As part of the Distinguished Virtual Seminar Series in Archaeological Science, the Cranfield Forensic Institute are hosting Prof. Shadreck Chirikure (University of Oxford/University of Cape Town).
Prof. Chirikure will speak on the state of archaeological science as a discipline:
Is there a case for transforming archaeological science?
The analytical power of archaeological science often allows us to understand the past with increasing resolution. We understand the materials themselves, technologies that produced them, and the impact of technology on society. And yet, archaeology as a discipline is facing precarity and underfunding from an over-emphasis on STEM and other priorities. This raises the question: what is the purpose and limitation of archaeological science? Using examples of materials analyses from different regions, this talk argues for a need to align the goals and outcomes of archaeological science with contemporary needs in areas such as sustainability and inequality.
Please register to receive the meeting details.
