In conversation with the Cambridge CBA Young Advisors
The Council for British Archaeology have launched the new Youth Advisory Panel to embed young people’s insights into their organisation and outreach projects. They aim to remove barriers to young people’s participation and facilitate a youth-led approach through the Youth Advisory Board.
Image: Council for British Archaeology/Historic England
Image: Council for British Archaeology/Historic England
Meet the three members of the Youth Advisory Panel who are based here in Cambridge
Image Credit: Ihini Aambreen
Image Credit: Ihini Aambreen
Ihini Aambreen is currently studying for an MPhil in Archaeological Science in the Department of Archaeology.
Image Credit: George Ellison
Image Credit: George Ellison
George Ellison, third year Undergraduate student in the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic.
Image Credit: Jess Ellison
Image Credit: Jess Ellison
Jess Ellison is currently studying for an MPhil in Medieval Archaeology in the Department of Archaeology after completing History here at Cambridge for her Undergraduate degree.
We sat down to discuss their new positions on the Youth Advisory Panel
We kicked off the conversation talking about where their interests in Archaeology and Biological Anthropology started
Can you tell me where your interest in Archaeology or Biological Anthropology began?
Jess: I studied History at Undergrad, but I did a paper on how quickly Britain de-Romanised after the Romans left Britain. It was really material based and I really enjoyed that.
George: My interest starting with manuscripts as a way to viewing things through material culture. This year, my final year of ASNC, I have been using archaeology to reassess historical narratives.
Ihini: I was initially interested in the human skeleton and was also really interested in ancient civilisations. While I was growing up, I realised there's a way to combine these things. That's how I came into Biological Anthropology and Archaeology. I did my undergraduate degree in Biological Anthropology because my first interest was in primatology but while doing it, I realised I was more interested in hominid evolution. I couldn’t wait to learn more about the application of scientific methods to archaeology and anthropology!
A lot of people don’t realise how broad the subject is, and what sorts of backgrounds you can get into it from. Can you tell me a bit about the subjects you studied before joining us here?
Jess: I did A-Level Philosophy, English and Ancient History.
George: Throughout my GCSE and A levels, I was more on the scientific side. I did A Level Maths, Computer Science, Physics and Music.
Ihini: I am an international student, so I did not do GCSE or A Levels. In my country, the subjects for our GCSE equivalents are predetermined and I studied subjects such as History, Biology, Chemistry, and Maths. For my A Level equivalents I chose to study Biology, History and Sociology, with an additional paper in English besides the two compulsory ones. I then did a BSc in Biological Anthropology before joining Cambridge for my MPhil in Archaeological Science.
What’s been your highlight?
"When I started the Masters, we had a flintknapping workshop, which was so fun! Going from reading so much at Undergraduate level, to then doing something practical and outdoors, it was really fun. Doing something really practical, of course teaches you the practical skills but also to be able to recreate objects that we are studying in the same way that they would have been made, was really cool."
Jess
"It’s just the diversity within the field. Everything overlaps, and people are here with all sorts of knowledge and backgrounds. There’s people who have studied skeletal morphology and how that’s changed over the millenia and then someone else will be talking about birth and how that relates to behaviour. It’s just so vast and so interesting to see how everyone works together, it’s so interlinked."
Ihini
"My highlight is that last summer I did a research internship at King’s College around the Croft Gardens cemetery. The work that I have done fed into my dissertation and has meant that I’m involved in a massive array of things that I didn’t expect to be. I’m now helping to curate the exhibition which will hopefully go into King’s Chapel and giving talks to people that I didn’t ever think I would be speaking to."
George
I’d love to hear about how you got involved with the Council for British Archaeology, what do you get up to?
Jess: It can be hard to find opportunities, so you just have to jump when you get them. We had a few interviews and everyone was very friendly and welcoming.
Ihini: So far, we have just been getting introduced to everyone in the office and finding out what they do. The CBA would like us to help with decision making, to represent young people. They would also like us to help organise events for young people, like the Festival of Archaeology. Our role is to be the voice of young people.
George: A lot of what we’ve done so far is working together on what we might like to do. We are the first group doing this, they would like us to help shape what the Young Advisors get up to. They would like to ‘buddy’ us up with the existing Trustees. It’s looking really positive!
What sorts of things would you like to do in your new roles?
Jess: It seems so difficult to find opportunities outside of university, so I would like to make it easier for young people to find opportunities in Archaeology.
Ihini: I’d like to work on an Archaeology based walking tour in Cambridge, or even a virtual version of a walking tour, so that is accessible for everyone.
George: Launched at the same time as the Youth Advisory Board was the Young Associate network, which has useful information from the CBA and things that we are working on in our new roles.
See the Council for British Archaeology’s website for more information about the Youth Advisory Board and Young Associates Network.
Published 17 May 2024
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