The development of the archaeological park of Orchomenos in Boeotia, Greece: An investigation into decision-makers’ views and the local community’s opinion and expectations

Throughout the years, the discipline of archaeology has turned its interest towards the public and how the community can engage with the field of archaeology. At first, the crux of the idea was simply to inform the public about archaeological practices. Nowadays, it involves collaboration, sharing, and dialogue between archaeologists and communities. Uncovering the personal opinions of people is the first step in enabling the public to become active partners in a project. In this thesis, I focus on the relationships between local communities, decision makers and antiquities occasioned by an archaeological project in Greece. The aim is to examine the opinions and expectations of citizens in a town in which there is ongoing development of an archaeological park, namely, the town of Orchomenos in Boeotia. Apart from the opinion of local community, this research also focuses on the views of decision makers and their efforts to involve citizens in the project. People living in this area...Show moreThroughout the years, the discipline of archaeology has turned its interest towards the public and how the community can engage with the field of archaeology. At first, the crux of the idea was simply to inform the public about archaeological practices. Nowadays, it involves collaboration, sharing, and dialogue between archaeologists and communities. Uncovering the personal opinions of people is the first step in enabling the public to become active partners in a project. In this thesis, I focus on the relationships between local communities, decision makers and antiquities occasioned by an archaeological project in Greece. The aim is to examine the opinions and expectations of citizens in a town in which there is ongoing development of an archaeological park, namely, the town of Orchomenos in Boeotia. Apart from the opinion of local community, this research also focuses on the views of decision makers and their efforts to involve citizens in the project. People living in this area have learnt to live with the archaeological sites. The past is their present. The antiquities are embedded into the urban fabric and they are part of every citizen’s daily life. I aspire to make the voices of the people heard, and reveal and identify their opinions about the archaeological project. I examine the development of the archaeological park in Orchomenos with regard to three main elements that are inextricably linked to each other: the place (Orchomenos, its history, and the ongoing project), the decision makers and the local community. This research attempts to analyze all three of these aspects separately as well as collectively.Show less

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The development of the archaeological park of Orchomenos in Boeotia, Greece: An investigation into decision-makers’ views and the local community’s opinion and expectations