Lovisa Falkenström’s Post

‘𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭’ is recently published by Routledge as part of the journal #TheHistoricEnvironmentPolicyandPractice, edited by Michael Dawson. I'm sharing here on behalf of the wider editorial board of the journal, of which I am one of over a dozen members internationally. I'm pleased to share the news of, but saddened by the need for such a book: ‘𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭’ is a collection of papers written in response to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It draws on ethnographic data, frontline recording and analysis of the malign and long-term effects of war. Themes range from the manipulation of history to the exploitation of nationalist narratives, from the demolition of Soviet era monuments to the looting of sites in the Donbass. This is challenging but essential reading. Contributors highlight the dishonesty of Russian attempts to establish a just war in Ukraine, describe the forensic analysis of mass graves and how archaeology provides critical evidence in the prosecution of war crimes. Whether you buy the book, borrow a copy or read it in a library, it is a critical contribution to understanding the effect of tyranny, the opportunism of war and exploitation of the historic environment in a time of conflict.

The second blog post in what now looks like it will be a series on methods/techniques for futures-thinking is now out! This one muses on how contemporary archaeological and historical methods gives food for thought for interdisciplinary #futures scholarship https://lnkd.in/gj8k75Wa

After nearly a year's worth of work, I'm pleased to announce the release of this report on the various audiences who are assumed to benefit from the dozens of digital transformations projects funded through the European initiative CHANSE, Collaboration of Humanities and Social Sciences in Europe. ⭐ The report analyses the results of 1700+ responses to questions about CHANSE Transformations audiences and associated knowledge exchange activities for those audiences. ⭐ We consider what knowledge exchange means to different people, and trends and omissions in understandings of audiences (e.g., the languages they speak, their perceived degrees of confidence with digital technologies, the contexts in which they work with CHANSE projects, etc). ⭐ We reflect on opportunities to connect projects together and deepen approaches to audience engagement. ⭐ We also discuss gaps which may threaten the impact of existing knowledge exchange plans in CHANSE projects, and which limit potential positive outcomes. ⭐ We conclude with specific measures that CHANSE teams can take in supporting audiences and growing knowledge exchange. ⭐ Importantly, we also reflect on the wider systemic issues that hamper knowledge exchange and demand a concerted response from funders and organisations governing European research and development. Among other points, we recommend, ➡ nurturing knowledge exchange advocates at the senior levels of project teams ➡ supporting future digital transformations initiatives in innovating with knowledge exchange itself based on the unique affordances of the digital ➡ offering guidance on climate-sensitive approaches to knowledge exchange (KE) – and understanding of the climate implications of different KE activities – to allow projects to develop more environmentally-conscious knowledge exchange opportunities ➡ pursuit of a deeper understanding of the socio-economic, institutional, and national research and development cultures which shape attitudes towards knowledge exchange, in order to inform more nuanced approaches in the future Thanks to the 100s of CHANSE project team members who’ve liaised with us, as well as to our funders ESRC: Economic and Social Research Council and those overseeing our research, including Dr Jamie Davies, Monika Huńka and Malwina Gębalska. This report is a collaborative output made possible by the many contributions of Dr. Anna Simandiraki-Grimshaw, Ayesha Purcell, Blen Taye G., Jemima Dunnett, and Kit Ackland.

ANCIENT ENIGMA UNRAVELED: PREHISTORIC ARTIFACTS REVEAL SURPRISING PRACTICAL PURPOSE IN ROPEMAKING Unravel the archaeological mystery of perforated batons found in a cave in southwestern Germany. Initially thought to be ritualistic objects or noisemakers from the last ice age, a new study suggests a more practical application: ropemaking. Crafted from mammoth ivory, these artifacts, prevalent over 35,000 years ago, were found to have spiral grooves precisely designed for turning plant fibers into rope. The discovery challenges previous beliefs and highlights the practical ingenuity of prehistoric societies. https://lnkd.in/dNy7DNY7

On 13th June, 2024 I had a privilege to moderate a very interesting Panel 6 “Practice of Restitution” in a curated Online Module 1. A little background altogether, this module is intended to initiate fellows of the program into major historical but also contemporary debates of which, decolonization and restitution are no secrets to a few advocates of such. Through sessions like this, fellows and speakers deeply and sometimes emotionally unravel the complex historical entanglements between Africa and Europe colonially.   I can only be thankful to @TheMuseumsLab team, Meryem Korun, Vivien Kreft for giving me this chance to learn from both the speakers and fellows#24. It was a great opportunity to hear from Ekhator-Obogie Osaisonor Godfrey and interesting submissions from the audience.   It was very clear from the engagement that; we have to patiently carry on the responsibility with examples of long processes of the Benin Bronzes. Requisitions being made in the 30s, then 50s and 90s, if Godfrey and his predecessors were not persistently patient, we would not be where we are currently. For the case of Uganda, since 1961 when Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology returned the relics, we see 39 cultural objects return home, some patience there. Additionally, it is clear that knowledge exchange is key, that won’t only facilitate meaningful cooperation and Partnerships but also facilitate knowledge co-production especially with the communities from which many of these materials were extracted.   Godfrey and his team members’ advocacy and Germany colleagues’ addition to listening to the true stories about the Benin Bronzes, to me reflects what Ariese et al 2021 work “Practicing Decoloniality in Museums” calls embracing vulnerability in a sense admitting what the Museum and its staff lack is an opportunity to seek for help and heals the painful experiences that comes with it. The public is never going to be easy, more demands, more criticism, more complaints to name it, this is part of the pains that we have to endure.   As a matter of fact, I am excited and curious about what #RepositioningUgandaMuseum Project {https://lnkd.in/dFaCPd4C  will unravel for us as a Polity about a British. Protectorate in the eyes of the collectors in the early 20th Century   

