The Meso-what? : the public perceptions of the Mesolithic
This research has identified ways in which the communication of archaeological knowledge of the British Mesolithic to the wider public could be improved. This has led to recommendations for good practice in improving public understanding of the period. Narrative theory has been used to conduct an analysis of how the Mesolithic has been portrayed across the following communication channels: a selection of academic writings since 1865; popular channels labelled as informative media (web-pages, blogs, YouTube videos, popular archaeology books, newspapers, BBC Online news and popular archaeology magazines); - imaginative media that involve reconstruction or evocative exploration of the past (television programmes, fiction and pictorial illustrations); popular channels linked to education (museums and their education activities, school resources). School education was identified as offering the best chance to influence the widest potential audience and develop new perceptions of the Mesolithic. The final output of the research therefore has been the creation of a school resource for the Mesolithic, focussing on the site of Star Carr and available on the Star Carr web-site. The research has identified and challenged
Henson, Donald
The Meso-what? : the public perceptions of the Mesolithic. This research has identified ways in which the communication of archaeological knowledge of the British Mesolithic to the wider public could be improved. This has led to recommendations for good practice in improving public understanding of the period. Narrative theory has been used to conduct an analysis of how the Mesolithic has been portrayed across the following communication channels: a selection of academic writings since 1865; popular channels labelled as informative media (web-pages, blogs, YouTube videos, popular archaeology books, newspapers, BBC Online news and popular archaeology magazines); - imaginative media that involve reconstruction or evocative exploration of the past (television programmes, fiction and pictorial illustrations); popular channels linked to education (museums and their education activities, school resources). School education was identified as offering the best chance to influence the widest potential audience and develop new perceptions of the Mesolithic. The final output of the research therefore has been the creation of a school resource for the Mesolithic, focussing on the site of Star Carr and available on the Star Carr web-site. The research has identified and challenged
meso what public_perception mesolithic identify way communication archaeological_knowledge british mesolithic wider public could improve lead recommendation good practice improve public period narrative theory use conduct analysis mesolithic portray across follow communication channel selection academic_writing since popular channel label informative medium web video popular archaeology book newspaper bbc online news popular archaeology magazine imaginative medium involve reconstruction exploration past television_programme fiction pictorial illustration popular channel link education museums education activity school resource school education identify offer best chance influence wide potential audience develop_new perception mesolithic final output therefore creation school resource mesolithic focus site star available star web site identify challenge