AIC 53rd Annual Meeting

Values shift over time. To be sustainable, values need to be adaptable, which creates a challenging paradox for conservators who need to preserve the past, serve the present, and safeguard for the future. The team working to re-invigorate the prehistoric archaeological site of Vésztő-Mágor, Hungary, is attempting to recognise the benefit of blending interdisciplinary perceptions of value in their approach of safeguarding the site. This multi-year program aims to stabilize, preserve, and rejuvenate the exhibition of a unique, in situ heritage property in the Carpathian Basin. Drawing insight from archaeologists, conservators, engineers, site managers, and working with the local community, the project looks to create a dialogue of meaningful presentation strategies for the site. Project phases include conservation and stabilization throughout the trench and the built shelter, climate control with environmental monitoring, and finally a visitor interpretation program to rejuvenate the exhibition. The key aim of the project is to help ensure the site is preserved as a thriving center for local identity and regional congregation. The team looks to achieve this through collaborative approaches to enhancing visitor experience and attracting more visitors. This paper discusses the successes and challenges of the project and stabilization program to this point. While it is recognised that despite having different and often conflicting purposes, archaeological research and conservation are deeply intermingled in the preservation of future knowledge, and this project looks to take a further step in inclusive practice through understanding value in a broader perspective. In this context, focus on communal and evidential values in initial project phases is used to support later stages of engagement focusing on evidential and historical values of this incredible piece of heritage. Visualisation, environmental monitoring, and practical conservation outputs are also discussed.