New in IA67: Davidson, K., Graham, S. and Huffer, D. 2024 A Protocol for When Social Media Goes Private: Studying archaeological or heritage discourses in closed Facebook groups, Internet Archaeology 67. https://lnkd.in/easAgnGJ Part of a major project to explore the discourses that surround the buying and selling of human remains over social media, this article discusses the research ethics framework established in Canada by the 'Tri-Council' research agencies as it pertains to studying social media, which may be useful for other researchers studying how archaeology and cultural heritage are framed or discussed in these venues and who seek guidance on ethical approaches to study such discourses.

Circuits of reproduction: the opportunities and power to change. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13356433 Licence: CC BY 4.0 This paper emerged from the profound sadness and bewilderment I felt again and again following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in late 2012. It is my incomplete and insufficient response to the perplexing and infuriating resistance and refusal of a society to commit to institutional change to curtail the rampant gun violence in the USA. This paper also reflects my conviction that anthropology and, more specifically, anthropological archaeology can foster and shape our understanding of the mechanisms of social change and persistence. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gmBbHeRn or on ResearchGate: https://lnkd.in/gTG9hYxH Will be published in: "Beyond heterogeneities: New perspectives on social and cultural diversity from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age in the Carpathian Basin." Edited by Kata Furholt, Margaux L.C. Depaermentier, Michael Kempf, and Martin Furholt. DOI: 10.59641/vl0230ox. I am grateful for the editors for allowing me to circulate this version of the manuscript.

I am happy to announce the publication of our latest article, titled "The Fortified Site at Lanaken near Maastricht (Belgium/the Netherlands): New Insights on Early Medieval Military and Elite Strategies in the Middle Meuse Valley", now available for early access at Early Medieval Europe! Authored by Wim De Clercq, Elke Wesemael, and myself, this article describes the archaeological evidence concerning an early medieval fortified site in Lanaken, near Maastricht, excavated in 2017 by ARON bvba. While only a portion of the site could be excavated, it became evident that it featured a significant defensive system. Radiocarbon dating places the construction and initial utilization of the fortified site around 650-750/800 CE. Although a complete understanding of the site remains elusive, our study yields several new insights, that add to our understanding of Early Medieval society in the northern regions of Francia: 👉 The site represents the earliest known construction of a fortified site in the lowlands of northern Francia, showing that the construction of newly-built defensive structures in this area began much earlier than previously thought. 👉 The defensive layout closely mirrors Roman military practices, evidenced by the utilization of Roman measurement units in the planning of defensive works. This underscores the survival, adaptation and application of Roman military techniques into the 7th-8th centuries and beyond. 👉 Situated adjacent to a secondary road leading to Maastricht, the site likely served as a strategic point for controlling traffic en route to Maastricht and its vital Meuse crossing. Together, this suggests the possibility of a broader network of 'checkpoints' regulating the roadways around Maastricht. In March, Flemish Minister of Immovable Heritage Matthias Diependaele designated the site as a 'protected archaeological site,' ensuring the preservation of its heritage values for future generations. Interested in delving into the details of our findings? Read the article through the following link: https://lnkd.in/e3CaZ_92 or download a copy if you (or your institution) is subscribed to Early Medieval Europe: https://lnkd.in/ez9A44je

ACTA IMEKO is the only journal on measurement science I know that is 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 open access 𝘢𝘯𝘥 without publishing charges - as science should be.

𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝟎:𝟎𝟎 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 - 𝟓𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫". You are more than welcome to join us at the The Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome. Or you can follow the livestream: https://lnkd.in/dyHNEXdr This three-day conference will explore the impact of the Biferno Valley Survey (BVS) on landscape archaeology and historical interpretation, and trace new paths for future research. The BVS set a new standard in interdisciplinary collaboration and in presenting its results across a wide geographic and temporal range. Since then, two new waves of survey projects have pursued new research questions. The more recent projects have engaged with the BVS in different ways: using it as a conceptual or historical baseline, or as a source of legacy data to build upon. Researchers from Molise-based projects, as well as those from comparable regional landscape projects along the Apennine spine, will reflect on the BVS and the current and future challenges. For the full program ⤵ https://lnkd.in/dS6V6fze