Management of Archaeological Walks: An on-site interpretation and presentation of Minoan Towns by means of emerging technologies.

Angeliki Chrysanthi – supervised by Dr Graeme Earl

The process of planning and implementing archaeological walks within the broader field of Archaeological Heritage Management (AHM) constitutes a critical part of the preventive conservation and enhancement of archaeological sites. This particular category of intervention aims both to protect the site and enhance the visitor’s experience. Introducing specific paths provides an essential management tool, particularly in the cases of prehistoric sites. The nature of prehistoric remains present difficulties for casual visitors and thus, a more innovative and appealing interpretation is required in order to engage them. Moreover, the applicable interventions for the improvement of a sites’ readability, mainly limited to conservation methods, highlight the importance of planning archaeological walks for the interpretation of prehistoric sites.

The emergence of new technologies in the field of cultural heritage is another key factor that needs to be considered towards this direction. The use of new methodologies in recording and simulating space and locomotion, the augmented reality applications and a wide range of computational research could be valuable components in this aspect of AHM. The integration of such technologies in a targeted management framework not only constitutes a necessity but it can significantly add both to the planning process and the presentation of archaeological sites.

This research is drawing upon the case of the extensively excavated Minoan towns of Bronze Age Crete (1700-1400 BC) to discuss the current planning strategies while considering the new technologies’ input, in presenting such culturally significant sites. What benefits and possible consequences can these technologically driven interventions have on the protection, the authenticity and the presentation of such sites?