Archaeology and Economic Development 2012

The Evolution of Heritage Management: Thinking Beyond Site Boundaries and Buffer Zones

As archaeologists hone their skills and develop expertise through graduate studies and professional activities, they may have few reasons to wander over to the economics department and the opposite is equally true.  Few individuals on the path to careers in finance and economic development may have spent time at an archaeological dig.  Yet, heritage and economics intersect constantly in funding proposals, regional development plans, tourism management strategies, and in myriad other ways.  Sometimes the intersection is more of a collision than we might wish.  On the positive side, more and more, organizations such as World Monuments Fund discuss the impact on the community of archaeological field activities and conservation, as the work brings jobs, travelers, services for the visitors, and educational opportunities.  

When these worlds collide, it is not because of a lack of desire to understand each other, but it is often because the dialogue has not begun at an early enough stage.  To make the most effective arguments for why archaeology matters at the community development level, we need to begin the process of quantifying the economic impact immediately when the field work begins.  The role of NGOs needs to be proactive in developing the talking points, but also in providing the quantitative data.   

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