Abstract
Beyond studying the past, archaeology today also aims to address contemporary societal issues by actively engaging communities through a range of heritage-based programmes and initiatives. This chapter presents selected engagement strategies and community archaeology activities adopted in the Xeros River valley in Cyprus – a place that experienced violence between Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot communities in the 1960s and 1970s – within the framework of the “Unlocking the Sacred Landscapes of Cyprus” (UnSaLa-CY) research project. Heritage sites across the valley comprise landmarks of collective and conflicting memories so, in conjunction with guided tours and educational activities for adults and children, the project has recently implemented a mobile application to guide visitors through the valley and an archaeology-based well-being intervention (AWI). This study demonstrates the power of archaeology as a means for discovering different pasts, healing memories, and supporting the well-being of people in such locations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Ancient Pasts for Modern Audiences |
| Subtitle of host publication | Public Scholarship and the Mediterranean World |
| Editors | Chelsea A. M. Gardner, Sabrina C. Higgins |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Chapter | 12 |
| Pages | 251-274 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Edition | 1 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781032647944 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781032647937, 9781032647906 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Mar 2025 |
