Abstract
This chapter explores what “public engagement” in archaeology really means, and whether or not all forms of “engagement” are always positive. Drawing from their professional experience, the authors consider aspects of archaeology that are particularly conducive to public involvement, as well as those that are not. The authors consider in particular situations they have encountered where their role as “professional” archaeologists have sometimes been at odds with public perceptions of archaeology and archaeologists. Flatman draws in particular from his experience of working in relation to UK’s “Portable Antiquities Scheme” where he regularly witnesses the problems of excessive interest in archaeology; Chidester and Gadsby from their experiences of developing “community” archaeology projects in USA, where they witness the opposite, a lack of sustained popular interest in archaeology.
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For an example of some of the numerous media reports on the find, see http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6847081.ece; the find’s official web site is http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/.
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See for example http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/6259437/Archaeological-sites-face-ruin-from-treasure-hunting-nighthawkers.html,http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Staffordshire-Hoard-Terry-Herbert-Glad-To-Get-Rid-Of-Anglo-Saxon-Gold-Items/Article/200909415388702?lpos=UK_News_Article_Related_Content_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15388702_Staffordshire_Hoard%3A_Terry_Herbert_Glad_To_Get_Rid_Of_Anglo-Saxon_Gold_Items_,http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/sep/25/alexander-chancellor-staffordshire-hoard and http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/08/response-metal-detectorists.
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Flatman, J., Chidester, R.C., Gadsby, D.A. (2011). What Public Engagement in Archaeology Really Means. In: Rockman, M., Flatman, J. (eds) Archaeology in Society. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9881-1_5
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