UNDER THE SHELTER:PROBLEMS IN PRESENTING

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES TO THE PUBLIC.

Nino Sulfaro

UniversitàdegliStudidiMessina,DICIEAMA, ninosulfaro@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT

Sheltering or enclosing a site within a new structure is often considered an advantageous measure in

preserving archaeological remains and making them accessible to the public. But what happens under the

shelter?Whatarethebestmeasurestopresentanarchaeologicalsitetothepublic?

The experiences gained by the author at the site of Hierapolis of Phrygia (Turkey) are a starting point from

which to examine the wide range of problems encountered in presenting archaeological remains and

excavated areas, such as communicating survey data or managing multi-period evidence. In the light of these

issues, the paper aims at proposing reflections on the effectiveness of some current approaches, by reference

to recent international examples. In particular, the author outlines how the physical appearance of sites is

crucial to visitor involvement with archaeology. For this reason, in some cases, the use of Information and

Communication Technology has been a fundamental aid, having grown rapidly in the last decade,

particularlyinvirtualreconstruction.

However, in spite of this intangible approach, in cases where quantity and dimensions of fragments removed

from stratigraphic excavation are significant, partial anastylosis still seems to be the more followed practice.

In other cases, some presentation techniques propose reversible reconstructions with the aim to create an

evocativerepresentationofancientbuildingvolumes..

Key-words: anastylosis,archaeology,communication,conservation,presentation