“. . . to foster understanding. . .”
I like this phrase because it is at once both purposeful and
aspirational. The words are found towards the bottom of a poster hanging on a
wall in my studio apt. The image in the poster is a rendering of world-renowned
artist Christo’s massive art installation, “Wrapped Reichstag”. In the context
of the poster, the phrase refers to a renewed effort to nurture communication
and understanding between the young people of North America and Germany in the
years immediately following the fall of the Berlin Wall.
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| “Wrapped Reichstag” |
Lately, during the last four months specifically, a
broadened interpretation of this phrase has become a source of inspiration for
me during the many hours of monotonous and repetitive data entry. And that has
been the order of the day for months now: data entry. More specifically, the
digitization of artifact inventories on paper, many of them handwritten 35, 50
or more years ago. Line after line, site number, catalog number, northings and
eastings, depth, artifact description, quantity and so on. Why is this
important to do? Ah yes, look to the poster!
The purpose of this inventory digitization is twofold. The
first is digitization as a means of preservation. Paper yellows and becomes
brittle, ink and pencil fade over time, and information would eventually be
lost were it not transferred to another medium. The second purpose is
accessibility. One cannot know if information is applicable or relevant
to their lives if they do not have access to it. Digitization is a first step
toward facilitating greater availability of this information to everyone. Fewer
gates, and fewer gatekeepers. A
democratization of data, perhaps which, with a healthy dose of optimism has the
potential (you guessed it) - to foster understanding.
And therein lies another aspect of this quote – as it is a
call to action. This call to action has
only been partially realized by the opening up of stored information that was
once restricted to those of a certain socio-economic pedigree (read education).
In other words, the careful control of information flowing in a top down
fashion as many institutions tend to do, oftentimes protects a prevailing
narrative/interpretation that reinforces their own legitimacy within the larger
societal structure, for better or worse.
To fulfill this call, the equally necessary flip side of
this imperative is to engage in the act of listening to multiple
interpretations. Listening is often viewed as a passive behavior, but if we are
truly striving “to foster understanding”, participants must engage in active
listening. Active listening is not always easy. It requires patience and
empathy and a willingness to be exposed to experiences and ideas that are
divergent, or even outright antithetical to one’s own worldview, which
understandably can be uncomfortable. It is a skill set like any other, that
must be developed and maintained in order to be effective. The reward for this
effort is the possibility of creating not only a more inclusive and thereby
more accurate narrative, but also a more meaningful one.
Archaeologists are concerned about the preservation of sites
and have strived to serve as stewards of archaeological sites and the
associated data. Why shouldn’t this data (excepting sensitive location
information) be freely shared with others? How are site security concerns of
archaeologists balanced with the curiosity of the general public? Preservation
of sites and data are at the core of the Historic Preservation movement enacted
by law in 1966 and a key component to our training. If we protect these resources from
destruction either through development or looting- we preserve them for the
future. We don’t know what our immediate
future will look like, but as in all measures of preservation, we are
protecting resources for hundreds or thousands of years to come. Evaluating
human behavior through the scientific analysis of the archaeological record is
critical for our ability to prepare and predict adaptation and culture change
in an ever-changing world. Sharing data
regarding these sites and resources requires an open communication process that
understands the desire to learn and in exchange, garners the respect and
understanding of the scientific analysis produced.
Both personally and professionally, this phrase, just three
words long, has served as a strong foundation for me these past several months
of uncertainty and upheaval, and it is my pleasure to share it with you. I hope
it inspires you “to foster understanding” in your endeavors as it has me in mine.
For more information, visit PAarchaeology.state.pa.us or the Hall of Anthropology and Archaeology at The State Museum of Pennsylvania .
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