To reconstruct or not to reconstruct? That is the question facing many agencies and site managers throughout the world. While reconstructed sites provide a three-dimensional pedagogic environment in which visitors can acquire a heightened sense of the past, an ethical conflict emerges when on-site reconstructions and restorations contribute to the damage or destruction of the original archaeological record. The case studies in this volume contribute to the ongoing debates between data and material authenticity and educational and interpretive value of reconstructions. Discussing diverse reconstruction sites from the Golan Region to Colonial Williamsburg, the authors present worldwide examples that have been affected by agency policies, divergent presentation philosophies, and political and economic realities.

In the face of increasing public interest and demand for information, archaeologists are collaborating with historians, museum curators, and exhibit designers to devise the best strategies for translating archaeological information to the public. This book opens doors for public involvement. It highlights successful case studies in which specialists have provided with the opportunity and necessary tools for learning about archaeology. Little Big Horn, Sabino Canyon, Monticello, and Poplar Forest are just a few of the historical sites featured.

This major new resource is a much-needed support to the few text books in the field and offers an excellent introduction and overview to the established principals and new thinking in cultural heritage management .

Leading experts in the field from Europe, North America and Australia, bring together recent and innovative works in the field. With geographically and thematically diverse case studies, they examine the theoretical framework for heritage resource management.

Setting significant new thinking within the framework of more established views and ideas on heritage management, the reader re-publishes texts of the past decade with an overview of earlier literature and essays that fill the gaps in between, providing students of all stages with a clear picture of new and older literature.

A helpful introduction sets out key issues and debates, and individual chapter introductions and reading lists give a background collectionof key works that offer ideas for the development of thought and study.

With good coverage of major issues and solutions in Britain, the US and Australia, The Cultural Heritage Reader will appeal to students internationally across the English-speaking world, and will stand proud as a key guide to the study and practice of this major archaeological sector.

In recent years, an important and encouraging development in the practice of archaeology and historical preservation has been the markedly increased number of collaborations among archaeologists, educators, preservation planners, and government managers to explore new approaches to archaeological and heritage education and training to accommodate globalization and the realities of the 21st century worldwide. But what is the collective experience of archaeologists and cultural heritage specialists in these arenas? Should we be encouraged, or discouraged, by national and international trends? In an attempt to answer these questions, this volume examines and gives representational examples of the respective approaches and roles of government, universities, and the private sector in meeting the educational/training needs and challenges of practicing archaeologists today.

In recent years, an important and encouraging developmentin the practice of archaeology and historical preservationhas been the markedly increased number of collaborations among archaeologists, educators, preservation planners, and government managers to explore new approaches to archeological and heritage education and training to accommodate globalization and the realities of the 21st century worldwide.

But what is the collective experience of archaeologists and cultural heritage specialists in these arenas? Should we be encouraged, or discouraged, by national and international trends? In an attempt to answer these questions, this volume examines and gives representational examples of the respective approaches and roles of government, universities, and the private sector in meeting the educational/training needs and challenges of practicing archeologists today."

The spectacle of archaeology stirs the public interest like few other topics. Sowing the detective story, finding the missing pieces of the puzzle, understanding an instilled sense of identity, making connections to the material culture, following the global discourse on heritage protection and conservation (i.e. the Elgin Marbles) are all part of the nexus of cultural values that define the meaning of archaeology to individuals and to the public at large. Along with the debates, archaeological sites are also often in view of the public - on land, as well as, underwater. Maritime cultural resources encompass sites that, because of their (often) proximity to urban or traveled areas (harbors, rivers, ports) are easily damaged but not easily visible. This leads to special challenges to site management regarding conservation, protection, and enforcement of legal mandates for public education outreach and interpretation. The editors have brought together state of the art ideas, research and scholarship associated with maritime public education and interpretation. interpretation of maritime and submerged cultural resources, this edited volume will add to a limited body of knowledge in a field that is steadily growing.

In the face of an increasing public interest and demand for information, archaeologists are starting to collaborate with historians, educators, interpreters, museum curators, exhibit designers, landscape architects, and other cultural resource specialists to devise the best strategies for translating an explosion of archaeological information for the public. In turn, some communities are partnering with archaeologists to become active players in the excavation, interpretation, and preservation of their heritage.

