In this paper I assess the potential for improvement in the documentation of metal detecting in the Swedish contract archaeology. I then investigate how such an improvement could be achieved. The study consists of three parts. I begin by defining what makes up high-quality documentation of metal detecting. I then use this definition to develop criteria for an assessment system. In the second part I use this assessment system for a quantitative analysis of archaeological archive reports from four of the largest contract-archaeology organizations in the Lake Mälaren area. Finally I report on interviews I have made with representatives from two of the studied organizations to seek possible explanations for the results of my analysis. My study confirms that there is considerable room for improvement in the analyzed archive reports, and sheds light on what parts of the documentation show frequent flaws. The results suggest that information specific to metal detecting is the most lacking, such as the selection of metal indications and fieldwork conditions. But there are also considerable flaws in more elementary information about surveys, which would probably never be accepted if it were a question of more traditional fieldwork methods.

Archaeology is a popular subject which the public has the opportunity to meet in a variety of contexts. In addition to television documentaries, non-fiction and popular science magazines, archaeology has even played a significant role in the fictional world. Apart from these sources, you can also find archaeology in news reports where the newspapers or the tv-stations acts like mediators of archaeological news based on the archaeological work that is currently ongoing in our present time. Since it is now a demand on Swedish contract archaeology to communicate it's results, the news media often gets to play the role as the link between the archaeologists and the public. This paper is based on an analyse of archaeological news presented in local newspapers. The aim of the study was to investigate the visual mediation of archaeology to the reader. The results showed that the visual mediation of archaeological news is not only based on the selection of photos or illustrations. According to this survey, visual mediation can also be constructed using particular words that either describe the factual characteristics or words that alludes to the fictional world. Archaeological news that are channeled through local newspapers tend to reflect a narrow view of the archaeological discipline. The reason for this can probably be seen as a consequence of the relationship between archaeology and the society. In order to broaden the currently prevailing image of the archaeological discipline, this paper arguments for a much closer and more deliberate collaboration between local news media and archaeologists.

Det övergripande målet för detta arbete ligger i att utveckla samarbetet mellan aktörerna i det uppdragsarkeologiska verksamhetsfältet, i syfte att optimera urvalet och användningen av de ting som genereras och blir till ett kulturarv. Tyngdpunkten i licentiatuppsatsen ligger på de processer och strukturer som ligger till grund för formering av samlingarna och genom vilka det arkeologiska källmaterialet får en ny identitet som musealt kulturarv. Studien tar sin utgångspunkt i följande forskningsfrågor: Hur har arkeologins utveckling till uppdragsarkeologi som ett eget fält påverkat samlingarna? Med vilka effekter? Hur påverkar kommunikation och begreppsval processflödet som förvandlar källmaterial till ett kulturarv? Med vilka konsekvenser? I studien undersöks organisationsstrukturen för verksamhetsfältet och granskas hur kommunikationsprocesser påverkar vad fältet genererar. Fyndhanterings- och värderingsprocesser analyseras utifrån organisationsstrukturella förutsättningar, den historiska utvecklingen av enskilda professioner i verksamhetsfältet, samt kommunikationen aktörerna emellan. Studien genomförs med actor-network-theory som utgångspunkt och använder ett lingvistiskt perspektiv. Den bygger på litteratur- och dokumentstudier underbyggda med en fallstudie som kombinerar en enkät med en komparativ analys över urval och gallring av källmaterial. Studien visar hur verksamhetsfältets organisationsstruktur samt kontrollen på, och uppföljning av, fyndhanteringsprocessen leder till en skev representation av ting i samlingarna, med en förvanskad syn på det förflutna som effekt. Detta förstärks av ”kulturarvsparadoxen” – motsättningen mellan mål och uppdrag, eller teori och praktik, med ursprung i en tudelad begreppsförståelse kring vad som är kulturarv och vilket syfte det tjänar. / This study aims at improving cooperation and communication between actors in the field of Swedish contract archaeology in order to maximize the benefits of their work. It addresses two research questions: How did the development of archaeology into contract archaeology as an independent business affect museum collections in Sweden? And: How do communication and terminology affect the processes that transform material culture into cultural heritage? Departing from “actor-network-theory” and taking a linguistic perspective, I first examine closely some important processes and structures behind the making of heritage. The background of contemporary contract archaeology is then illuminated through a literature study focusing on the history of and current practices in contract archaeology, conservation practice and museum management. Later, I investigate the particular effects of contract archaeology on museum collections. This is based in part on a comparative analysis of selection and de-selection processes of artefacts in collections and partly on a survey among contract archaeologists. I conclude with a discourse analysis of policies and other governing documents, highlighting the significance of communication and terminology in processes during which archaeological artefacts acquire a new identity as cultural heritage. The study shows how the contemporary system of contract archaeology creates a biased representation of (pre-)history, as selection and de-selection processes of artefacts in museum collections are affected by various internal practices and external demands that ultimately shape cultural heritage. This bias is not helped by the fact that those collecting the artefacts in the field use different terminology compared with those collecting in museums. I argue that behind this gap lies the “cultural heritage paradox” which derives from different understandings and aims of cultural heritage by different actors.

