Successful Fifth Edition of the Annual Ename International Colloquium
The fifth edition of the Annual Ename International Colloquium took place from the 18th to the 20th of March 2009. The theme was “Climates of Heritage Conservation”. For the first time the colloquium was held at two locations: Ghent and Ostend. Specialists from all over the world met to discuss the consequences of climate change for heritage care with a focus on Public Engagement and Social Innovation. The rising sea level and the expected increase in floods received special attention, and the vulnerability of the Low Countries due to the consequences of climate change formed the starting point.
Presentation of DVD on Battlefield Archaeology Oudenaarde 1708
The DVD Project Casus Belli was officially presented to the public on Monday 18th of May 2009. It shows the archaeological research on the historical battlefield dating from 1708 as well as the first results thereof. For the making of this product the Ename Center for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation received the support of the Flemish Government and of the VCM Contact Forum of Heritage Associations. For the first time in Flanders attention is drawn to the heritage value of pre-modern battlefields.
Conflict Heritage and Education
In 2008, at the execution yard of Oostakker-Rieme in the province of East Flanders, an educational try-out for primary school pupils was organised by students of the Arteveldehogeschool. In May 2009 the same package was tested once again. Another group of students developed a programme for the battlefield of Oudenaarde, dating from 1708.
The educational approach consists of an introductory lesson in the classroom, followed by an excursion to the site and is concluded by follow-up activities in the classroom. The Ename Center provides the heritage content and acts as scientific supervisor.
Landscape Contact Day
The fourth Landscape Contact Day took place on the 13th of February 2009. It was a co-organisation of the Ename Center for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation, the Flemish Heritage Institute, the Free University of Brussels, Ghent University and the town of Oudenaarde. The contact day aimed to focus on the current research of historical landscapes, referring to townscapes as the case study and Brussels as the subject for the day.