Creating Meaningful, Relevant, and Culturally Appropriate Digital Artifact Reproductions at the Intersections of Canadian Archaeology and Indigenous Heritage
Abstract
This dissertation examines how diverse archaeological constituents engage with and evaluate original archaeological objects and their digital copies, including 3D models and 3D prints. While many existing studies in the archaeological and museum sectors consider digital outputs intrinsically beneficial for engagement, research, and decolonization, this research builds upon a body of literature calling for more culturally diverse critical reflection on digital archaeological practices. I use several archaeological ethnographic methods, including focus groups and semi-structured interviews, to discuss diverse impressions of archaeological objects and their digitized representations.
I have documented these perspectives in two Canadian cases with different archaeological, historical, and socio-political contexts. The first case study deals with archaeological objects recovered from Banks Island, NWT, held at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre (PWNHC) in Yellowknife. The second case concerns archaeological objects from across Southern Ontario, held at the Sustainable Archaeology facility (now an extension of the Museum of Ontario Archaeology) in London, Ontario.
This research is intended to inform the artifact management and information-sharing strategies in the study areas so that meaningful connections can be made between people and archaeological or ancestral material. It also serves to inform broader discussions of meaning-making and knowledge-sharing in digital archaeological heritage practice. In addition, these discussions and reflections may help guide changes in digital curation practice and collections management in other locales by illuminating potential areas of concern to reflect upon and address with different local communities. Ultimately, this reflection aims to support the development or redevelopment of archaeological infrastructures that are ethical, culturally respectful, and socially conscious.