Addressing Important Issues of Change: Creating an Equal and Diverse Archaeological Discipline
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 2019-06-27

Seeking evidence for change is a fundamental of archaeological fieldwork, drawing upon a widely held belief in ontological equality amongst its participants. However, the archaeological discipline is clearly not equal nor widely diverse.
Diversity within UK archaeology has changed very little in over a century. Behaviours and practices have developed, that exclude many, and entrench a stereotypical elite. Examples point to exclusion through class or education. Promotion, deserved through the quality of fieldwork, is still considered a surprise, purely due to gender. Individuals appear as project leaders, but merely front the fieldwork of others.
Archaeology can be an exemplar for change; a paragon to other disciplines espousing community and intellectual values, crossing over academic and vocational boundaries. In this paper, I will propose an agenda envisaging change; promoting positive action towards creating a more equal and diverse archaeological discipline.

Kevin Wooldridge (Freelance Archaeologist)

TAG Deva 2018
Session: Archaeology for Change