People, places and performance: Reflections on community archaeology and heritage in north-east Wales

Abstract

This paper explores the transformation of community archaeology and heritage in a particular part of the UK with unique and somewhat conservative sets of structures for delivering public archaeology. The transformation is ongoing and is bounded by a range of theoretical, methodological and institutional constraints. These frameworks provide the context for an account of the successes and failures of projects in north-east Wales. Important strands of thought and action include the role of national identity in place-making and the ways in which national political priorities may need to inform and shape local initiatives. The paper discusses some of the theoretical and practical approaches that may be suited to further developing community archaeology and heritage in Wales and beyond.