Promoting the value of prehistoric lithic artefacts in the museum: strategies and perspectives

The significance of the remote past and human origins in the context of cultural heritage is underrated in the contemporary collective consciousness, as also reflected by the underrepresentation of prehistoric sites in the World Heritage List. Lithic artefacts constitute a tangible link to our biological and cultural roots and represent human ingenuity and innovation on a global and deep time scale, but they often manifest as inadequate proof whose significance is not immediately apparent to the public, rendering their full interpretative value rather semi-invisible. In the museum context, this creates the need for a well-grounded strategy that: 1) makes explicit the scientific and heritage value of lithic artefacts, 2) enhances scientific communication and public engagement, and 3) works well within the limits of public administration, especially in small museums. The potentialities of capitalising on concepts and theories from archaeological science research, on information and communication technology (ICT), as well as on the creation of a museum network, are hereby recognised