{"id":6939,"date":"2025-04-24T06:49:23","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T06:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/?page_id=6939"},"modified":"2025-04-25T01:01:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T01:01:13","slug":"t14-s05-papers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/t14-s05-papers\/","title":{"rendered":"T14\/S05: Collaborative and Community Archaeology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Format: Paper presentations with discussion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Convenors:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charles A. Bello, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Denver, Colorado, USA
Charles.Bello@fema.dhs.gov<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yashaswini Jayadevaiah, Dept of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), India, yashjayadevaiah@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaborative and Community-Engaged Scholarship (CES) is an important topic in our profession, encompassing a growing diversity of activities. We continue a decade discussing issues and best CES practices in archaeology. This session displays a commitment to conducting research and historic preservation in effective partnership with multiple stakeholders as a matter of fairness, ethics, and as a way to create and co-create robust and useful final products.

Archaeological projects affect Indigenous peoples, local residents, and descendant communities in many ways. These groups often have relatively little input into what \u201cothers\u201d say about, or do with, their heritage. We advance inclusive, community-engaged scholarship that is co-created with relevant communities. The goal of this session and many of the projects discussed is to use community involvement and participation as a way not only to give a voice to groups that have been essentially voiceless but to empower all stakeholders \u2013 especially on projects that involve \u201cmultiple pasts.\u201d We discuss the various types of CES as defined by Doberneck, Glass, and Schweitzer (2010), including Research and Creative Activities, Teaching and Learning, Service and Practice, and Commercialised Activities. We also discuss trajectories of developing relationships and projects that can become respectful, useful, and productive CES.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Papers:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Introduction to the Session on Collaborative and Community Archaeology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charles A. Bello, independent researcher, Denver, Colorado, USA<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaborative and Community-Engaged Archaeology (or any of the new terms that come into play on a regular basis) continues to be an important and relevant topic in our profession, involving an ever increasing (and often innovative) range of activities. This session displays a commitment to conducting research and historic preservation in effective partnership with multiple stakeholders as a matter of fairness, ethics, and as a way to create robust and useful final products. Archaeological endeavours affect Indigenous peoples, local residents, and descendant communities in many ways. It is clear that successful projects establish broad-scale community rapport\u2014caring, listening, and being honest\u2014effectively building trust and relationships. Obviously, it is critical to understand and to acknowledge ideological differences between non-tribal archaeologists and the indigenous community, especially concerning potential intersections of the material & spiritual worlds. There are many archaeologists\/heritage preservations groups working across the world who are committed to conducting research (and other types of historic preservation projects) with a unique spectrum of stakeholders. It is also evident that we all share a common awareness of the usefulness of community involvement and are achieving good results and are taking the time to record our work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preserving Meghalaya’s Heritage: The Role of Community and Archaeology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naphibahun Lyngdoh, Meghalayan Age Limited, Government of Meghalaya, India<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meghalaya, a state in northeast India, is home to the Indigenous Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia tribes, celebrated for their rich cultural heritage. This paper examines how heritage sites in Meghalaya become collaborative spaces where archaeology and local communities work hand-in-hand to safeguard and reinterpret these sites as open-air museums. It emphasises the pivotal role of community involvement in preserving and sharing the stories, traditions, and histories of these places through mapping, storytelling and cultural practices. By bridging the past and present, such initiatives inspire younger generations to connect with their ancestral heritage and gain insights into the way of life of earlier times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The paper further highlights the unique ways in which Indigenous communities value their heritage through spiritual practices, oral histories, and megalithic traditions. Through a combination of archaeological methodologies\u2014including exploration, excavation, and digital heritage tools\u2014and community-led conservation efforts, the study showcases how these practices have bridged gaps between archaeologists and local communities. Together, they have fostered sustainable heritage management, while ensuring that traditional knowledge systems and rituals keep these heritage sites meaningful and relevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By focusing on the heritage practices of the Khasi community, the paper illustrates how an abandoned settlement was transformed into an open-air museum. This collaborative effort demonstrates