Zprávy památkové péče 2018, 78(1):20-23 | DOI: 10.56112/zpp.2018.1.04

Sharing and publishing information in archeology

Michal Bureš

Archeo Pro, o. p. s.

The issue of publishing information in archeology can be divided into two areas: sharing archaeological data from field research and publishing information on archaeological sites.
Archaeological information implicitly reveals something about mankind in general, about its development, skills, cooperation, aesthetic feelings, and values. Similarly, it implicitly reveals something about society and its organization. The point is to interpret this implicit knowledge in order to express it explicitly in archeology to other relevant sciences to their benefit, but also to serve society through heritage practice. Sharing archaeological data contained in findings with other experts is a prerequisite for a successfully emerging field, not only from a historical but primarily from a scientific perspective. Arguments to the contrary lead to the negation of the meaning of archeology as the discovery of the history of mankind and turn archeology back from a scientific field into an art.
In a society which declares that caring for archaeological heritage is in the public interest, it is difficult to keep archaeological sites secret from the public for the purpose of protecting them, unless such confidentiality is provided for by law. Instead, the problem of unauthorized excavations using metal detectors should be addressed, and a clear boundary should be defined between legal and illegal detector exploration. In order for the repression of illegal exploration to be effective, enabling the concerned public to participate in the protection of public archaeological heritage is essential, among other things through the publication of spatial data about archaeological sites.
Archaeological finds, monuments, and sites are not just artifacts, meaning merely the items and the locations where these items are found. Objects are not simply objects - they have a deeper meaning. When an archaeologist carries out field research in a particular location, he/she contributes to the knowledge of the past in general and to the site in particular, or to both of them together. Archaeological research thus alters the environment which is not only material, but is also historical and meaningful, that is, in the human consciousness. It affects the minds of people living there. This creates a local environment that can become more attractive than before. Heritage archeology, respectively public archeology, brings something new to archeology as a whole, something that other disciplines cannot do so well. By publishing and, respectively, sharing relevant site information with the public (with those interested in this sharing), archeology contributes to the creation of the living environment, both in terms of substance and importance in the minds of people.

Keywords: publishing information, sharing archaeological data, protection of archaeological heritage, public interest, archeology

Published: March 1, 2018  Show citation