Archaeology as Part of the Swedish Support to Developing Countries

Abstract

Archaeology can play an important paty in foreign aid programs as a factor of enchancing cultural identity. Many of the Third World countries have until quite recently been under the rule of some colonial power. Having regined independance, questions conceming the indigenous historical "roots" soon come into focus. The archaeological remians reach far beyond all other more or less biassed sources. They are certainly open to various interpretations but are still of a totally neutral character. This article deals with the activities and results of Swedish support to archaeological research in some Third World countries, financed by the Swedish Agency for Research in Developing Countries (SAREC) with the involvement of the Swedish Central Board of National Antiquities.