Urban pasts and urban futures: bringing urban archaeology to life
Enhancing the values of archaeological remains

To consult the proceedings of the international symposium, click here.

APPEAR Project closing international symposium
Brussels, 4-5 October 2005

The aim of this symposium was to gather together professionals and decision-makers interested in enhancing and displaying urban archaeological sites; to present the results of the APPEAR research and to encourage discussion and exchange of views between these stakeholders and the partners involved in the project.

Six themes have been tackled through targeted presentations:

- Conservation
- Interpretation and museum display
- Socio-cultural impact
- Architectural and urban integration
- Feasibility, economic and social effects

The presentations have been illustrated with case studies of urban European archaeological sites demonstrating a variety of situations.

They focused on three issues:

The enhancement of archaeological remains and their display to the public; ensuring adequate preservation of the remains integrated into the urban context so as to benefit local economy and society.

The interdisciplinary nature of the required interventions is highlighted as an essential component for the success in the enhancement of sites.

The decision-making process serves as a common thread for the development of rational methods of operation and a reference framework for the contribution of the various disciplines. It identifies the key phases of an enhancement project and the responsibilities of all the interested parties.

Symposium venue

The symposium hold at the headquarters of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union, rue Belliard 101, in Brussels (Belgium).

The Committee of the Regions

The attention of the Committee of the Regions has been drawn to these issues. The Commission for Culture and Education has shown a particular interest in the display to the public of archaeological remains in appropriate preservation and urban integration, in order to benefit local economy and society, so that the Committee has offered to host the Symposium in its headquarters in Brussels.

The Committee of the Regions of the European Union is the political assembly acting as an advisory body to the European institutions in order to reflect the views of local and regional authorities. Web site: http://www.cor.eu.int

Last modified 17/08/2006 - Webdesign Manu van der Sloot