The aim of my PhD work is to study how heritage and archaeological knowledge can be applied in practice to meet the aims of Agenda 2030, in particular goal no.11 Sustainable cities and communities. This licentiate thesis serves to provide a foundation for this research. Here, I investigate how Swedish contract archaeology can contribute to sustainable development. First, I analyse how government policy and regulations convey the relation between sustainable development and contract archaeology in practice, and examine how professionals within the contract archaeological system see that they can work with sustainability issues in practice. The results show that there is a gap between policy and practice which is mainly connected to the understanding of sustainable development as a concept and not a practice. This may potentially limit Swedish contract archaeology´s ability to play an active role in sustainability practice. In a case study, I research a modern urban planning project in Kalmar, Valnötsträdet, where contract archaeology played a decisive role in the planning process. By analysing the project process from a sustainability perspective and interviewing participants, I come to the conclusion that contract archaeology´s significant role in the project was due to the ability of individual persons to see the value of using a holistic working method and archaeological knowledge to strengthen the planning process. However, the results also show that archaeology and archaeological heritage have an inherent attraction that can cause imbalances between values ​​in a manner that potentially affects sustainable urban development if not taken into account and managed throughout the process. Although research has established that heritage and archaeology has an important role to play in the achievement of environmental, economic and social sustainability, there are still few practical examples of this. The results of this licentiate thesis point to the fact that the sector still needs to develop an understanding of sustainability as a practice in order for this to change.

The title of this licentiate thesis is: Urban contract archaeology, public outreach and schools. Beyond the horizons of history teaching.   The aim of my licentiate thesis is to investigate how educational programs for schools are implemented within the framework of contract archaeology. I study the underlying incentives that motivate public outreach within contract archaeology, who carries out the outreach and what impact educational programs have on schools. My research project also aims to explore how public outreach within contract archaeology can be organized to meet schools´ demand for knowledge and activities. With an interdisciplinary approach, taken from archaeology and educational sciences, the goal is to instigate a dialogue between the scientific community and contract archaeology, as well as between contract archaeology and schools. As a primary goal, midway into in my doctoral degree, I have chosen in this licentiate thesis to study the practices of public outreach on urban excavation sites in Sweden, specifically studying outreach practices towards schools. The research queries in the licentiate thesis are:   What are the purposes and objectives with public outreach in contract archaeology? What are the preconditions for working with public outreach in contract archaeology? How are the practices of public outreach aimed at schools conducted at urban excavation sites? How do educational programs within contract archaeology address the needs and goals of school education?   Based on these queries, I also discuss how contract archaeology in the future can make possible broader collaborations with schools. This serves as an introduction to how archaeo-didactics can evolve bringing together contract archaeology's goals and potential in an educational situation, with the needs and goals of school education.

Den här studien använder en bred förståelse av begreppet medeltider för att visa hur värden och handlingsnormer skapas och omförhandlas i samtida historiebruk. Den bidrar till analysen och diskussionen kring minnespolitikens centrala spänningsförhållanden där representativa demokratiska och nationella mål ställs mot direkt demokratiska och mångkulturella tankemönster. I två fallstudier som följer medeltidsbruket i Östergötland synliggörs hur spänningen påverkar och hanteras i praktiken. Den ena fallstudien följer tätt på en konflikt mellan bevarande av människoskelett från en medeltida avrättningsplats i Vadstena och näringslivsutveckling i form av en fabriksutbyggnad. Den andra utgår från orten Skänninge och tecknar en bredare bild av hur det medeltida förflutna och dess materiella spår i landskapet används i regional och lokal utvecklingspolitik. De empiriska studierna följer aktörer i olika situationer och hur dessa binds upp kring varierande problemformuleringar. Fokus ligger på hur dessa processer går till, vilka resurser som utnyttjas men också på retorik och handling. Analysen resulterar i tre övergripande mobiliseringsprocesser vilka kopplas till begrepp som bevarande, upplevelse och lokal politik. Genom dessa synliggörs hur bruket av medeltider följer parallella värdesystem och logiker vilket när de interagerar skapar konfliktfyllda situationer. Avhandlingen visar hur de traditionella institutionernas strukturer utgör en barriär vilken motverkar en samverkan mellan de många aktörsgrupperna, det breda bruket av det förflutna som den nationella politiska retoriken efterfrågar. / This study apply to a broad understanding of the term Middle-Ages as an analytical concept to show how values and norms of actions are established and negotiated through contemporary uses of history. It contributes to the analysis and discussion of central tensions in memory policy between, on one hand, the representative democratic system, and on the other hand, a direct democracy based on the idea of everyone's ability and right to participate in the use of the history. In two case studies, that maps the use of the Middle-Ages in the county of Östergötland, this study shows how this tension effects and is handled by Stakeholders in every day praxis. One case focus on a conflict between, on one hand, ancient remains of human skeletons from a medieval gallows hill, and on the other hand, private business development due to the construction of a new factory in the town of Vadstena. The other case analyses a broader use of the Middle-Ages as resources in regional and local development policies in the town of Skänninge. The study analysis varied situations where Stakeholders are mobilized around different problems. It focus on how these processes are carried out and which recourses that are used, both rhetorical and through actions. The study shows how values of the past is created, produced and negotiated in contemporary processes of mobilization which are related to terms such as Preservation, Experience and Local policies. It also shows how traditional institutional structures creates barriers that prevent fruitful cooperation between the Stakeholders, and the broader use of the past that the national policies are asking for.