Managing Archaeological Heritage in the 21st Century

Archaeology has long been an important component of heritage management throughout the world. Iconic as well as mundane heritage sites have employed archaeology to celebrate and honor the past. As community archaeology has expanded over the past decade to involve various stakeholders who have a vested interest in the material remains of the past, it has become incumbent upon archaeologists to partner with others to manage archaeological resources in the interests of broad and varied constituencies. There is a global challenge to archaeological heritage management as a top-down endeavor in which archaeologists are seen as the arbiters in deciding which sites matter and to whom, which sites to preserve, and why and how. This symposium will showcase effective ways to manage archaeological heritage in collaboration with public partners by showcasing best practices, successes, and challenges to guide the archaeological enterprise in the 21st century.