DISCUSSION - ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES: A FORCE OF CHANGE IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

Abstract

The 2016 conference of the Association of Critical Heritage Studies, held in Montréal, Canada, posed the question “What Does Heritage Change?” A session organized by Allison Bain and Réginald Auger focussed on archaeological aspects, under the title “What Does Heritage Change? Case Studies in Archaeology.” Presented papers had an international scope but provided a common message: contemporary archaeology best serves humanity when governments protect archaeological sites with legislation, funding, and effective management; heritage ownership is acknowledged; community-based research is followed; and archaeologists become long-term partners with local communities. Archaeology can be a force of change in the contemporary world, especially to the health and well-being of local communities.