Memory for the Future: Public Communication and Outreach for the Preservation of Archaeological Patrimony

Abstract

This article presents a strategy of public communication and outreach designed to promote the appreciation and conservation of archaeological heritage sites among inhabitants of the Olmec region, in the southern part of the state of Veracruz, Mexico. The program promotes cultural identification through exchanges of knowledge between archaeologists and society regarding the recent history of archaeological pieces found in the region. The proposal is based on the theoretical relationship between perspectives offered by the history of the present and archaeology of the recent past; the notions of memory and identity are of particular importance. A pilot study in the town of Antonio Plaza demonstrates the application of this strategy –its operation and initial results–, showing it to be a feasible way to promote the conservation of archaeological patrimony.

Keywords: communication, outreach, archeology, memory, cultural heritage