Phaistos: a Memory for the Future. How to tell an archaeological site

A significant issue for archaeologists, today, within the wider frame of ‘Public Archaeology’ is the communication of archaeological sites. The task is so important, that it has been recognized as one of the actions of Horizon 2020. Attention, however, has mainly focused on the technical aspects of communication, especially as far as the huge potential of digital tools is concerned (3D reconstruction, augmented reality, immersive reality, serious game etc.), this has left aside however other aspects, such as the language, the content or the way of communicating. These considerations holds true in the case of Minoan culture, has been the focus of different attempts of appropriation and even manipulation in the century from its discovery. Phaistos is one of its more representative sites. Its long history encompasses three millennia and spans a large portion of the history of Greece and the Mediterranean region, and many crucial developments, from urbanization to the raise of the central powers and the formation of the Greek polis and Hellenistic koiné. Constructing a narrative through such an extensive period raises certain scientific and ethical issues concerning the extent of reconstruction, the narration to be adopted and, finally, the role of the local communities in the enhancement of an archaeological site. The project Digital Phaistos is currently tackling these challenges, and the first results will be illustrated here.