The League wants to employ tourists in archaeological excavations. But the undersecretary of MiBAC (of course) opposes it

The amendment to the 2019 maneuver that has Lorenzo Viviani (Northern League) as its first signatory and that intends, in fact, to invent the figure of the tourist-archaeologist has long been the subject of discussion. In fact, Viviani and his party colleagues have submitted an amendment that, if approved, will allow guests of agritourisms to participate in archaeological excavation activities if the excavations insist on the property of the agritourism owner. Here is the text of the incredible amendment: “In order to promote tourism through the rediscovery of the beauty and enhancement of the national historical and artistic heritage currently unused, the owners and/or managers of hotel facilities, period residences and wineries of wineries that offer tourist services, may enter into agreements and conventions with the institutes and places of culture referred to in Article 101 of Legislative Decree no. 42 of January 22, 2004, to enhance, through appropriate custody within their accommodation facilities, historical and archaeological assets that are of particular interest to the territorial area in which the activity is located, which are currently cataloged and stored and not directly accessible to the public. But also agricultural entrepreneurs exercising agritourism activities in areas of special cultural value may promote archaeological research and excavation activities on the land of which they appear to be owners or managers.”

The amendment also states that “in order to contribute to the enhancement of territories of historical and archaeological interest, agricultural entrepreneurs engaged in agritourism activities in areas of special cultural value, may promote archaeological research and excavation activities on the land of which they are owners or managers. For this purpose, the agricultural entrepreneur may be granted the concession referred to in Articles 88 and 89 of Legislative Decree No. 42 of January 22, 2004. The concessionary farmer is subject to the requirements set forth in the second paragraph of Article 89 of the same decree. The concessionary agricultural entrepreneur may allow guests of the agritourism facility to participate, on a non-profit basis, in archaeological research and excavation activities carried out on the land on which his or her business is located, under the direction, control and supervision of the excavation director indicated in the appropriate concession application. The concessionary farmer shall be the custodian of the historical archaeological heritage located on the land where the research and excavation activities are carried out.”

In short: not only would some activities in the area of research and excavation (and which, it should be reiterated, must be entrusted to highly qualified personnel) run the risk of being delegated to even inexperienced tourists, but moreover, the activity should be non-profit. However, it is difficult to imagine that the amendment will be approved: the undersecretary for cultural heritage, Gianluca Vacca (5 Star Movement), has spoken on the matter, remarking on the importance of professional figures and openly criticizing the amendment proposed by Viviani. In a note, Vacca said that “excavation activities in areas of special cultural value must be conducted by highly qualified personnel, in accordance with a strict scientific protocol. They certainly cannot be derubricated to tourist entertainment activities and, therefore, be entrusted to trivia, people without the appropriate skills. The Cultural Heritage Code sets clear stakes on this, reserving archaeological research and excavation activities to Mibac and appropriate professional profiles. The amendment in the Budget Law proposed by the League, under the first signature of Hon. Viviani, lends itself to ambiguous interpretations, with the risk of creating dangerous precedents that are then difficult to manage. It is another thing, however, to encourage the enhancement of historical and archaeological heritage located in private areas, so as to make it known to as wide a public as possible. But the line between archaeological research and excavation on the one hand, valorization on the other must remain well defined.”

In the photo: archaeological excavations in Morgantina (Enna). Ph. Credit Carlo Columba

The League wants to employ tourists in archaeological excavations. But the undersecretary of MiBAC (of course) opposes it

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