Archives of memory: A note on the Archives of European Archaeology (AREA) network and its scientific seminars (1998-2008) - 2008 (original) (raw)

Taking here the notion of memory in both its collective and effective dimensions, the present publications constitutes an appropriate moment, after a decade of AREA activities, to briefly recall some of the main objectives and achievements of this European network. the aims of the network AREA -Archives of European Archaeology -is a research network dedicated to the history of archaeology, with particular emphasis on the archives of the discipline, their study and preservation. Since its launching, support for the AREA network was generously awarded by the Raphael programme (AREA phase I, 1998(AREA phase I, -1999, and subsequently by the Culture 2000 programme of the European Commission's Directorate General for Education and Culture (AREA phase II, 1999-2000, an experimental measure, and AREA phase III, 2001-2004, followed by AREA phase IV, 200-2008, both multiannual cultural collaboration projects). Throughout its phases, the AREA network has welcomed a growing number of partner institutions from across the continent -university departments and institutes, museums, research centres and public bodies -working together within a common European framework (see below the list of partners). This continuous support has enabled the AREA network to develop the following major objectives (see also www.area-archives.org):