Modern Myth

This episode dives into the world of the British Empire - as it is viewed in Britain and the lingering narratives that surround it.

Today's guest is Kim A Wagner, Professor of Global and Imperial History, who discusses the reality of the British Empire and challanges the "balance sheet" view of history which sees historical events as simply "good" or "bad".

We also get on to the topic of the culture war that seems to be happening in the UK when it comes its own colonial legacy and in particular adherence to the reminders of that past in the forms of statues and names of buildings and colleges.

You can follow Kim on Twitter https://twitter.com/KimAtiWagner

William Dalrymple - The Anarchy - http://www.williamdalrymple.uk.com/books/the-anarchy

Today's epsiode is all about mutual aid, anarchism and archaeology. I sat down recently with Aris Politopolis and Colleen Morgan, both of whom are members of The Black Trowel Collective. We discuss what the BTC does and in particular the function of its microgrants, which provide $5-$300 in grants to students of archaeology, with no questions asked.

We also talk about the ways in which anarchism has influenced this kind of work and what "anarchaeology" may mean in terms of working with others.

You can find out more about Black Trowel Collective by visiting the website https://blacktrowelcollective.wordpress.com/ or their Twitter http://twitter.com/blacktrowel

Dr. Aris Politopoulos - Twitter

Dr. Colleen Morgan - Twitter

Today's episode we talk to Dr Murray Cook about his new book The Anvil of Scottish History: Stories of Stirling. We discuss what makes Stirling a place of deep history and how often this is overlooked.

We also discuss excavations during covid and the benefits of being outdoors.

You can find his book from where you purchase books or following this link https://www.extremispublishing.com/the-anvil-of-scottish-history.html

Dr. Murray Cook also runs Rampart Field School http://www.rampartscotland.co.uk/

Stirling University Profile - https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/faculties/arts-humanities/our-research/centre-for-environment-heritageand-policy/people/honorary-and-associate-members/dr-murray-cook---hon-research-fellow/

PLease also forgive the intrusions from my puppy.

This epsode of Modern Myth is all about repatriation, restitituion and the return of artefacts. The Brutish Museums is a new book from Professor Dan Hicks, of the University of Oxford and Curator of World Archaeology at the Pitt Rivers Museum.

In this episode we discuss the items that are currently in museums that were obtained during colonial times, under duress or through direct violence. In particular Professor Hicks has been working with the Benin Dialogue Group in order to have the Benin Bronzes returned to Nigeria. We also discuss what is meant by restitution rather than repatriation and its effect on more dialogue.

You can buy The Brutish Museums from Pluto Press - https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745341767/the-brutish-museums/ or from your local bookstore

You can follow Dan on Twitter or visit his website

It is always important to be open to hearing both when things go well and also when there are serious issues. In the UK, there is a feeling that systemic racism is either overemphasised or poses no real threat. However this ignorance leads to those who experience racism having to be suffer and work harder in order to have a normal life or employment. 

In this conversation I am speaking to Phoenix Archer who gained a certification in Conservation with Historic Environment Scotland, a traineeship facilitated by the Next Step Initiative. Next Step provide opportunities for BAME individuals for traineeships and training in Scotland. 

Phoenix tells me about her experiences at HES, based at the Engine Shed in Stirling, Scotland. She tells me about the difficulties of moving to a new city, living in a hostel before find accommodation as well as experiencing harassment at work. Despite writing letters to her managers, and making it known that she felt uncomfortable, it all seemed to fall on deaf ears. 

Phoenix works for several organisations, including St Machar's Cathedral in Aberdeen, Ahead of the Game - Application and CV services and new in October BIPOC and them some, which seeks to highlight BIPOC representation in arts and Media.

https://www.facebook.com/AOTGTheReal/

https://www.facebook.com/ProgressinDialogue/

https://www.stmachar.com/education_outreach.htm

https://www.facebook.com/BIPOC-and-then-some-115065223670327

This episode was a privileged to record, I sat down with Ajayi Boluwaji, an archaeology based in Nigeria to talk about the similarities and differences when working in that part of the world. We discuss the colonial hangover that has greatly affected the perception of archaeology as well as the perceived economic disadvantage to doing archaeology.

Ajayi describes how community archaeology is the way forward, in order to unravel and better interpret the past in Nigeria, by connecting people to their heritage and demonstrate the capability of the populations who lived in Nigeria, hundreds or thousands of years ago.

He describes how his Yoruba heritage informs the work he does and where his passion for archaeology comes from. We also discuss what archaeologists around the world can do to help and support their colleagues in Nigeria. For more information you can find

I ask about regional differences in archaeology and about conferences that happen in Nigeria for archaeologists.

Archaeological Association of Nigeria Conference - Link

Archaeological Association of Nigeria Facebook Page

It's your lucky day, punk. It's time to tear down walls and explore what the meaning of Punk Archaeology is and see what its perspective has to offer archaeology as a whole. I talk to Bill Caraher, who maintains the blog, Archaeology of the Mediterranean World and was also involved in the Archaeology Un-conference that spawned the book Punk Archaeology.

