The map is not the territory: Applying qualitative Geographic Information Systems in the practice of activist archaeology

In response to concerns regarding the social relevance of North American archaeology, it has been suggested that the tenets of ‘activist scholarship’ can provide a framework for a more publically engaged archaeological discipline. Maps have long been employed in the public dissemination of archaeolo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Social Archaeology
Main Author: O’Rourke, Michael JE
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publications 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1469605318758406
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1469605318758406
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.1177/1469605318758406
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Summary:In response to concerns regarding the social relevance of North American archaeology, it has been suggested that the tenets of ‘activist scholarship’ can provide a framework for a more publically engaged archaeological discipline. Maps have long been employed in the public dissemination of archaeological research results, but they can also play a role in enhancing public participation in heritage management initiatives. This article outlines how the goals of activist archaeology can be achieved through the mobilization of qualitative Geographic Information Systems practices, with an example of how ‘grounded visualization’ methods were employed in assessing the vulnerability of Inuvialuit cultural landscapes to the impacts of modern climate change.