Archaeological Heritage

Over the last couple of decades, the search for the ways to increase the influence of archaeology in society and to create better conditions for archaeological research in Serbia, has primarily been concentrated in the domain of heritage. Therefore, the paper focuses upon the relationship of archaeology in Serbia towards heritage, the processes of its production, and the attempts of archaeologists to secure the role of the most powerful actor in the heritage discourse. The starting point is the long-existing, but still important question, reconsidering the traditional approaches: what constitutes archaeological heritage? Undoubtedly, archaeological remains, archaeological evidence, or archaeological record, all bear basic information on the past activities. But, does every deposit and every record, every find, constitute archaeological heritage at the same time? Archaeological heritage may be understood as material culture of past societies preserved in the present, but also as a social construct resulting from the processes of evaluation and reuse in the present. The paper affirms the constructivist approach: archaeological finds are not archaeological heritage intrinsically. The stance of critical realism is also advocated for the future development of heritage studies and heritage theory

Archaeological evidence · Archaeological record · Archaeological theory · Conflict archaeology · Cultural heritage · Cultural heritage management · Historical archaeology · Prehistoric archaeology · Archaeological Research and Protection · Eurasian Exchange Networks · Global Maritime and Colonial Histories