ICAHM Working group on universal access to archaeological parks and sites

ICAHM has set up a working group on universal access to archaeological parks and sites. The group includes members of ICAHM as well as interested specialists from around the world.

The working group’s objectives are the development of standards and the collection of examples of good practice for UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We believe accessibility strategies should be part of the documentation needed for a UNESCO World Heritage nomination.

 A case study collection has been put into place and a shared bibliography for our work is present on zotero. A list of existing standards and guidelines was developed, which allowed the different members to analyse them and understand the changes they underwent since the first Canadian guidelines in the 1980’s. A list of subjects to address was also initiated.  It includes standards for the assessment of the sites, the understanding of what universal access is and what the difference could be between universal and accessible design, as well as the need to figure out how the general awareness towards disabilities have changed since the last 20 years.

On the base of two EAA on-line meetings and a conference in Xanten (Germany), both backed by ICAHM, we are currently editing a Springer Nature volume “Ensuring Access to Archaeological Sites. Reflections and Examples of Good Practice.

For further information, please contact Cynthia Dunning Thierstein: Cynthia.dunning@archaeoconcept.com