Theory and practice of archaeological heritage management: A European perspective

This thesis looks at selected issues related to the management of archaeological heritage in Europe. It focuses on the theory, principles and standards of the archaeological conservation and the protection of the historic environment laid out in a number of international treaties and policies supported by the work of UNESCO, ICOMOS, Council of Europe and the European Union and seeks to demonstrate the complexities of their practical implementation on a national and regional level. Attention is given to the role of the archaeological heritage and the historic environment as sources of collective narratives: the thesis explores the consequences of the institutionalisation of preconceptions about the past and cultural values and the use of the archaeology and heritage administration as instruments of creating and controlling visions of the past and future. These problems are discussed in the context of modem socio-political issues, such as the process of the European integration and globalisation, the quest for a 'common European heritage1 and the values and consequent tension between local, national and 'European' identity. Finally, this dissertation explores the relationship between the protection of the archaeological (cultural) heritage and the natural environment and the growing dependence of the heritage sector on the EU environmental legislation and policies. A critical approach is based on the dual nature of the archaeological heritage: as a universal (trans-national) concept governed by international principles and the material remains located within nation states subjected to diverse domestic laws. The study concentrates on the analysis of the empirical material drawn from the European Union including the UK, the Republic of Ireland, France, Italy, Germany (old member countries) as well as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Balkans (new members)