Archaeology matters – ethics and politics in the contemporary world

Module code: AR7602

What and where does archaeology run into ethical quandaries? What are the ethical commitments that archaeologists have? What are the political implications of this? In this module we explore how archaeology connects with the contemporary world. From ethical concerns around the treatment of human remains to archaeology’s engagement in contemporary social struggles we will look at how archaeology operates in the world today. As archaeology broadens its gaze from just looking at the past to the contemporary world, as it seeks to redress some of the damage it has done in colonial contexts, and as new political issues come to the fore it is increasingly essential archaeologists attend to the ethical and political issues that we encounter both within and beyond the discipline. 

You will be able recognise, describe and engage with ethical and political debates in archaeology. You will understand the variety of different perspectives that diverse communities bring to archaeology and the need for practitioners to work collaboratively. You will gain the ability to critical analyse the political context in which archaeology emerges and the different purpose that it can serve for multiple communities. You will become familiar with the way in which different theoretical approaches raise and address different political issues in archaeology. 

Assessment for this module involves an ethics application and an essay.