Abstract

This paper reviews the aims, context, approach and early outcomes of a
new transnational participative archaeology project focussed on rural
village communities. ‘Community Archaeology in Rural Environments
Meeting Societal Challenges’ (CARE-MSoC) includes three European
countries where participative community archaeology is new- the Czech
Republic, the Netherlands and Poland. CARE-MSoC aims to explore the
feasibility, value and impact of excavation by rural residents within their
home communities by using a method which can be deployed
anywhere and which in the UK has been shown to advance knowledge
of the past while also delivering a wide range of social and heritage
benefits: multiple test pit excavation within inhabited villages. Data
presented here from the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Poland
show the activity to be popular and effective here in benefitting people
while also attracting, sustaining and growing local interest in heritage
participation in all three countries.