Concept and proposal
Bringing together the work of Joanna Macy and Eva Mol, this is a design for a 2.5-hour workshop that aims to creatively consider which 'beings' are represented in a site report. The workshop is experimental and designed to spark new ways of thinking, and encourage dialogues across different roles / offices.
I have conducted two pilot workshops in 2024, one with MOLA's 'Archaeological Futures' research group, and one with a diverse group of artists and heritage professionals at CHAT (Contemporary and Historical Archaeological Theory) conference.
Feedback
How did the workshop make you feel?
Inspired, relaxed, happy.
Creative and energised.
It was very enjoyable and interesting.
Challenged, exploratory, collaborative.
Creative, reflective.
It felt like a vital form of refreshed politics, as much as an exercise in revitalising archaeological thinking.
Did the workshop make you think differently about your specific work in any way?
It served as a reminder that we do need to continually put effort into finding innovative and creative ways to present archaeological narratives.
We need more alternative views and playfulness in our job!
That project teams should be more diverse in terms of which colleagues they draw from (to bring in colleagues from other workflows).
Did the workshop give you any new ideas or reflections about commercial archaeology?
Commercial archaeology is heavily influenced by the restrictions imposed by legislation, the development sector, and especially the finances, and therefore we rarely get the opportunity to experience the site, artefacts, etc., from alternative point of views.
That we need to do this kind of activity more often, as otherwise we are at risk of becoming excesively focused on the commercial dimension of our practice.
That we should deliberately draw our colleagues out/away from site/workplaces and into the wider context.