Fostering heritage communities
Heritage communities are a cornerstone of the Council of Europe’s Faro Convention. But how do heritage sites actually become meaningful for everyone? What triggers volunteer engagement and what boosts someone’s sense of fulfilment?
I am a historian who teaches early American and First Nations' history at Moravian College. Together with Sandy Bardsley, a Medieval historian, we will be offering a course on experimental archaeology in the spring.
Toronto, 2012: There is a session on experimental archaeology at the Society for Africanist Archaeologists’ biannual conference. While waiting to upload our presentations to the conference laptop, my colleague and I pass the time chatting. “I am sure we could fill a whole conference on experimental archaeology in Africa,” my colleague says. I nod, say that someone will probably initiate such a conference soon and turn to tell the student volunteer where to find my presentation on the USB stick.
I begin working in archaeology in 1985, excavating and experimental archaeological reconstruction of a medieval village at Cosmeston, Wales, UK. Since then extensive experience in field Archaeology and research, with concentration on late Roman and Migration Period material culture studies.
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons was a French Jesuit settlement in Wendake, the land of the Wendat, near modern Midland, Ontario, from 1639 to 1649. It was the first European settlement in Ontario. Sainte-Marie became the Jesuit headquarters in Huronia but when the mission was deserted in 1649, the remaining missionaries burnt it to the ground.
Starting in 1964, Sainte-Marie was reconstructed as a historical site and living museum. All of the buildings and their contents are reproductions. A popular tourist attraction, it draws thousands of visitors each week during the summer months. The site is managed by Huronia Historical Parks, an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
Donington le Heath is a village on the River Sence in North West Leicestershire. Donington le Heath Manor House, built around 1280, is one of the oldest surviving houses in England.
The building stands on Anglo-Saxon foundations, suggesting that an even earlier structure occupied the site: it has a hall facing south and two wings on the north side and a moat. There are some alterations made in the 17th century, including some of the windows and the ground floor entrance.
On behalf of the organizing committee, we invite you to participate in the African Conference on Experimental Archaeology (ACE), in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference will be held at the Wits Club, University of the Witwatersrand. ACE encourages the exchange and sharing of new work in scientific experiments and closely related activities focussing on African and Africanist research.
This year the REARC meetings are scheduled for October 25th and 26th in historic Fredericksburg, Virginia. We are excited to announce that the Department of Historic Preservation at the University of Mary Washington will host Friday presentations. And on Saturday, REARC craftspeople will hold a variety of demonstrations/workshops at George Washington’s Ferry Farm.
Frambozenweg 161
2321 KA Leiden
The Netherlands
Phone: +(31) 6 40263273
Website: EXARC.net
Email: info@exarc.net
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