the power of integrating traditional and archaeological methods to prevent site deterioration and to celebrate the enduring significance of Meghalaya\u2019s cultural legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preserving Voices: A Collaborative Approach to Documenting the Sac and Fox Mission School Oral Histories<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheyenne Widdecke, University of Oklahoma, USA<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaborative archaeology prioritises projects that centre community members’ knowledge, voices, and leadership. A collaborative approach empowers communities traditionally excluded from archaeology to take an active role in shaping how their heritage is represented. The Sac and Fox Mission School in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, opened in 1872 and closed by 1917. Within this paper I explore the community-engaged process between the Sac and Fox nation and myself, resulting in an oral history project documenting descendants’ stories about the Sac and Fox Mission School. These stories reflect the voices of community members and hold critical historical value, representing a past that is often overlooked. Community members believe these narratives should be preserved and shared, instead of forgotten, to authentically portray the Sac and Fox experience in Native American boarding schools. Although some may dismiss these accounts as hearsay, due to the lack of remaining attendees, these stories are important to descendants of those who lived through them. The goal of this work is to examine why these narratives are significant and how they can support advocacy efforts for boarding school survivors, attendees, and their descendants and serve as a foundation for sustainable community-driven projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Role of Public Archaeology in Heritage Management: A Case Study of Konkan Geoglyphs, Maharashtra, India<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rhutvij Apte, Research Associate, IITM Pravartak Technology Foundation, Chennai, India<\/em>
Sudhir Risbud, Project Co-ordinator, IITM Pravartak Technology Foundation, Chennai, India<\/em>
Dhananjay Marathe, Nisargyatri Sanstha, Ratnagiri, India<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Archaeological study has always been multidisciplinary. Social sciences, earth sciences, along with the statistical study, is essential to understanding earlier events in the order of existence, but just understanding the past, publishing newly documented data and deciphering the unknown past should not be the end of any archaeological research. The reason behind this is that people and locals of the villages are often unaware of the treasure they have beneath them. In a country like India, where every village holds some evidence of the past, public archaeology and public awareness hold an important spot in heritage management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The authors have documented 200+ geoglyph sites in the region and documented 2500+ geoglyph carvings. From the early explorations the main emphasis has been on public awareness programs taken at different sites and levels, which helped the locals to understand and become aware of the heritage they have. The authors have taken their work as a case study to highlight the importance of public archaeology and public involvement in heritage research and studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Megaliths in Transition: Exploring the Intersection of Archaeological Sites, Communities and the Landscape<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mutharasu Anbalagan, Dept of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India<\/em>
Smriti Haricharan, Associate Professor, Dept of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Megaliths serve as enduring monuments that reflect burial practices spanning the Iron Age to the Medieval period. These funerary traditions exhibit significant spatial and temporal variations worldwide, with a particularly rich presence in India, especially in the southern regions. Extensive excavations in India have documented numerous megalithic sites, classified typologies, analysed grave goods, and established chronological frameworks. However, these burials face much erasure and disturbance due to anthropogenic and natural factors. Despite this, limited research has explored the relationship between megaliths, the contemporary landscape, and local communities. This study examines eleven megalithic burial sites in the Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, India, with the objective of understanding the impact of human activities on the changes and destruction that occur to these burials over a four-year period (2018\u20132021). Through systematic periodic surveys, conversations with local communities and remote sensing, this research aims to elucidate the evolving interactions between megaliths, local communities, and landscape transformations. In order to protect these sites, it is important to create a more detailed picture of these interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community and Collaborative Archaeology in Bodhgaya: Local Engagement and Global Connections<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Madhwi, Dept of History, Bharati College, University of Delhi, India<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This presentation explores the intersection of community and collaborative archaeology in Bodhgaya, emphasising the role of local communities and international collaborations in preserving and developing this significant Buddhist site. Bodhgaya holds immense spiritual value, attracting engagement from international Buddhist communities, scholars, and heritage organisations. This paper examines how these diverse stakeholders contribute to archaeological preservation, cultural diplomacy, and economic development, fostering a shared commitment to heritage conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Japan\u2019s