Send message to Author

Abstract

Archaeology is inherently public. Public funds often pay for the research and provide employment opportunities for archaeologists. Local residents often see the work as it is happening. The materials uncovered during excavations belong to the nation and its citizens, which can be shared publicly in museums. The information learned belongs to the world and contributes to humanity’s collective knowledge and understanding of what life was like for people who came before. The public nature of archaeology inherently creates many stakeholders, each with specific questions or interests in the past and what it means for the present and future.

Archaeology is also a service. It is a discipline uniquely positioned to answer questions about the past while simultaneously considering the needs of different stakeholders. This paper examines how recent archaeological investigations on Soviet-era gulags located in Kazakhstan directly involve multiple stakeholders before, during, and after the research process. Knowing the questions and needs of local governments, students, and museums ensures that these stakeholders are actively considered throughout the project and has the additional benefit of making them feel more connected to the work itself. Fostering these connections also lay the foundation for building and strengthening heritage networks to protect and promote archaeological materials and knowledge locally and broadly.