Conclusion: The Contemporary Relevance of Archaeology – Archaeology and the Real World?

Abstract

Archaeology is not only a quintessential part of the fabric of society, it adds to the flow society’s lifeblood. Recent figures (2009–2010) for the heritage industry of Great Britain show tourist spending alone accounts for £4.3 billion of GDP. In the “money-talks” and bottom-line context of the modern day, figures such as this demonstrate that the identification, study, preservation and interpretation of the past encompassed within archaeology are relevant, even irrespective of its many other intangible benefits, and society without it would be both culturally and fiscally poorer. In view of the future, archaeology has the unique capacity to genuinely challenge dystopic predictions of societies hemmed and reduced by the impacts of climate change and resource scarcity with data and models of human ingenuity, creativity and capacity for change and sustainability. This chapter sets out an agenda for a far more active field and activist archaeologists within it. The Great Recession and the austerity measures developed to combat it leave no doubt that decision-makers at the highest levels continue to see archaeology and its broad family of social sciences and humanities as expendable. It is the challenge of all who can see archaeology’s immense and diverse value to speak loudly in its defence.