Future potential in urban archaeology
Problems and solutions in Budapest and Vienna
MúzeumCafé 9.
The idea of the workshop was raised three years ago by institutions in Vienna and Budapest focussing on archaeological heritage. The two cities share the same basic problem: continuous urban development is endangering cultural heritage across large areas. The territories of both capitals have been inhabited throughout all historic ages. Beneath today’s buildings lies the legacy of the Middle Ages and Roman times, as well as relics of prehistoric cultures. Three years ago there were still three institutions sitting round the table: the Budapest History Museum, the Vienna municipal authority’s Stadtarchäologie Wien and the Wienmuseum, which deals with findings. Since then radical changes have affected the parties. From mid 2008 the Stadtarchäologie Wien has operated under the auspices of the Wienmuseum, while in Hungary responsibility for a large part of archaeological explorations was transferred in 2007 from the Budapest History Museum to a new organisation, the Field Service for Heritage Protection, which now implements explorations in connection with large investments. Thus the workshop has become a venue for exchanging experience between two institutions in the middle of change in opposite directions. Karin Fischer Ausserer introduced the tasks and research strategy of the Stadtarchäologie Wien. Participants also agreed on the theme of the 2009 workshop, which will focus on documentation procedures and the records of archaeological objects. Wienmuseum will host the event.