The challenges and prospects of community archaeology in Poland based on the book „Community Archaeology – Learning About the Past, Not Forgetting About the Present” edited by Kornelia Kajda, Dawid Kobiałka, and Arkadiusz Marciniak

In the book described here, its authors address the issues of protecting and popularising archaeological heritage. With contributions from 14 authors across 10 chapters, the book discusses the theoretical aspects and examines Polish experiences of relations between archaeologists and local communities. The topics include depopulation of villages, reconciling with the heritage of former adversaries, and exhuming World War II mass graves. Long-term cooperation between archaeologists and communities started in Poland before the term „community archaeology” was coined. Community archaeology has a practical dimension for society, and can meet the challenges of the modern world. This is, after all, a story of its emergence as a science. Today, archaeology can address challenges such as economic problems by increasing archaeo-tourism; lack of attachment to the local heritage through education and raising awareness, especially in rural areas and the so-called Recovered Territories; and as therapy on an individual, local or national scale to recover from crises and work through difficult chapters of history.