The last decade has witnessed numerous applications of public interpretation and outreach models and an increased interest in establishing partnerships between professional practitioners in public interpretation and educational institutions such as museums and schools. These developments have occurred in the context of a realization that community-based partnerships are the most effective mechanism for long-term success. It is clear that there is a need for a volume that addresses these latest trends and provides case studies of successful partnerships.

Recent years have witnessed a rapid increase in the fields of cultural heritage studies and community archaeology worldwide with expanding discussions about the mechanisms and consequences of community participation. This trend has brought to the forefront debates about who owns the past, who has knowledge, and how heritage values can be shared more effectively with communities who then ascribe meaning and value to heritage materials. Globalization forces have created a need for contextualizing knowledge to address complex issues and collaboration across and beyond academic disciplines, using more integrated methodologies that include the participation of non-academics and increased stakeholder involvement. Successful programs provide power sharing mechanisms and motivation that effect more active involvement by lay persons in archaeological fieldwork as well as interpretation and information dissemination processes. With the contents of this volume, we envision community archaeology to go beyond descriptions of outreach and public engagement to more critical and reflexive actions and thinking. The volume is presented in the context of the evolution of cultural heritage studies from the 20th century "expert approach" to the 21st century "people-centered approach," with public participation and community involvement at all phases of the decision-making process. The volume contains contributions of 28 chapters and 59 authors, covering an extensive geographical range, including Africa, South America, Central America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, and Australasia. Chapters provide exemplary cases in a growing lexicon of public archaeology where power is shared within frameworks of voluntary activism in a wide diversity of cooperative settings and stakeholder interactions.

This major new resource is a much-needed support to the few text books in the field and offers an excellent introduction and overview to the established principals and new thinking in cultural heritage management .

Leading experts in the field from Europe, North America and Australia, bring together recent and innovative works in the field. With geographically and thematically diverse case studies, they examine the theoretical framework for heritage resource management.

Setting significant new thinking within the framework of more established views and ideas on heritage management, the reader re-publishes texts of the past decade with an overview of earlier literature and essays that fill the gaps in between, providing students of all stages with a clear picture of new and older literature.

A helpful introduction sets out key issues and debates, and individual chapter introductions and reading lists give a background collectionof key works that offer ideas for the development of thought and study.

With good coverage of major issues and solutions in Britain, the US and Australia, The Cultural Heritage Reader will appeal to students internationally across the English-speaking world, and will stand proud as a key guide to the study and practice of this major archaeological sector.

This volume examines evolving trends and transnational perspectives on public interpretation of archaeological and cultural heritage, as well as levels of communication, from local to regional, national and international. It is presented in the context of the evolution of cultural heritage studies from the 20th century “expert approach� to the 21st century “people-centered approach,� with public participation and community involvement at all phases of the decision-making process. Our premise is not just about bringing in community members to be partners in decision making processes; some projects are being initiated by the community--not the heritage experts. In some instances, community members are central in initiating and bringing about change rather than the archaeologists or heritage specialists. In several cases in the book, descendants take the lead in changing heritage narratives. The book addresses several central questions: Do these actions represent new emphases, or more fundamental pedagogical shifts, in interpretation? Are they resulting in more effective interpretation in facilitating emotional and intellectual connections and meanings for audiences? Are they revealing silenced histories? Can they contribute to, or help mediate, dialogues among a diversity of cultures? Can they be shared experiences as examples of good practice at national and international levels? What are the interpretation and presentation challenges for the future? Cultural heritage, as an expression of a diversity of cultures, can be an important mediator between pasts and futures. In the past, people in power from the dominant ethnic, racial, socio-economic, gender, and religious groups determined the heritage message. Minorities were often silenced; their participation in the building and growth of a city, county, or nation’s history was overlooked. New philosophical/methodological trends in public interpretation are reshaping the messages delivered at archaeological/cultural heritage sites worldwide. The role of the experts, as well as the participatory engagement of audiences and stakeholders are being redefined and reassessed.  This book explores these processes, their results and effects on the future.

