Histoires

Archaeological Citizen-science Project (ArcheOPENLAB)

ArcheOPENLAB is an archaeological citizen-science project designed to foster inclusive participation of local and international communities in cultural heritage research. It forms part of a broader collaborative initiative aimed at democratizing archaeological knowledge and strengthening connections between researchers, citizens, and educational institutions.

The project engages diverse audiences in activities such as heritage documentation, basic analysis, and public dissemination, combining participatory methods with open digital tools. Its scope includes training workshops, community-based recording campaigns, the co-creation of educational resources, and the promotion of intercultural dialogue around shared heritage. By integrating scientific practices with civic engagement, ArcheOPENLAB seeks to enhance public awareness of archaeology, support responsible heritage stewardship, and build long-term collaborative networks. Ultimately, the project encourages inclusive scientific literacy and empowers communities to take an active role in understanding and preserving their archaeological environments.

Learn more about the project

Main Beneficiaries & Social Impact

ArcheOPENLAB is a citizen-science project in archaeology and cultural heritage that engages diverse beneficiaries at local, regional, and international levels. Its main objective is to empower communities to actively participate in the documentation, conservation, and dissemination of cultural heritage through collaborative and participatory approaches.

Local citizens are central beneficiaries, participating in workshops, volunteer campaigns, heritage documentation, oral history collection, digital mapping, and 3D modelling. These activities build practical and digital skills while fostering a sense of ownership, responsibility, and pride in local heritage.

Students (secondary, university, and adult learners) gain hands-on experience through fieldwork, internships, and digital heritage projects, developing technical, analytical, and transversal skills such as teamwork, communication, and civic engagement.

NGOs and community organizations contribute to project design, outreach, and inclusion of underrepresented groups, strengthening their capacity for community engagement and heritage education.

Municipal and regional authorities participate in co-design and validation processes, ensuring alignment with local policies and supporting participatory governance and sustainable heritage management.

International volunteers and researchers support documentation, data validation, and digital tasks, fostering intercultural exchange and linking local initiatives to global networks.

The project generates strong social impact by providing experiential learning, capacity-building, and networking opportunities. It promotes inclusion and accessibility, particularly for people with disabilities, and strengthens civic engagement by transforming heritage sites into spaces of collective memory and participation. ArcheOPENLAB enhances collaboration between citizens, researchers, NGOs, and public authorities, contributes to improved heritage governance, and

Core Methodology

ArcheOPENLAB employs a participatory, citizen-science approach.

Local citizens, students, NGOs, and authorities collaboratively record, analyze, and preserve heritage, ensuring inclusive participation, skill-building, and shared decision-making.

Events in the project

Excavations – El Boalo, Cerceda & Mataelpino

Field excavations engaging students, local citizens, NGOs, and heritage volunteers. Focus on site recording, analysis, and community participation.

Open Doors / Public Access – Post Excavations

Similar public engagement event to share excavation findings, promote heritage awareness, and foster community involvement.

Otoño Visigodo Festival

Annual cultural event celebrating Visigothic heritage with workshops, presentations, and heritage-themed activities for families, students, and visitors.

Third Prize for Service-Learning within the CIVIS Alliance

On  the project received the Third Prize for Service-Learning within the CIVIS Alliance, recognising its innovative approach to inclusive, community-engaged archaeological education.

Excavations – Castillo Viejo de Manzanares El Real

One-month continuation of field excavation, including international students from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the University of Bucharest, along with local citizens and volunteers. Emphasis on preservation, recording, and co-created heritage outputs.

Open Doors / Public Access – Post Excavations

Public event at the conclusion of excavations allowing citizens, tourists, and local communities to visit sites, see results, and engage with archaeologists.

Guided Tours – Every Weekend

Weekly guided tours providing access to archaeological sites and local heritage. Audience includes visitors, tourists, local residents, and students.

Local Media & Radio Participation

Engagement with local radio stations and media outlets to publicize project activities, share excavation results, and increase community participation. Audience includes local residents, students, and broader public.

Participation in Open Lab CIVIS Council

Participation in the annual CIVIS Open Lab Council, presenting project outcomes, strengthening inter-university collaboration, and contributing to the strategic development of Open Lab initiatives across the alliance.

Practices for Students

Hands-on archaeological training sessions for university students, combining fieldwork, heritage documentation, and community-engaged practices across the sites of Manzanares El Real and El Boalo.

Round table– Archaeology & Citizen Science

Presentation of ArcheOPENLAB project results, methodology, and social impact at an international congress, engaging researchers, students, and heritage professionals.

Temporary exhibition at the Museo Arqueológico y Paleontológico de la Comunidad de Madrid (MARPA) on the Visigothic church of El Rebollar

Exhibit (2024–2025) showcasing the archaeological findings from El Rebollar, promoting awareness and public dissemination of heritage research.

MAN Museum Lecture Cycle

Lecture presenting excavation results and heritage research developments.

Takeaways

  • ArcheOPENLAB demonstrates that citizen-science in archaeology creates real social impact, strengthening local identity while making scientific research accessible to all.
  • Inclusive participation—from university students to people with functional diversity—proves that heritage can be a powerful tool for social integration and empowerment.
  • Collaboration between municipalities, universities, NGOs, and cultural institutions generates a model of shared governance applicable to other territories.
  • Fieldwork and workshops significantly increase public awareness of heritage protection and foster a long-term sense of stewardship in local communities.
  • The project highlights the value of international academic exchange, with students from several European universities enriching research quality and cultural understanding.
  • Continuous visibility through media, open days, and public lectures ensures transparent, participatory, and community-centered archaeology.
Participant with Functional Diversity (APADIS, AMI3)

We discovered history together, and I felt like my contribution truly mattered.

Participant with Functional Diversity (APADIS, AMI3)