contributions remain central\u2014driven by deep-rooted Buddhist connections and broader strategic interests\u2014this discussion broadens the perspective to include international Buddhist communities and organisations. Their involvement in funding, conservation efforts, and pilgrimage infrastructure reflects a collective investment in Bodhgaya\u2019s global spiritual identity. India\u2019s willingness to embrace these collaborations is shaped by shared cultural ties and the mutual recognition of heritage as a bridge for deeper connections. The Bihar Archaeology Department plays a key role in facilitating these efforts, ensuring that local voices remain integral to preservation initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By examining Bodhgaya as a site where diverse yet spiritually connected communities converge, this presentation underscores the evolving nature of community archaeology. It offers insights into how collaborative efforts across borders shape the preservation, management, and contemporary relevance of archaeological heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PALEOHER India: Advancing Prehistoric Research through Science, Community Engagement, and Global Collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prabhin Sukumaran, Dr K. C. Patel Research and Development Centre, Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT), Gujarat, India<\/em>
Parth R. Chauhan, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Punjab, India<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Indian subcontinent plays a pivotal role in global discussions on prehistoric human occupation, migration, paleoclimate reconstructions and faunal extinctions. Since the discovery of a prehistoric stone tool at Attirampakkam in 1863, research in Indian prehistory has progressed significantly. However, interdisciplinary scientific studies, outreach efforts, and community engagement remain underrepresented. Over the past decade, Palaeoclimate Ecology and Heritage Research (PALEOHER) India has emerged as a transformative initiative bridging these gaps. What began as independent efforts has now taken a structured form, actively fostering scientific communication and community-driven research. Through training programs, publications, podcasts, and outreach activities, PALEOHER integrates rigorous scientific inquiry with public participation. A major milestone is PALEOSCHOOL, a field-based training initiative that began with a self-funded expedition in the Narmada Valley. Today, it is one of the most sought-after programs for young researchers and enthusiasts, blending academic knowledge with hands-on experience in prehistoric archaeology. Looking ahead, PALEOHER is expanding its horizons through global collaborations to further its mission. By fostering interdisciplinary studies and international partnerships, PALEOHER aims to preserve prehistoric heritage, ensuring its scientific and cultural significance is safeguarded for future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Mounds to Memories: The Role of Community in Heritage Management<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Renu Thakur, Dept of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This paper underscores an urgent need for a paradigm shift from top-down heritage management to a more inclusive and community-led approach. Heritage conservation should not be confined to professionals alone, but it should be a collective mission rooted in local identity, knowledge, and active participation. Through two case studies from Haryana, India, we have highlighted the transformative role of community involvement in preserving important heritage sites. The first case examines Bhoj Balig, a historically rich yet largely unrecognised village in Panchkula district. Due to minimal research and awareness, its cultural heritage remains vulnerable and overlooked. The second case focuses on Rakhigarhi, in district Hisar\u2014the largest and most significant Harappan site\u2014which now faces severe threats from encroachment and improper practices. Increasing conflicts between local communities and authorities further endanger the site, leading to environmental degradation and heritage loss. Addressing such challenges requires careful strategy, community-driven solutions that empower local stakeholders as custodians of their heritage. By fostering a sense of ownership, encouraging sustainable practices, and bridging gaps between authorities and communities, we can safeguard these invaluable sites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond Boundaries: Reinterpreting Heritage Through Mapping and Representation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deepa Desai, architect, urban conservationist, affiliated with Mumbai University, India<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heritage conservation today is at a crossroads, balancing the need to preserve cultural identity without being extremist, and it should also fulfill the demands of contemporary urban life. The field itself is continuously pushing its boundaries by redefining what is heritage. Adaptive reuse emerges as a key strategy in this discourse, offering plausible solutions that retain the historical essence of structures while repurposing them for modern needs. However, the success of such initiatives relies not just on architectural intervention but also on fostering a deep-rooted appreciation for culture among younger generations. Engaging youth in heritage studies through education and digital platforms and exposing them to participatory design approach can bridge the gap between tradition and innovation. Digital storytelling, interactive heritage mapping, and community-driven projects can empower young individuals to reimagine historic spaces. By innovating in the possibilities of adaptive reuse with youth-led initiatives, conservation efforts can move beyond passive preservation to active, evolving dialogues that ensure long-term cultural continuity. It advocates for inclusive policies that make conservation accessible, participatory, and future-ready. Through this approach, heritage is not just preserved\u2014it is revitalised and reinterpreted for future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C\u00e1kuwen: Collaborative Archaeology in the Amazon Region of Colombia. Rock Art and Ancestral Memories of the In\u00edrida River<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diana Mendoza Le\u00f3n, independent researcher<\/em>
