Holiday greetings from the AAC team!

Image by M. Smirnova

On 29^th November 2013 within the Estonian-Latvian-Russian cross-border project “Archaeology, authority & community: cooperation to protect archaeological heritage” the Project Manager from the Institute of Latvian History at the University of Latvia Guntis Gerhards and the State and Project Coordinator Antonija Vilcāne had a meeting with members of Alūksne County Council as well as parish managers from the county and a number of county professionals (land surveyors, regional development and planning professionals, etc.). The meeting was also attended by county council chairman A.Dukulis and deputy chairman Dz.Adlers. Overall, the event brought together 24 municipal employees form Alūksne.

The aim of the meeting was to inform the leaders and staff of Alūksne municipality about the results achieved within the project managed by the Institute of Latvian History at the University of Latvia in bringing together material on the archaeological heritage in archives and museums, and in the survey of monuments in the field. The theme was “The archaeological heritage of Alūksne County – problems of preservation and potential utilisation”. Guntis Gerhards briefly introduced the project aims, tasks and deliverables. Antonija Vilcāne discussed the results of the archaeological monuments survey undertaken in the county in summer, focusing on issues relating to the preservation of the county’s archaeological heritage and the use of the archaeological heritage for developing the county’s economic potential and diversification of social life. It was emphasized that local councillors and professionals should be aware of the necessity to develop a sense of public responsibility for the archaeological heritage of the county, because the archaeological heritage also contributes to the identity of the county.

Text and photos by A.Vilcāne, State and Project Coordinator

On 30^th October 2013 within the Estonian-Latvian-Russian cross-border project “Archaeology, authority & community: cooperation to protect archaeological heritage” the Institute of Latvian History at the University of Latvia, in cooperation with history teacher Iveta Mikijanska of E. Gliks Alūksne State High School, organized an information days event for the local history teachers from Alūksne and Ape. Project Manager Guntis Gerhards read a lecture on bioarchaeology and its role in Latvian and world history research.

The lecture highlighted the latest studies in bioarchaeology and its potential role within educational programmes in history for school pupils, as well in the preparation of research papers. The discussion touched on such questions as: the periodization of prehistory in Latvia, as well the necessity for more education at school about archaeology and the cultural heritage in Latvia.  The event was attended by 11 persons.

To help school pupils understand the significance of the cultural heritage and explain the need to protect it Guntis Gerhards talked to senior pupils from E.Gliks Alūksne State High School and Alūksne County High School. His lectures covered archaeology, archaeological monuments and the archaeological heritage of Alūksne County.

Which scientific disciplines study the development and history of the country and society, and what is the role of archaeology among these disciplines?  What is archaeology? What do archaeologists study and how do they conduct their research? What branches of archaeological science exist today? These are the questions that were addressed. The pupils were introduced to the various groups of archaeological monuments in Alūksne County and to the necessity of preserving them. Special attention was given to the damage done by treasure hunters. The lecture was attended by 45 pupils and teachers at Alūksne County High School and by 68 pupils and teachers at Alūksne State High School.

Text and photos by G.Gerhards, Project Manager, and A.Vilcāne, State and Project Coordinator