The quest for sustainable access at archaeological sites : the case of Herculaneum
The ever-present conflict between access and preservation in the field of archaeological site management is examined in this thesis. Starting from the position that direct experience is essential in the interpretive experience of visitors at archaeological sites, yielding intangible benefits that are vital for public understanding and appreciation of archaeological sites as places, the thesis seeks to develop a better understanding of the conflict and whether it is possible to find a solution in order to reconsider direct access as an explicit interpretive approach in site management. The different facets of this conflict are interrogated through an intensive exploration of the way access is managed and how it impacts on the archaeological resource at the archaeological site of Herculaneum in Italy. The mosaic floors at the site become the medium through which this conflict is explored. Towards this end, a mixed methodology for the collection and analysis of data is employed, including a visitor survey, interviews with visitors and other key stakeholders involved in the management of access and conservation, and a visitor impact assessment on the mosaics floors. The case study suggests that firstly, physical
Savvides, N.
The quest for sustainable access at archaeological sites : the case of Herculaneum. The ever-present conflict between access and preservation in the field of archaeological site management is examined in this thesis. Starting from the position that direct experience is essential in the interpretive experience of visitors at archaeological sites, yielding intangible benefits that are vital for public understanding and appreciation of archaeological sites as places, the thesis seeks to develop a better understanding of the conflict and whether it is possible to find a solution in order to reconsider direct access as an explicit interpretive approach in site management. The different facets of this conflict are interrogated through an intensive exploration of the way access is managed and how it impacts on the archaeological resource at the archaeological site of Herculaneum in Italy. The mosaic floors at the site become the medium through which this conflict is explored. Towards this end, a mixed methodology for the collection and analysis of data is employed, including a visitor survey, interviews with visitors and other key stakeholders involved in the management of access and conservation, and a visitor impact assessment on the mosaics floors. The case study suggests that firstly, physical
quest sustainable access archaeological_site case ever_present conflict access preservation field archaeological_site management examine_thesis starting position direct experience essential interpretive experience visitor archaeological_site yield intangible benefit vital public appreciation archaeological_site place seek_develop good conflict whether_possible solution order reconsider direct access explicit interpretive site management different_facet conflict interrogate intensive exploration way access manage impact archaeological_resource archaeological_site italy mosaic_floor site become medium conflict explore towards_end mixed collection analysis_data employ_include visitor survey interviews visitor key stakeholder involve management access conservation visitor impact assessment mosaic_floor case_study suggest firstly physical