Students Discover Heritage: Lessons from the Field Boston University Field School in Archaeological Heritage Management (Menorca-Spain)

Summary

Boston University’s field school in Menorca, Spain, started 17 years ago as a traditional field school experience. Over the years, we incorporated the study of archaeological heritage management—both theoretical and practical—as an integral part of the curriculum. In the last decade, the increasing number of students interested in cultural heritage management inspired us to move to a heritage management-only field school. This poster will present the results of our first season. Menorca is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and candidate for World Heritage status. Menorca preserves archaeological and cultural sites from every period of its history, ranging from megalithic Bronze/Iron Age settlements to the remains of the Spanish Civil War. The island’s rich cultural legacy, together with its impressive and diverse natural settings, makes it an outstanding laboratory for studying heritage management. During the field school we introduced students to the principles and practice of archaeological stewardship: preservation, interpretation, management, and public outreach. There is nothing more eye-opening than learning this in situ: at sites, museums, and throughout the landscape. A student project researched links between the US and Menorca. From Admiral Farragut to the Second World War, students discovered a fascinating common past worth safeguarding for the future.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 21961