Ancient Muses: Archaeology and the Arts

"A useful introduction to an important trend in contemporary archaeology." Southeastern Archaeology "This provocative, thoughtful compendium will interest scholars of science and pedagogy as well as archaeologists." Choice

Known widely in Europe as ""interpretive narrative archaeology"", the practice of using creative methods to interpret and present current knowledge of the past is gaining popularity in North America. This is a compilation of international case studies of the various artistic methods used in this new form of education. Plays, opera, visual art, stories, poetry, performance dance, music, sculpture, digital imagery - all can effectively communicate archaeological processes and cultural values to public audiences. The 23 contributors to this volume are a diverse group of archaeologists, educators and artisans who have direct experience in schools, museums and at archaeological sites. Citing specific examples, such as the film, ""The English Patient"", science fiction mysteries and hypertext environments, they explain how creative imagination and the power of visual and audio media can personalize, contextualize and demystify the research process. A 26-page colour section illuminates their examples, and an accompanying CD includes relevant videos, music, Web sites and additional colour images.