I wish to argue that archaeologists would indeed need to accept ‘‘archaeologically incorrect’’ interpretations of material remains in certain social contexts. However, this does not necessarily mean that archaeologists need to agree with them or that they should not present, at the same time, ‘‘archaeologically correct’’ interpretations. Listening to different voices of the public is important and should be encouraged. But listening alone does not constitute a dialogue, and public archaeologists also need to speak out, of course sensibly, if archaeology is to have any relevance in the contemporary world.
Source
Matsuda A. 2010. When a Local Legend Is (Mis)Appropriated in the Interpretation of an Archaeological Site. Archaeologies 6(3):447-467.
Note: Matsuda's article describes how the archaeologists involved with the Somma Vesuviana excavations in Italy came to present both a local legend and the archaeological facts that deny it in the on-site displays.
