What is Contemporary Archaeology?

Contemporary Archaeology is not only the archaeology of the contemporary and recent past, but the exploration of the opportunities and challenges presented when undertaking archaeological research in the present day. It is also known as the archaeology of now or the archaeology of us. Though it may sound like an oxymoron, contemporary archaeology has been established as an important discipline within the sector over the past few decades.

Using a combination of traditional archaeological methods (survey and excavation) as well as modern resources (such as oral histories, archives and photographs), contemporary archaeology provides a unique opportunity to consider how we interact with objects, places, and the world around us. Undertaking archaeological research on sites or objects existing in modern memory sheds light on the methods we use as archaeologists, revealing how much we can truly learn from archaeology alone, and what we’re missing once memories fade.

Imagine what Scotland might look like in 10, 100 or 1000 years from now. What would the archaeology of today look like in the future? How might we explore the archaeology of tomorrow, today?

We would like to invite you to consider what things in your everyday lives are archaeology. Do you remember when you could drive down Prince’s Street in Edinburgh or when the Kingston Bridge was built over the River Clyde? Why does the ferry go from Scrabster to Stromness and not to Kirkwall in Orkney? Did you attend the Glasgow Garden Festival or watch football in a stadium that no longer exists? How much plastic waste do you recycle? All these and many more questions that affect our everyday lives can be considered through Contemporary Archaeology practices.

Changes in our landscapes are happening all the time and Contemporary Archaeology considers the reasons behind them and what material culture remains. We are interested in what you consider to be archaeology of the recent past, say the last 50 years, and how we can explore it with you to uncover stories that might have passed us by. We want to make the ‘familiar, unfamiliar’ and in doing so help you to critically explore why things appear as they are and perhaps how we can change them for better futures.

If you’d like to contribute to INCA Scot, or have any questions, please contact us.