Page 308 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage

public lands or when public taxes are used to fund archaeological investigations, people are entitled to know what is happening, how their money is being spent, and what the results of their investment are. Public programming utilizing quality productions that address archaeology works two ways. On the one hand it illuminates the value of the work being performed. On the other hand, however, it also shows the need for archaeological research in general to prevent the destruction of cultural heritage sites and consequent loss of heritage information.
On a conceptual level, the idea that everyone has a fundamental right to know their past is a compelling argument for sharing archaeological information with the public. In some archaeological circles – as with other ivory tower scientists – there has been a tendency to hoard information or to think of the public as somehow incapable of understanding archaeological principles. This is not just elitist, but short-sighted as well. Rather, a broader public understanding of the importance of archaeology and of the information archaeological research provides can serve to further the goals of protection, preservation, and conservation of non-renewable cultural heritage sites.
Not every specialist team-member may be an equally good communicator, while still being valuable for
Rule 35 mandates that projects must provide for public education and dissemination of results. Suggestions for fulfilling this:
1) Make sure at least one member of the project team has experience in public archaeology and sharing of information.
2) Assign responsibility for producing public outreach and education programmes to the project’s public archaeologist in order to make certain this requirement is not overlooked.
3) Ensure adequate funding is included in the project budget for the development and production of public-oriented materials.
4) Remember to include all groups of the public, not just sport divers.
5) Consider innovative methods for public education; there is no one right way to engage the public!
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Dissemination