TAG2019-UCL

The study of the past is currently experiencing a spatial and sensory turn, affecting the work of prehistorians, classical, medieval, and historical archaeologists alike. Across disciplines sensory archaeology allows us to engage with, and challenge, our knowledge of the past through experience and experimentation. Despite the benefits and a growing number of approaches developed by specialists in different fields, attempts to develop a diachronic conversation on the matter have been limited. The aim of this session is to bring together scholars from a variety of backgrounds to create a lively and challenging setting to discuss new theoretical and methodological approaches to sensory archaeology. By exploring an interdisciplinary and cross-period consensus, this session aims to advance the ongoing debate about the potential of this relatively new discipline to engage with specific themes across space and time.The session draws upon three themes across any period; Experiences of ‘Body', ‘Place' and ‘Materials', as well as engaging with the conference’s broader theme; Power, Knowledge and the Past. The session will adopt a mixed format consisting of traditional presentations, followed by a ‘hands-on’ session with multiple participants demonstrating a sensory approach. Participants will be able to interact with different materials across several tables to allow for a sensory experience within the session.

Organisers: Nicky Garland; Newcastle University • Dr Giacomo Savani; University College Dublin • Adam Parker (PhD Candidate); Open University

14:00 | Nicky Garland, Newcastle University; Adam Parker (PhD Candidate), Open University; Dr Giacomo Savani, University College Dublin | Introduction

14:05 | Dr Kelly Britt, Brooklyn College, CUNY | Somatic Mapping: Historic Landscapes Empowering Future Communities

14:30 | Dr Dan Stewart, School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester | The Power of Place in Greek Archaeology: The Impact of Text on Sensory Experience

14:55 | Andrew Watson (PhD Candidate), University of Glasgow | Archaeology of the past, present and future!

15:20 | Adam Parker (PhD Candidate), Open University; Dr Erica Rowan, Royal Holloway, University of London; Nicholas Groat (PhD Student), Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield; Chloe Clark (Phd Candidate), Kings College London | Workshops: 1) Jet-Set: Sensory experiences of Whitby Jet in Britain 2) Eating Saturnalia: Authenticity and Seasonality 3) The essence of experience: exploring a sensory approach to early distillation practices 4) Colour of the dead

15:40 | - | BREAK

16:00 | Adam Parker (PhD Candidate), Open University; Dr Erica Rowan, Royal Holloway, University of London; Nicholas Groat (PhD Student), Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield; Chloe Clark (Phd Candidate), Kings College London | Workshops continued

16:25 | Prof. Sue Hamilton, Institute of Archaeology, UCL; Prof. Ruth Whitehouse, Institute of Archaeology, UCL | Revisiting Sacred and Profane: ‘domain change’ in south Italian prehistory

16:50 | Chloe Clark, Kings College London | Colour of the dead

17:15 | Nicky Garland, Newcastle University; Adam Parker (PhD Candidate), Open University; Dr Giacomo Savani, University College Dublin | Final Discussion

17:30 | - | END