European Archaeological Heritage Prize

European Archaeological Heritage Prize
Name	European Archaeological Heritage Prize
Awarded for	Excellence in archaeological conservation, public outreach, and heritage management in Europe
Presenter	European Association of Archaeologists; co-operation with Council of Europe bodies
Country	Europe
Year	1976

Contents

European Archaeological Heritage Prize

The European Archaeological Heritage Prize is an award recognizing distinguished contributions to archaeological conservation and public engagement across Europe, with ties to institutions such as the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the European Association of Archaeologists, and national bodies like English Heritage and the Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives. The prize highlights projects and persons linked to sites such as Stonehenge, Pompeii, Acropolis of Athens, Colosseum, and Mesa Verde National Park-style conservation dialogues while engaging museums like the British Museum, the Louvre, and the Museo Nazionale Romano.

History

The prize traces origins to collaborative efforts among the Council of Europe, the European Cultural Convention, and heritage professionals from United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, and Spain in the 1970s, influenced by events including the aftermath of the Second World War and conservation debates at venues like the ICOMOS General Assembly and the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Early recipients reflected priorities seen in campaigns for sites such as Aphrodisias, Ephesus, Leptis Magna, Pompeii, and initiatives related to legislation exemplified by the Valletta Convention and the Granada Convention.

The award honors excellence in archaeological investigation, conservation, presentation, and community engagement, aligning with charters and standards like the Venice Charter, the Burra Charter, and principles debated at the ICOM and UNESCO forums. Criteria include demonstrated impact at sites such as Troy, Knossos, Herculaneum, Skara Brae, and projects run by organizations like the National Museum of Denmark, the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, and the German Archaeological Institute. Eligible activities encompass fieldwork, site management, publication efforts with presses such as the Oxford University Press and the Cambridge University Press, and public outreach modeled after exhibitions at the Pergamon Museum and programs by the Smithsonian Institution.

Administration typically involves committees drawn from bodies including the European Association of Archaeologists, the Council of Europe, national archaeology services like Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio and research institutes such as the Institute of Archaeology, University College London and the École Française de Rome. Secretariat functions have been supported by partners like the European Commission, the British Academy, and university departments at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Università di Roma La Sapienza, and Heidelberg University. Funding and sponsorship have involved foundations including the Getty Foundation, the European Cultural Foundation, and national ministries such as the Ministry of Culture (France).

Laureates include multidisciplinary teams and individuals linked to landmark sites and programs: conservation at Pompeii and Herculaneum teams, restoration projects at the Acropolis of Athens and Parthenon, landscape archaeology initiatives in the Danube Delta, community archaeology at Çatalhöyük, digital documentation projects associated with the Archaeology Data Service and the Digital Archaeological Record, and outreach campaigns mounted by institutions like the British Museum, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, the National Archaeological Museum (Athens), and the Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi. Recipients have included noted scholars connected to Mortimer Wheeler, Kathleen Kenyon, Sir Leonard Woolley, Gordon Childe, and contemporary teams influenced by methodologies from Colin Renfrew and David W. Anthony.

A panel of experts from organizations such as the European Association of Archaeologists, ICOMOS, the European Commission, national heritage bodies from Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and Norway, and representatives of museums like the Louvre and the British Museum evaluate nominations. Submissions require documentation comparable to dossiers submitted to the World Heritage Committee or grant applications to the European Research Council, including conservation reports, community impact statements, publication records, and digital archives held by repositories such as the DANS and the Archaeology Data Service. The process incorporates site visits, peer review mirroring procedures at the National Trust (United Kingdom), and final ratification by a steering committee drawing on expertise from the German Archaeological Institute and the École Pratique des Hautes Études.

The prize has influenced conservation priorities at sites like Stonehenge, Avebury, Altamira, L'Anse aux Meadows, and Biskupin, spurring funding from bodies such as the European Structural Funds and philanthropic partners like the Paul Getty Trust. It has been discussed in forums including the European Heritage Days and journal venues such as the Journal of Field Archaeology and Antiquity (journal), prompting debates involving stakeholders like the ICOM, ICOMOS, national ministries, local communities, and indigenous representatives referenced in cases like Lascaux and Mesa Verde National Park. Responses range from praise in professional circles at the European Association of Archaeologists Conference to critiques in conservation debates linked to policies under the Valletta Convention.

Related programs and partnerships include collaborations with the Council of Europe's cultural heritage initiatives, joint actions with the European Year of Cultural Heritage, projects funded by the European Research Council, thematic networks such as the IPERION HS infrastructure, cooperative ventures with museums like the British Museum and the Louvre, and ties to international frameworks administered by UNESCO and ICOMOS. The prize interfaces with regional site-management schemes exemplified by the Mediterranean Action Plan, cross-border projects like the Danube Limes, and university-led research centers at University College London, University of Bologna, and the University of Leiden.

Category:European awards Category:Archaeology in Europe