The Development of Public Archaeology in Italy: A Review of Recent Efforts

Abstract

First paragraph: The term Archeologia Pubblica refers to the Italian interpretation of Public Archaeology and was fully introduced and explained, for the first time in a publication, in 2009 (Bonacchi, 2009a). Previously, the concept of Public Archaeology in Italy was known only by a handful of scholars who had direct contacts with relevant Anglo-Saxon academic circles. This review is concerned with two gatherings that, building on previous efforts, have contributed to the development of an Italian Archeologia Pubblica, at different scales, in the past two years. These events are: the 'First Italian Congress on Public Archaeology', promoted by the University of Florence and held on 29–30 October 2012, in Florence; and the conference 'Public Archaeology in a time of crisis', organized by the Archaeological and Landscape Park of the Valley of the Temples, on 29–30 November 2013, in Agrigento. In the following sections, the origin and main results of the 2012 congress will be introduced; thereafter it will be discussed whether and how these outcomes were deepened and expanded as a result of the 2013 conference. Since a descriptive review of the 2012 congress already exists (Zuanni, 2013), only the themes addressed at this event will be summarized critically, whereas the individual topics covered by speakers at 'Public Archaeology in a time of crisis' will be reported here.