Recent years have witnessed a rapid increase in the fields of cultural heritage studies and community archaeology worldwide with expanding discussions about the mechanisms and consequences of community participation. This trend has brought to the forefront debates about who owns the past, who has knowledge, and how heritage values can be shared more effectively with communities who then ascribe meaning and value to heritage materials. Globalization forces have created a need for contextualizing knowledge to address complex issues and collaboration across and beyond academic disciplines, using more integrated methodologies that include the participation of non-academics and increased stakeholder involvement. Successful programs provide power sharing mechanisms and motivation that effect more active involvement by lay persons in archaeological fieldwork as well as interpretation and information dissemination processes. With the contents of this volume, we envision community archaeology to go beyond descriptions of outreach and public engagement to more critical and reflexive actions and thinking. The volume is presented in the context of the evolution of cultural heritage studies from the 20th century "expert approach" to the 21st century "people-centered approach," with public participation and community involvement at all phases of the decision-making process. The volume contains contributions of 28 chapters and 59 authors, covering an extensive geographical range, including Africa, South America, Central America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, and Australasia. Chapters provide exemplary cases in a growing lexicon of public archaeology where power is shared within frameworks of voluntary activism in a wide diversity of cooperative settings and stakeholder interactions.

In recent years, an important and encouraging development in the practice of archaeology and historical preservation has been the markedly increased number of collaborations among archaeologists, educators, preservation planners, and government managers to explore new approaches to archaeological and heritage education and training to accommodate globalization and the realities of the 21st century worldwide. But what is the collective experience of archaeologists and cultural heritage specialists in these arenas? Should we be encouraged, or discouraged, by national and international trends? In an attempt to answer these questions, this volume examines and gives representational examples of the respective approaches and roles of government, universities, and the private sector in meeting the educational/training needs and challenges of practicing archaeologists today.

While there are several books in the field of preservation and heritage protection for terrestrial archaeology, there are very few resources for archaeologists working with maritime and submerged cultural heritage. This book brings together state-of-the-art ideas, research and scholarship associated with maritime public education and interpretation. It will add to a limited body of knowledge in a field that is steadily growing.

In the face of an increasing public interest and demand for information, archaeologists are starting to collaborate with historians, educators, interpreters, museum curators, exhibit designers, landscape architects, and other cultural resource specialists to devise the best strategies for translating an explosion of archaeological information for the public. In turn, some communities are partnering with archaeologists to become active players in the excavation, interpretation, and preservation of their heritage. The last decade has witnessed numerous applications of public interpretation and outreach models and an increased interest in establishing partnerships between professional practitioners in public interpretation and educational institutions such as museums and schools. These developments have occurred in the context of a realization that community-based partnerships are the most effective mechanism for long-term success. It is clear that there is a need for a volume that addresses these latest trends and provides case studies of successful partnerships.

Known widely in Europe as "interpretive narrative archaeology," the practice of using creative methods to interpret and present current knowledge of the past is gaining popularity in North America. This book is the first compilation of international case studies of the various artistic methods used in this new form of education--one that makes archaeology "come alive" for the nonprofessional. Plays, opera, visual art, stories, poetry, performance dance, music, sculpture, digital imagery--all can effectively communicate archaeological processes and cultural values to public audiences.

The 23 contributors to this volume are a diverse group of archaeologists, educators, and artisans who have direct experience in schools, museums, and at archaeological sites. Citing specific examples, such as the film "The English Patient," science fiction mysteries, and hypertext environments, they explain how creative imagination and the power of visual and audio media can personalize, contextualize, and demystify the research process. A 16-page color section illuminates their examples, and an accompanying CD includes relevant videos, music, web sites, and additional color images.

In their Introduction, the editors invoke the ancient muses to inspire the modern presenters and interpreters of archaeological research. They aptly quote George Santayana, from his poem "The Power of Art":

." . . may our hands immortalize the day
When life was sweet, and save from utter death
The sacred past that should not pass away."

John H. Jameson Jr. is an archaeologist and John E. Ehrenhard is Director at the National Park Service's Southeast Archeological Center in Tallahassee, Florida. Christine A. Finn is research associate at the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Oxford in England.