PAN Constitution

Polar Archaeology Network

By the interim steering committee:

Hans Peter Blankholm, University of Tromsø, Norway

Bjarne Grønnow, SILA, National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen

Maribeth Murray, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Mikkel Myrup, NationalMuseum & Archive of Greenland, Nuuk

Debora Zurro, UAB, Barcelona, Spain

This document is a revised version of Blankholm, Grønnow & Hacquebord (2007) “Arctic Archaeology Network (AAN) – a Proposal”, which was submitted for discussion at the AAN founding workshop at the CAA’s  in St. John’s, Newfoundland, 20 May, 2007. The revision is based on the outcome of the discussions and suggestions for changes and amendments.

Background

Arctic, Subarctic, and Subantarctic archaeology (hereafter Polar archaeology) have developed greatly from a few decennia ago when the pioneering efforts of a few individuals generated most research. Today the original constituents of Polar archaeology are established as disciplines at universities and museums in several countries and in both hemispheres. A number of small research environments have emerged and the field is currently characterised by different international perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches, where ethnohistory, history, anthropology and natural sciences often are integrated within projects designed to contribute not only to a better understanding of the human history of the polar regions but also to ongoing studies of arctic change, and human/environment interactions in the context of global change. Increasingly researchers realize that in both the northern and southern “Tops of the World” (TOW) the scientific questions are parallel and as a result have established fruitful contacts, as most recently evidenced at the TOW meeting in Tromsø, Norway.

However, the dispersed and small Polar archaeology research environments are extremely vulnerable in their home contexts; they are often a marginal component of large institutions, and many scholars and research programs are supported only by ‘soft money’ from temporary national or international programmes or private funds. Furthermore, these programs are spread over a number of countries: Canada, USA, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Holland, Russia, Spain, Argentina, Chile, and New Zealand, which signals the growth of research, but also exacerbates problems of maintaining contacts and developing long term collaborative international research programmes and education and career opportunities for young researchers. There are organisational, economical and geographical obstacles which could delimit the future dynamic development of polar archaeological research – a situation which is problematic given archaeology’s potentially central role in understanding long-term trajectories of change in the arctic, subarctic, and subantarctic regions of the world.

In order to maintain the pace and progress that now characterise polar archaeological research, theories, methodology and research politics must be openly discussed and debated among colleagues from all the countries and environments/institutions involved. The future of polar archaeology as a discipline and the further development of new educational, scholarly and public outreach initiatives  requires solid research relations and collaborations between southern and northern researchers and with the local and indigenous societies in which they are working or of which they are integral parts.

In addition it is critically important that the polar archaeology research communities begin seriously to address issues in climate change research, the detrimental effects of climate change on the archaeological record, and the impacts of increased development in the polar regions. Archaeological sites in primary context and with adequate preservation conditions are rapidly disappearing and invaluable and irreplaceable information on the human past and on environmental history may be lost for ever. Thawing permafrost, increased coastal erosion, intensification of resource exploitation, land use and tourism in the Arctic and Antarctic, highlight more than ever the need for protection of sites and monuments. Modern logistics have resulted in opening of areas, which a few years ago were practically inaccessible to the public. Prehistoric and historic sites are being visited and in combination with climate impacts the wear on and the destruction of sites is accelerating. It is urgent, and it is our scientific responsibility, to discuss the effects of this new opening of the polar regions, and to debate initiatives to protect as well as utilize the tangible archaeological heritage.  The community of polar archaeologists recognizes these challenges and now must develop adequate strategies and operational frameworks for coping with and responding to these circumstances. Significantly, all these matters must be addressed at an international level. 

At the recent TOW conference in Tromsø, a number of colleagues discussed the possibility of establishing a network, which could meet the need for addressing scientific issues, research policies, education, public outreach, cultural heritage and other questions relating to archaeology and early history of the Arctic and Antarctic. The present initiative, Polar Archaeology Network (PAN), encompassing Arctic, Subarctic, and Subantarctic archaeology, is an attempt to pave the road to the establishment of such an international forum.             

Goals of the PAN

-          to strengthen continuity and development of archaeological research, education and public outreach in the polar regions of the world

-          to further and strengthen international contacts and collaboration among and between scientific environments and researchers from the North and the South dealing with polar archaeology

-          to communicate archaeological research to the wider community of polar  researchers

-          to promote dialogue and collaboration between researchers and the public

-          to encourage interdisciplinary approaches to and circumpolar and global perspectives on polar prehistory and early history

-          to facilitate development of new methodological and theoretical directions

-          to enhance awareness of research on cultural resource management and the protection of sites and monuments in the Arctic and Antarctic

-          to encourage and promote the involvement of local communities in the development and the conduct of archaeological projects

Means

-          formation of a research network: Polar Archaeology Network (PAN), endorsed by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)

-           establishing and updating a home page of the PAN

-          arranging PAN-meetings in connection with already established international conferences and/or as independent seminars and workshops

-          arranging recurrent international workshops on:

• current research topics within Arctic and Antarctic archaeology
• archaeological education and public outreach strategies
• strategies to further Arctic archaeology’s position within research politics: governments (Arctic Council), scientific organisations, universities and museums

-          creating awareness of Polar archaeology through scientific and public outreach initiatives in the North as well as in the South

-          electronic publication of proceedings of workshops and seminars held by PAN

Membership and Organisation

-          PAN is a non-profit, international network, which is based on voluntary efforts of a steering committee and different working groups

-          institutions, organisations, individual researchers, and students dealing with Arctic and/or Antarctic archaeology and early history are encouraged to participate.

-          membership is free of charge

-          during the formation years, the PAN is headed by an interim steering committee consisting of five (5) members.

-          After the first three years, a workshop will be held for all members. It will evaluate the network and in plenum discuss PAN’s future organisation and activities.

-          the steering committee of the PAN elects a chairperson, a deputy chairperson, a secretary, and a webmaster (responsible for mail-lists and the web-page) among its members.

-          members of the network are encouraged to form working groups dealing with topics of special importance or interest. The working groups must be endorsed by the steering committee, which open the PAN home page for the working groups’ information and debates

-          the PAN steering committee and the working groups actively look for opportunities to meet during already established international forums for Arctic and Antarctic archaeology or in advance/prolongation thereof

Timing

-          The above document, including the statutes laid down by the first PAN-workshop, will be presented to IASC, autumn 2007, for endorsement.

-          Following the endorsement by IASC, the network will officially be running from 2008.

31 July , 2007