Communicating Nigeria's Archaeological Heritage in the 21 st Century

Abstract

Nigeria is rich in archaeological and cultural resources as well as in monuments, cultural and natural landscapes. As a result of lack of proper  communication, many aspects of Nigeria's archaeological heritage is being lost to construction, looting and illegal transfer of archaeological heritage. It is imperative that the finds from archaeological investigations must be communicated to the members of the Nigerian public especially in the 2151 century, when many other parts of the Western world are seeking to perfect their communication of archaeological resources to the members of the public. The past belongs to the people and the money used for archaeological investigations belong to the public. In the 21S( century, there are many avenues open to the archaeologist to communicate information to the public. The Internet is a ready avenue for communication as are the press, the electronic media including radio, television, films and documentaries. The museum in Nigeria is a good avenue for communication to the public. In addition, archaeology should be taught as a subject in primary and secondary schools if it is simplified. Finally, communities living near important cultural and archaeological resources must also be reached because they have a crucial role to play in controlling illegal excavations.