes new disciplines supporting archaeology and advertising its achievements. Archaeology in Italy has always been public, since 1909 laws establish that underground and underwater finds are State property. The Italian Constitution also includes protection of landscape and cultural heritage among its fundamental principles. Nevertheless, public property of archaeological heritage seems no longer sufficient to make the communities feel as legitimate owner and involve them in archaeological enhancement projects. The increase of protection and promotion activities, the rise of mass tourism, and the evolution of communication strategies are forcing archaeology to face new challenges. In order to be roundly public, archaeology should not lose of sight its present-day public.

The Archaeological Museums

In archaeological museums, people and communities find the signs and expressions of their own history, with a strong connection with the ethno-anthropological sphere. The areas and archaeological parks, then, are just pieces of landscape-made outdoor museums. The chapter analyzes the situation of museums, areas, and archaeological parks, especially in Italy, and outlines an educational profile with the reading key of identity. Archaeology can make the concept dangerous, because incorrect interpretations of the teaching coming from the finds can cause a misunderstood sense of ethnic identity leading to exclusive behaviors. Instead, the chapter proposes to work on self-identity, with the museum helping the person to become a member of an inclusive community.

Heritage Awareness and Education in the Southern Gauteng Province, South Africa

Heritage awareness and education in Africa is vital to heritage management. The knowledge of pre-colonial Stone Walled Structures (SWS) and Iron Age is an important element of South African history. Without awareness and education of both heritage managers and heritage stakeholders, SWS are at risk of destruction from development. This chapter reviews awareness and information dissemination techniques that can make people more aware of SWS in southern Gauteng Province. The results of the author's study revealed there are international best practices such as the use of information centres, education, and information technology tools that can apply in this study area.

Communicating Archaeology

This chapter is not an essay on the theory of communication, but an outline that flanks the main themes with those of the reality of archaeology in the era of globalization. It starts from an inescapable base, on which any other approach can be grafted: the physical-mathematical theory of communication. From here, after attention to various possible logical fallacies in which those who communicate archeology may encounter, cases are examined in the light of the media theories, established in the second half of the 20th century, that predicted the current computer-dominated situation. Finally, some shortcomings are identified which must be remedied to not compromise the effectiveness of communication in archaeology.

The Purpose of Communicating Archaeology

The design of effective communication tools for archaeology begins by understanding why it is needed. Society has a strange perception of all that is archaeological. Improving the knowledge of the archaeological heritage serves to guarantee its preservation for future generations and to allow its conscious fruition. Archaeological heritage is part of the landscape where people live, being a co-builder of it. It is therefore necessary to investigate the characteristics of different fruitions to identify communication deficits and create the conditions to compensate them, in cooperation with many professionals.