Description
As Shanks wrote on “the archaeological imagination”, archaeologists do not discover the past; we work with what remains. If we were to be factual about it, we would say that archaeologists synthesize incomplete data about the past into a meaningful and appropriate whole. If we were to tell a story, we would say that archaeologists bridge gaps in the past to give voice to its story, we use intertwined strands of evidence to create narratives that connect past and present, data and interpretation …For an adventurous discipline whose raison d’être relies on the discovery of new remains or unknown information about the distant past, archaeology determinedly produces communication which is often dry and boring (or, unfortunately both put together!); the majority of our communication efforts are self-oriented; that is to say, they are written for other archaeologists. Unfortunately, we too often leave outreach efforts in the hands of media professions who “interpret” our message for us and are removed from the enthusiasm for our subject and its relevance for today’s world with which we burn.
We invite speakers to submit papers, readings or other examples of alternative forays into the relationship between archaeology, narrative, and the archaeological imagination. These could include reflexive accounts of science novels, illustrations of the utility of the archaeological imagination, critical studies of the portrayal of archaeology/archaeological research in the media, or something entirely other. We welcome all rigorous studies of alternative explorations of our shared past.
| Period | 4 Sept 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event type | Conference |
| Degree of Recognition | International |