Archaeology in the UK is under attack
Three Universities in the last two months ( Leicester, Chester and Sheffield) have anounced major cuts to their departments, and in Sheffield’s case proposed completely closing the department. Sheffield’s department in particular is a very well renowned department, and the research conducted there has very much changed the face of archaeology. My own reasearch would not be possible without methodologies pioneeered there. Meanwhile the government is trying to scrap the current planning laws which mean archaeological survey must be carried out as part of the development process. Without these laws it will be perfectly legal to destroy the enviroment (historic and otherwise). The cynic in me notes this is all happening while there is a push againt historical research that contradicts the narrative of British Greatness, I.E the idea that colonisation and the Empire are things to be proud of (instead of you know, really horrible things that fucked up large portions of the world). History is political, and the Tories have stated many a time that any heritage reasearch that doesn’t tow the party line is ‘rewriting history’ and ‘ disloyal to the nation’.
Control of information is an important part of controling the national narative. The past is messy and complicated and diverse, and a far cry from the uniform white supremecist paradice the far right like to pretend it is. Archaeology is one of the best ways of getting at the truth of the matter and disproving the false nationalist narratives these people like to spin. Don’t let archaeology be a casualty of the Torries destructive agenda. Ways to fight back (Copied from the BAJR page) Letter template to the Sheffield University Executive Board regarding the Department of Archaeology
Ensuring the protection of archaeology for future generations within Planning for the Future
Petitions: Save Archaeology & Heritage at the University of Chester!
Save Sheffield’s Archaeology Department