We begin with his journey into archaeological through latin classes and then Classics, then after doing exams, decided to be an archaeologist. Bill has studied and worked in Greece at sites like Isthmia and led projects in Cyprus. We discuss working in different parts of the world and how archaeology can have a profound affect on local communities, especially if they feel part of the history making. Bill talks about working with temporary workers during and after the North Dakota oil boom, where resources were extracted from the Bakken formation. Hours of video, interviews and paper documentation were made in order to understand temporary living places and people's relation to place.

Perhaps archaeology should be more open and encouraging, but in what ways can it develop if the same people are at the forefront?

Bill also mentions that if anyone is interested in publishing that they should contact him or https://ndquarterly.org/

Archaeology around the world may be different but the different ways in which countries operate may surprise you in their similarities, particularly when it comes to the things that could be better.

Today's episode I sit down with Michaela Schauer who was one of the founding members of CIfA Deutschland. As a relatively new organization in Germany, CIfA Deutschland used the blueprint laid out by Chartered Institute for Archaeologists in the UK and adapted it to what was needed in Germany. We discuss the challenges of getting people on board and how getting involved is a way of things changing and improving.There was recently a survey of archaeologists in Germany, including students and companies to report wages, conditions.

One of their findings was that there are not enough archaeologists in Germany.There are a number of other organizations including DGUF (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Ur und Fruhgeschicte) which hertiage professionals can be part of, but CIfA aims to provide a broad coalition from all areas and subjects of study. Michaela tells me about her work on pottery and the chemical analysis that can be done to determine how they used and shine a light on early populations that lived on European continent.

Siegmund, F., Scherzler D. (2018). Einführung in die DGUF-Tagung am 4. Juli 2017 in Mainz. „Ein Berufsverband für die Archäologie?“, Archäologische Informationen 41, 15-20. - https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/arch-inf/article/view/56913/48292

Schauer, M. (2018). Bericht über das Online-Forum "DGUF-Vortagung 2017 – Ein Berufsverband für die Archäologie?", 6. März bis 9. Juni 2017, Archäologische Informationen 41, 31-54. - https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/arch-inf/article/view/56915/48294

Scherzler, D., Schauer, M., Hesse, S., Rauhaus, J., Rind, M. M., Deutscher, L. (2018). Ein Berufsverband für die Archäologie? Zusammenfassung der Debatten beim World Café auf der DGUF-Tagung am 4. Juli 2017 in Mainz, Archäologische Informationen 41, 99-108. - https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/arch-inf/article/view/56936/48301

These links refere to the online-conference and conference we did on the question of Germany needs an professional association. In our talk yesterday I mentioned the second which is a report about the online-conferenc and mentiones how CIfA got involved in Germany.

Siegmund, F., Scherzler D. (2019). Die derzeitige Wirtschaftslage in der privatwirtschaftlichen Archäologie Deutschlands – DGUF-Monitoring-Report privatwirtschaftliche Archäologie 2019. Archäologische Informationen 42, 78-98. - https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/arch-inf/article/view/69349/62687

Siegmund, F., Scherzler D. & Schauer, M. (2020). DGUF-Umfrage "Evaluation Beruf Archäologie", 10. 6. 2019 - 31. 10. 2019: Durchführung und Teilnehmer der Umfrage (EvaBA 1). DGUF-Preprint, online publiziert 23. März 2020. - https://www.dguf.de/fileadmin/user_upload/EvaBA/DGUF-Dok_Preprint_EvaBA_1_Durchfuehrung-u-Teilnehmer.pdf

 Siegmund, F., Schauer, M. & Scherzler D. (2020). Löhne und Gehälter in der deutschen Archäologie – Auswertung der DGUF-Umfrage "Evaluation Beruf Archäologie", 10. 6. 2019 - 31. 10. 2019 (EvaBA 2). DGUF-Preprint, online publiziert 28. Mai 2020. - https://www.dguf.de/fileadmin/user_upload/EvaBA/DGUF-Dok_Preprint_EvaB

In this episode of Modern Myth I sit down with MA student Amy Nuttall to talk about ADHD and the common myths, and how it has shaped her university experience.

She talks about her ungraduate studies, including spending time in a tent on the Welsh coast, in order to dig up ancient sites there. We discuss the ways in which archaeology could possibly be better for people with ADHD and talk about Amy's upcoming MA work that is about bellows and metallurgy.

What time is it? It’s time to Broch! In this episode I speak to Iain Maclean and Kenneth McIlroy of the Caithness Broch Project about building a Neolithic monument, the beginnings of the project and whether you should play music inside a Broch. Find out about the history of this ancient building structure and what the future is in the Caithness area in Scotland.

 If you want to find out more you can head on over to their website or follow them on Twitter and Facebook