A dialogue with the ‘visitor’ of Tell Balata (Palestine) - OpenArch Conference, Archeon 2013
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Leiden Uni ve r si t y . The u ni ve r si t y to d i sc ov e r . A dialogue with the ‘visitor’ of Tell Balata (Palestine) dr. Monique van den Dries, 24 April 2013
Transcript of A dialogue with the ‘visitor’ of Tell Balata (Palestine) - OpenArch Conference, Archeon 2013
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
A dialogue with the ‘visitor’
of Tell Balata (Palestine)
dr. Monique van den Dries, 24 April 2013
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Tell Balata (Nablus):
‘uncrowned queen of Palestine’
www.topnews.in/regions/
west-bank
2011
Middle Bronze Age city
c. 1700 – 1200 BC
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
2010: Tell Balata Archaeological Park Project
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Involvement and dialogue with
surrounding community is crucial
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Walking route
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Playing ground!
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Land owners: olive and fig groves
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Transportation route
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
dialogue with the local team and the local community centre on the approach
We wanted to learn about THEIR
- ideas about community involvement
- aims and messages to communicate
- inclusion into the ‘community’
- opinion on feasible activities
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Outcome dialogue:
- 20 stakeholders to involve/inform
- 20 additional partners/target groups
nearly 50 activities Budget USD 13.000 (3% of total budget)
short term and long term strategy
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Aims:
- to preserve stories and knowledge about the site
- gather views and opinions about the park
- involvement in conservation and management
Oral history
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Result: 26 interviews
- community highly values the site - support for plans - lack of historical knowledge - workers want to be educated
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Logo
competition
Students graphic design
Najah University
Nablus
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Education:
- make the cultural history available in Arabic
- inspire teachers
- introduce sustainable approach
Teachers handbook
Dialogue is critical success factor
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
The value of heritage
History of Palestine and Tell Balata
What do archaeologists do
Management of the site
Natural value of the site
P a r t I
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Tell Balata Family Day
- Presentation of developments
- Ground plan visitor centre
- Result logo competition
- Panel with site map
- Visitors get leaflet and oral history booklet
- Activities
- Pot fixing for children
- Drawing competition
- Explanation in excavation pits
(ca. 700 people attended)
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Main objective:
develop promotion strategy to attract more visitors
Challenges:
- political situation (image)
- difficulties with Israeli tourism
industry
Focus on providing information
http://erinabs.xanga.com/1446925/breaking-down-the-walls-in-our-hearts/
Tourism development plan
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Promotion
Material
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
Methods applied
- inventory of information sources
- interview with tourists
- interview with tour guides
- Arab Tourist Guide Union
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
To conclude
- dialogue for TBAP crucial
- no evaluation results yet, but
locals appreciate it
- more references to activities
- more local interest in dialogue
with community
http://bleon1.wordpress.com/tag/tell-balata/
http://holylandphotos.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/
tel-balata-shechem-becoming-tourist-friendly/
L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e
u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .
www.tellbalata.com
Experience Tell Balata yourself and pay a visit!
