Archaeology is often described as informed storytelling: as practitioners, we are trained not only to produce data in the field or in the lab, but also how to write about and present on it – often in more formal settings such as conferences, or informally through public outreach and engagement. However, with increasingly specialised fields of study come greater barriers to dissemination; research narratives may end up ‘lost in translation’, whilst facts and data take second place to catchy news headlines or popular media.
Practised across time and space, storytelling provides an alternative method through which to communicate archaeological information, not only to public audiences, but also amongst those working in diverse archaeological fields. Stories develop and evolve, much like our data and interpretations, and can be told and retold by different narrators. Such techniques may therefore help us to convey complex research in an accessible – but by no means overly-simplified – format, in turn permitting cross-disciplinary discussions and understanding. From archaeological theory to stable isotope analysis, it offers the possibility of connecting with varied audiences, widening participation, and challenging status quo present in traditional modes of research dissemination.
In this session, we invite anyone interested in the human past to try your hand at alternative communication techniques, broadly through storytelling methods. We also welcome those who have had success with such approaches to come and share your experiences! The session aims to be inclusive and experimental, so whether you bring props, present in verse, try out the method of kamishibai (Japanese ‘paper drama’ or picture storytelling – we recommend this method if you are unsure where to start), or simply present your work differently, we would like you to step away from traditional slideshow presentations and to embrace the creative and evolving narratives that archaeological research generates.
2:10pm | Experiences of teaching undergraduate and postgraduate modules in digital storytelling for cultural heritage at UEA. | Lorna Richardson
2:40pm | Stories are too good to save for the public! Can storifying also make us better researchers? | Fiona Coward
2:55pm | The power of ArchaeoStories: UCL Whitechapel Storytelling workshop | Sarah Wolferstan
3:25pm | Humour, mystery and tragedy: Heritage storytelling for non-archaeologists | Vera Noon
3:40pm | Posthuman feminism, ambiguity, and the others: Telling tales of post-medieval marginalised and excluded communities. | Hanna Steyne & Mili Rajic
3:55pm | Hearing Research Narratives for Bronze Age Egyptian-Nubian daggers: Storytelling with the ‘Sensory Gain’ approach. | Emma Bentley
Full paper abstracts available here: https://tag2024.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/tag-2024-session-abstracts-1.pdf
