Introduction: From In-person to Virtual: Archaeology Moves Online

The idea for this book originated from two sessions presented at the annual meetings of the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) in 2018 in Barcelona and 2020 in Budapest. Both sessions explored the role of archaeology in our society, how archaeologists communicate with the public, and the growing popularity of digital resources and online initiatives for heritage education and public engagement. The presentations highlighted the challenges faced by archaeological educators in the digital environment and discussed the creative and effective solutions that individuals and groups have designed and implemented. This book aims to serve as a resource and inspiration for educators interested in communicating archaeology to the public, particularly in digital formats. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the need for such a resource as more of our colleagues transitioned from traditional in-person programming to online and digital efforts.