Chalking the Past: Participatory Archaeology Embedded in Community

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Context: heritage legislation and repository landscape in Flanders
  • 2.1 Heritage governance, accreditation of repositories and deposition challenges
  • 2.2 Professionalisation and diversity in the repository landscape
• 3. The Repository Network: collaboration, guidance and standardisation
  • 3.1 A Flexible but structured professional network
  • 3.2 Coaching and capacity building for new repositories
  • 3.3 Preventing fragmentation
  • 3.4 Tools for transparency and research access
  • 3.5 Towards harmonisation and visibility
• 4. The Ename repository: a living laboratory for integrated heritage care
  • 4.1 A site-specific and accredited heritage facility
  • 4.2 Responsibilities and public accessibility
  • 4.3 The Heritage Trees Project: green heritage as a living collection
  • 4.4 Recognition and community impact
• 5. Public engagement at the Ename Heritage Site: from exhibition to experience
  • 5.1 A new permanent exhibition: interpreting heritage through landscape, objects and participation
  • 5.2 Educational programmes for schools and families: learning through experience
  • 5.3 Inclusive and strategic outreach and site renewal
• 6. Bringing objects out of storage to the public
  • 6.1 Useful tools: the ErfgoedApp
  • 6.2 Archaeological display cases
  • 6.3 Chalk the Past: archaeology in the streets
• 7. Methodology: Chalk the Past
  • 7.1 Site selection and preparation
  • 7.2 Stakeholder engagement
  • 7.3 Educational design
  • 7.4 Public events and evaluation
• 8. Conclusion: reanimating archaeology through community engagement

Figure 1: Aerial view of the Chalk the Past pilot in Zele (2024), showing chalked outlines of archaeological features in the urban landscape. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 2: The Ename Heritage Site, with the ruins of the Benedictine abbey, the River Scheldt, and the contemporary building housing the repository. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 3: Visitors observing the storage facilities through the transparent viewing wall at the Ename repository. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 4: Collecting grafting material from a veteran heritage tree in Zwalm as part of the Heritage Trees Project. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 5: A young birth tree cultivated from a fallen Populus marilandica in Zottegem, preserving its genetic heritage. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 6: A video highlighting the Heritage Trees project, produced following its recognition with a Europa Nostra Award in the Research category. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen. Hosted on Vimeo

Figure 7: A custom-built cabinet illustrating the 10 agents of deterioration, used in the permanent exhibition. © Martin Corlazzoli.

Figure 8: An interactive family trail within the permanent exhibition at Ename Heritage Site. © Karen Nachtergaele Fotografie.

Figure 9: A scene from Unravel Ancient Clues, an educational program combining digital and physical exploration. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 10: A mobile display case featuring archaeological finds and interpretive tools. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 11: The display case in Zele's public library, used for school visits and lectures during Archaeology Days. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 12: A 3D-scan of a Roman wooden wheel discovered at the bottom of a well in Zele, visualised as part of ongoing research and digital documentation efforts. © WOODAN Foundation.Hosted on Sketchfab

Figure 13: Chalking the outline of an Iron Age house on the streets and footpaths of Zele. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 14: Each Chalk the Past site is tailored to local context, age group, and budget – yet even simple tools like chalk and storytelling make the project widely accessible. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 15: An overlay of archaeological features on the current urban layout in Zele, visualised for public engagement. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 16: The Zele pilot was linked to national Archaeology Days to maximise visibility, with coverage in the national press. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 17: Aftermovie Chalk the Past 2024 at Zele. © IOED Schelde-Durme & Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.

Figure 18: Drone image showing the chalked outlines of a medieval farm, aligned with the orientation of modern housing. © Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.