What is going on with archaeology at the University of Sheffield?
Good question! In 2020 three new full-time posts were approved for the department of archaeology at Sheffield, but then scrapped due to the pandemic. When the department asked if these could be reinstated for the upcoming academic year, as it was understaffed…
...the University Executive Board (UEB) responded by putting the department under review. After two exhaustive rounds of interviews, full of enthusiastic feedback from staff and students, the board has decided to organise a vote on the 25th of May.
Three options are on the table:
(A) support and invest in the department to ensure the future of archaeology at Sheffield
(B) discontinue archaeology as a subject as Sheffield and make all the staff redundant
(C) discontinue archaeology as a coherent and core subject, but retain aspects of archaeological research and education (human osteology and cultural heritage specifically to be merged into other departments), and make remaining staff redundant.
Two out of these three options would dissolve the Department of Archaeology at Sheffield.
Why should I care?
First and foremost, jobs and livelihoods are at risk for current staff: academics, postdocs and administrative staff are all under threat. Even during a global pandemic, staff have gone above and beyond to make students at Sheffield feel welcomed and supported during one of the most difficult periods in their lives.
Beyond the University of Sheffield, the department is regularly involved in outreach projects like the student-run Archaeology in the City, providing free public talks, free workshops at local primary schools, and demonstrations for the local community; Roots of Iron, in collaboration with Sheffield City Council; and the Sheffield Castle Project, working with groups like the National Videogame Museum to bring a long-lost monument back to life.
It's not just the local community either. Research groups like the Zooarchaeology Lab and Sheffield Archaeomaterials have contacts, friends and alumni all over the world, from university lecturers to independent contractors and everyone in between.
All this is happening at a time when UK archaeology is under threat. By some estimates, there is a 100% increase in the need for trained archaeologists (FAME) and increasing demand for heritage professionals generally. As discussions regarding decolonisation and the relationship between the past and the present are coming to the front of the public sphere, there is a need for archaeology now more than ever.
The Department of Archaeology at Sheffield has existed for over 50 years and had a bright future ahead - with your help, it still could.
How can I help?
Email the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Executive Board of the University.
VC - Professor Koen Lamberts: [email protected] Deputy VC - Professor Gill Valentine - [email protected] Executive board in general - [email protected] Urge the board to rethink this, choose option A, and support the future of archaeology. You can take inspiration from or modify the following letter template, but please do add your personal experience of the Department of Archaeology at Sheffield: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NlbHMCpuYkdXE0DIumbDi20lUK-NDx_D0z000atPfPM/ . Please cc in the department so we can keep track of letters: [email protected]
2. Sign the petition.
A petition is available on Change.org - find it here.
3. Kick up a fuss on social media - spread the word.
Use the hashtag #savesheffieldarchaeology (archaeology with an ae!) and direct people to this page (http://bit.ly/savesheffarch) and our Facebook page so they know what's going on.
4. Keep an eye out for updates.
As above, we will keep our Facebook Page and this website updated with the latest information.
Thank you for your support!
There are tough days ahead, but the fight's not over yet - the board makes its decision on 25th of May, and we'll keep going for as long as it takes.
Art by the amazing @InkedMelon