Applied Archaeology and Global Challenges

A debate article published in Antiquity today and authored by Matt Davies and Samuel Lunn-Rockliffe, examines why archaeological data continues to be under-utilised in policy making surrounding global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainable food systems and inequality.

In the article (and response) the authors argue that archaeological data and approaches often fail to find traction because they are commonly produced and disseminated within the context of debates and questions internal to the discipline. They note that archaeologists often take a passive stand and present archaeological value in the form of analogy, expecting applied researchers and practitioners from outside of the discipline to see the inherent value in archaeological research. 

In contrast, Davies and Lunn-Rockliffe suggest that the use of archaeological data should more clearly emerge from co-designed and problem oriented (non-archaeological) projects with stakeholders (communities, policy makers, businesses, NGOs) in the contemporary moment. They argue for applied archaeology to take up a reversed historical trajectory that begins with contemporary policy and community challenges and traces these back in time to show how archaeological and historical data are intrinsic to understanding and addressing such problems.

Drawing on criticisms of the Sustainable Development Goals, the authors further call for an active stance with regard to contemporary policy-making, suggesting that the aim of applied archaeology should not be to just have the ‘right’ data at the right time for other scientists and policy-makers to use, but also to question the scientific and policy frames that are being used to affect change by those outside of the discipline.

Drawing on the example of their research into failed external agricultural developments in Elgeyo-Marakwet, Kenya, they call for more radical forms of transdisciplinary co-design with communities and policy-makers to ensure that sustainable change is designed and driven by a plurality of knowledges.