The publication of developer-funded archaeological excavations : the case of Malta

Abstract

Following the ratification of the 1992 Valletta Convention on the Protection of Archaeological Heritage, the ratifying European countries developed a legal and administrative system aimed at a more systematic protection of the archaeological heritage from threats caused by construction/development. Although these systems generated an increase in archaeological excavations and discoveries, the general lack of publication of results of development-led archaeological excavations has become, over the years, a matter of discussion among professionals. This study examines the reasons behind this lack of publication on a broader scale, at the European level, and in the specific context of Malta. It highlights, in general terms for most of European countries, several critical points that did not allow development-led archaeology to contribute significantly to an increase of archaeological knowledge to be used not only to guide the planning decision-making process, but also as a source of valuable information for academic research with the final aim to raise public awareness on the importance of the Cultural Heritage. Through a quantitative analysis of the archaeological information publicly available and data gathered from a number of qualitative individual interviews conducted with key professionals, it was possible to identify a similar trend in the current Maltese cultural heritage management system and identify certain areas where it is argued that a direct intervention from the State is needed.