Lobbying

“Amateur” may sound like a derogatory term, as it is generally associated with a lack of know-how. As a result, amateur scientists are often unfairly sidelined within the world of archaeological research, being held in low esteem or disdained. However, they play a key role and can make important discoveries. Let’s investigate who they are and why they should not be overlooked but instead included within the archaeological community.

In 2019, the European working group CEN/TC 346/WG 14 “Monitoring of archaeological deposits” joined the standardization commission “Conservation of cultural heritage” (CNCBC) created in 2004. Public and private professionals as well as archaeological research volunteers are all concerned by the future standard about managing archaeological deposits. That’s why ArkéoTopia, another way for archeology® joined the European working group in December.

The archaeological community is currently facing many ethical issues in its daily practice. The Archaeo-Ethics Symposium of 25-26 May 2018 provides an overview of this difficult subject. During the symposium, the constraints of contexts of intervention (armed conflicts, dictatorships, funeral archaeology), economic constraints (archaeological regulations and competition) as well as social constraints (between archaeologists and indigenous or local populations, as well as between professional and amateur archaeologists) were brought up. Among the discussions, the seminar “Professionals, Volunteers, Amateurs and Citizens: Research Actors for What Contributions?” proposes to revisit the contributions of non-professionals in order to consider solutions conducive to a redesign of relations between professional and non-professional actors. Objective: to improve heritage preservation while achieving quality results.

How many times have we heard the following comments “Archeology is fascinating, but I think it is more useful to donate money for a healthcare or an NGO working in a developing country”. Of course, this choice seems obvious as archeology is still so much associated with dreams and a pleasant pastime with absolutely no consequences in our daily life. It is time to change this vision and to consent that archeology has got consequences in our daily life for more than two centuries now. Discover how archeology get a strong social impact in our daily lives and how it changes our understanding of the Stranger.

« Knowing how to utilize today’s heritage for tomorrow » is the reflection that came to mind after having read the Arcachon Aquarium-Museum’s petition and studied the reasons behind it’s appeal for support.

During the 17^th meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) on September 15th, 2011 in Oslo, Dr. Jean-Olivier Gransard-Desmond, archaeologist, and Nathalie Maximin, a lawyer specialised in commercial law and contract law, presented "Ethics and archeology, between regulation and moral duty", the first results of one of the main work in the association project of ArkéoTopia®, an alternative way to archeology.

Time and again, the absence of humanitarian sciences
from “Science” mediation initiatives can be observed.

As part of its media watch brief, the Arkéotopia team chose to attend two film screenings at the 4th “Pariscience” Science Film Festival: A special screening of “Les Voies de la Science” (=Paths of Science) showcasing two L2i films-The Two Infinities by J-J Beineix (Cargo Films/ CNRS images) and Imagine your Future (Belleville Productions/ CEA) as well as the screening of Cherche toujours (=Always Search) by E. Chaillou and M. Théry (Arte France-les Films d’Ici).