Carmen P\u00e9rez Maestro, Research Centre and Ecomuseum La Ponte, Espa\u00f1a<\/em>
Ainara Cano Echebarria, Independent researcher<\/em>
Natalia Lozada Mendieta, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia<\/em>
M\u00f3nica Bran P\u00e9rez, independent researcher<\/em>
Magally Ortiz, Museo Comunitario del Guan\u00eda, Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The In\u00edrida River Rock Art Research Project in the Amazon region of Colombia is developed by an interdisciplinary team of Colombian and Spanish scholars, in collaboration with the Guain\u00eda Community Museum and the Indigenous communities in the study area. This archaeological project is based on participatory research (PR) and public archaeology principles, promoting the collective construction of knowledge. Instead of approaching the subject from an external perspective, the team actively involves community members, critically integrating scientific contributions with local knowledge. Among the methodologies used, participatory mapping stands out, as it is employed both for locating rock art sites and facilitating the dialogue of knowledge. Semi-structured qualitative interviews are also conducted to gather local narratives about pre-Hispanic glyphs, reflecting the academic involvement in the revaluation and recovery of ancestral culture, centred on rock art and Indigenous ontologies as an interpretation of this materiality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staying Open: Allowing Space for the Emergence of Impactful Community Heritage Projects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stefan Woehlke, University of Maryland, USA; Far Horizons Archaeological and Cultural Trips<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The North Brentwood Community Heritage Project developed out of a conversation in December of 2019 between myself and a town councilmember, Evan Dame. I was open to hearing about his community and its heritage. He was open to hearing the work that I do at the university. Together, we saw the potential for a partnership that supported the community\u2019s heritage goals and provided important opportunities for my students to engage directly in community practice. The success of this project has relied on the ability to be flexible and to develop networks that enable the project to support community goals and address their concerns. To date, we have engaged in archaeological excavation and analysis, digital documentation, the development of a heritage walking tour, and an inventory of the museum collections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Centring community goals creates an environment in which archaeologists act as a broker between established organizations and community partners. It creates space to develop new collaborations with students and researchers to produce a range of deliverables and services that communities find valuable. This approach is slow, and requires archaeologists to maintain humility and accept their own ignorance in order to identify the right partners for specific tasks and deliver what\u2019s needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking Back for the Future: Communities, Cemeteries, and Collaboration in the American South<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dru McGill, North Carolina State University, USA<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a crisis in the United States, particularly in the American South, to find and preserve the remaining historic African American and Indigenous cemeteries. In the 20th century, many of these significant heritage sites were lost to \u2018development\u2019, movements of communities of people of colour away from racist laws and government, and inconsistent record keeping. Meanwhile, white cemeteries were often preserved, especially those in affluent communities. Today there are efforts across the American South to locate, document, and preserve African American and indigenous cemeteries. In this presentation, I will discuss several efforts in North Carolina to achieve these goals, including work by a government agency to improve databases and maps of cemeteries, community lead research efforts that employ archaeologists as preservation specialists and lobbyists, and network-building amongst heritage management professionals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Format: Paper presentations with discussion Convenors: Charles A. Bello, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Denver, Colorado, USACharles.Bello@fema.dhs.gov Yashaswini Jayadevaiah, Dept of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), India, yashjayadevaiah@gmail.com Collaborative and Community-Engaged Scholarship (CES) is an important topic in our profession, encompassing a growing diversity of activities. We continue a decade discussing issues and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1157,"featured_media":276,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-6939","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"pmpro-has-access","7":"czr-hentry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6939","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1157"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6939"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6939\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7409,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6939\/revisions\/7409"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}