This biannual learning unit is not being organized in 2024-2025 !
Teacher(s)
Language
French
> English-friendly
> English-friendly
Prerequisites
A sufficient knowledge of English is required, both to read part of the reference bibliography and to take part in the discussion sessions following some of the lectures given in English.
Main themes
The course's primary objective is to provide an overview of archaeological research and projects focused on a period spanning from the First World War to the present day in the Western world. It also aims at illustrating the specificities of the archaeology of the recent past, both in terms of epistemology and theoretical framework, while underlining the methodological reconfigurations linked to it.
The course also seeks to highlight the many social, political, economic and ecological realities that have interested these contemporary archaeologies (e.g., social inequalities, colonialism, racism, armed conflicts, state violence, propaganda, ecosystem disruption, resource depletion, pollution, etc.), realities that they have also illuminated through their examination and approaches - sometimes innovative, sometimes more traditional - of a wide range of material remains.
In so doing, the main purpose of the learning unit is to highlight the relevance of an archaeological reading of contemporary realities the material expression and implications of which are all too rarely acknowledged.
The course also seeks to highlight the many social, political, economic and ecological realities that have interested these contemporary archaeologies (e.g., social inequalities, colonialism, racism, armed conflicts, state violence, propaganda, ecosystem disruption, resource depletion, pollution, etc.), realities that they have also illuminated through their examination and approaches - sometimes innovative, sometimes more traditional - of a wide range of material remains.
In so doing, the main purpose of the learning unit is to highlight the relevance of an archaeological reading of contemporary realities the material expression and implications of which are all too rarely acknowledged.
Content
The course will begin with an introductory session presenting the theoretical development of the archaeology of the contemporary world, not limited to the Western world. Subsequent lectures will address theoretical frameworks and case studies to better understand the different approaches to contemporary world archaeology and the Anthropocene. The content of the course will be given in lectures and/or conferences and will present projects and theoretical frameworks that have marked the history of the discipline. Each lecture will include a discussion of articles (to be read by students) specific to the topic presented in the lecture. The summary of themes presented below brings together the various topics discussed but their order and organisation are subject to change.
Contents:
1. Introduction: archaeology of contemporary worlds, a paradox?
2. Archaeology of conflicts
3. Archaeology of everyday life, consumerism, and entertainment
4. Archaeology and waste
5. Archaeology of movement
6. Archaeology of resistance
7. Archaeology and climate change
8. Archaeology and ruins
9. Archaeology and pandemics
10. An archaeology of the present (and recent past) for a better future?
Contents:
1. Introduction: archaeology of contemporary worlds, a paradox?
2. Archaeology of conflicts
3. Archaeology of everyday life, consumerism, and entertainment
4. Archaeology and waste
5. Archaeology of movement
6. Archaeology of resistance
7. Archaeology and climate change
8. Archaeology and ruins
9. Archaeology and pandemics
10. An archaeology of the present (and recent past) for a better future?
Teaching methods
The course consists of lecture sessions on the themes presented above. Some of these lectures will be given by guest experts. A field trip will be organised during the term.
Prerequisites: Most publications will be in English as well as at least one conference, so a passive understanding of English is necessary.
Prerequisites: Most publications will be in English as well as at least one conference, so a passive understanding of English is necessary.
Evaluation methods
Validation of the teaching unit will be the result of the organisation of a group seminar (50%) and an individual written assignment (50%) on one of the themes presented during the course.
Other information
The course will consist of a lecture or conference, as well as a discussion following the presentation of the theme. The lecture will be followed, from the 4th class onwards (depending on the size of the group), by a seminar organised by the students, which will form part of the assessment.
Online resources
All the teaching material related to the course will be made available to students on Moodle. Most publications will be in English, so a passive comprehension of English is essential.
Bibliography
• Buchli, V. and G. Lucas (eds) (2001). Archaeologies of the Contemporary Past. London: Routledge
• González-Ruibal, A. (2018). An Archaeology of the Contemporary Era. London: Routledge
• Graves-Brown, P., R. Harrison and A. Piccini (eds). 2013. The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of the Contemporary World. Oxford: Oxford University Press
• Harrison, R. and J. Schofield (eds) (2010). After Modernity: Archaeological Approaches to the Contemporary Past. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
• Harrison, R. and Breithoff, E. (2017) ‘Archaeologies of the Contemporary World’, Annual Review of Anthropology, (46), pp. 203–221.
• Holtorf, C and Piccini, A. (eds) (2011). Contemporary Archaeologies: Excavating Now. 2nd edition. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
• Olsen, B. and Pétursdóttir, Þ. (2014) Ruin Memories: Materialities, Aesthetics and the Archaeology of the Recent Past. London: Routledge.
• Mullins, P. R. (2011) The Archaeology of Consumer Culture. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
• Rathje, W. L. and C. Murphy (2001). Rubbish! The Archaeology of Garbage. Tucson, The University of Arizona Press.
• Sosna, D. and Brunclíková, L. (2016) Archaeologies of waste: encounters with the unwanted. Barnsley: Oxbow.
• González-Ruibal, A. (2018). An Archaeology of the Contemporary Era. London: Routledge
• Graves-Brown, P., R. Harrison and A. Piccini (eds). 2013. The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of the Contemporary World. Oxford: Oxford University Press
• Harrison, R. and J. Schofield (eds) (2010). After Modernity: Archaeological Approaches to the Contemporary Past. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
• Harrison, R. and Breithoff, E. (2017) ‘Archaeologies of the Contemporary World’, Annual Review of Anthropology, (46), pp. 203–221.
• Holtorf, C and Piccini, A. (eds) (2011). Contemporary Archaeologies: Excavating Now. 2nd edition. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
• Olsen, B. and Pétursdóttir, Þ. (2014) Ruin Memories: Materialities, Aesthetics and the Archaeology of the Recent Past. London: Routledge.
• Mullins, P. R. (2011) The Archaeology of Consumer Culture. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
• Rathje, W. L. and C. Murphy (2001). Rubbish! The Archaeology of Garbage. Tucson, The University of Arizona Press.
• Sosna, D. and Brunclíková, L. (2016) Archaeologies of waste: encounters with the unwanted. Barnsley: Oxbow.
Faculty or entity
