Archaeological heritage education : citizenship from the ground up

Underlying the concept of citizenship is the fundamental human characteristic of identity. In turn identity is a product of memory, both personal and collective, and this is based on experience with both tangible and intangible aspects of the past. This paper will outline how heritage education with children and adults (especially using the historic environment) is mutualistic with learning to be a citizen. Not only does heritage education support the broader aims of developing identities and citizenship, it is a right in itself —it is an essential component of citizenship. However, citizenship also brings with it responsibilities and these need to be considered in relation to the use of the archaeological and built heritage in education and by doing so, help develop and maintain caring and supportive societies.