Kulturarvsparadoxen : Om uppdragsarkeologin och kulturarvetsanvändning i samtiden

Sammanfattning: With the explicit assignment of creating relevant knowledge of significance,Swedish contract archaeology lies at the fore of a research-based archaeology. Butwhat is “relevant knowledge”? And how is it “of significance” for society? Againstthe background of the relation between cultural politics, Contract Archaeology andthe museums, this thesis investigates the making of archaeological heritage inmuseum collections in Sweden by means of Contract Archaeology. The overall aimof the study is to elucidate obstacles in the current system of heritage making inorder to improve the relevance of its results for society as a whole.In the thesis a contraposition between scientific and political goals within thepractice of heritage making is identified lying at the core of several inconsistencies,challenging the relevance and significance of Contract Archaeology and its heritageproducts. I propose to call this specific challenge “the Cultural Heritage Paradox”.The Paradox is built upon issues relating to structure, interpretation, andpracticability. In order for Cultural Heritage produced by Contract Archaeology togain significance for society, the Paradox needs to be resolved.It is argued that, whereas “significance” is obtained in a multitude of valueperspectives, “relevant knowledge” is more than scientific value and the teaching ofthe public about the past. As such, it is suggested that Contract Archaeology needsto adopt a social stance as the core for its operation, with an extended cooperationbetween regional authorities, Contract Archaeology and Museums as a prerequisitefor creating relevant knowledge of significance. A wider cooperation will secure anintegration of a multitude of value perspectives in the process of making heritage.This postulates a shared understanding of the content and meaning ofarchaeological heritage, founded in a perception of Contract Archaeology as beingmore than knowledge