Public Archaeologies of Frontiers and Borderlands

Select proceedings of the 4th University of Chester Archaeology Student conference (Chester, 20 March 2019) investigate real-world ancient and modern frontier works, the significance of graffiti, material culture, monuments and wall-building, as well as fictional representations of borders and walls in the arts, as public archaeology

From IndyRef and Brexit to the Refugee Crisis and Trump’s Wall, the construction and maintenance, subversion and traversing of frontiers and borderlands dominate our current affairs. Yet, while archaeologists have long participated in exploring frontiers and borderlands, their public archaeology has been starkly neglected. Incorporating the select proceedings of the 4th University of Chester Archaeology Student conference hosted by the Grosvenor Museum, Chester, on 20 March 2019, this is the first book to investigate realworld ancient and modern frontier works, the significance of graffiti, material culture, monuments and wall-building, as well as fictional representations of borders and walls in the arts, as public archaeology. Key themes include the heritage interpretation for linear monuments, public archaeology in past and contemporary frontiers and borderlands, and archaeology’s interactions with mural practices in politics, popular culture and the contemporary landscape. Together, the contributors show the necessity of developing critical public archaeologies of frontiers and borderlands.

Foreword - Rebecca H. Jones Public Archaeologies from the Edge - Pauline Clarke, Kieran Gleave and Howard Williams Breaking Down Barriers: The Role of Public Archaeology and Heritage Interpretation in Shaping Perceptions of the Past - Richard Nevell and Michael Nevell Roman Walls, Frontiers and Public Archaeology - An Interview with Rob Collins Hands across the Border? Prehistory, Cairns and Scotland's 2014 Independence Referendum - Kenneth Brophy Breaking Down the Berlin Wall: Dark Heritage, Pre-Wall Sites and the Public - Kieran Gleave The Political Dimensions of Public Archaeology in Borderlands: Exploring the Contemporary US-Mexico Border - Maikin Holst Cofiwch Dryweryn: The Frontiers of Contemporary Welsh Nationalism, as seen through the Creation of Contested Heritage Murals - David Howell The Discomfort of Frontiers: Public Archaeology and the Politics of Offa's Dyke - An interview with Keith Ray The Biography of Borderlands: Old Oswestry Hillfort and Modern Heritage Debates - Ruby McMillan-Sloan and Howard Williams Interpreting Wat's Dyke in the 21st Century - Howard Williams Envisioning Wat's Dyke - John G. Swogger and Howard Williams Watching Walls: Frontier Archaeology and Game of Thrones - Emma Kate Vernon Frontiers on Film: Evaluating Mulan (1998) and The Great Wall (2016) - Sophie Billingham, Foreword – Rebecca H. JonesPauline Clarke, Kieran Gleave and Howard WilliamsRichard Nevell and Michael NevellAn Interview with Rob CollinsKenneth BrophyKieran GleaveMaikin HolstDavid HowellAn interview with Keith Ray Ruby McMillan-Sloan and Howard WilliamsHoward WilliamsJohn G. Swogger and Howard WilliamsGame of Thrones – Emma Kate VernonMulan (1998) and The Great Wall (2016) – Sophie Billingham

• Edited by Kieran Gleave
• Edited by Howard Williams
• Edited by Pauline Magdalene Clarke

‘Es dürfte wohl eine der ersten Publikationen sein, in der reale antike und moderne Grenzsysteme mit fiktiven Darstellungen sowie deren Wechselwirkungen umfangreich untersucht werden. Als Einstieg in den Ansatz von „public archaeology“ ist das Buch daher durchaus geeignet. Ein typisch angelsächsischer’ [translated: It is likely one of the first publications to extensively explore real ancient and modern boundary systems alongside fictional representations and their interactions. As an introduction to the approach of "public archaeology," the book is therefore quite suitable.] – Martina Meyr (2023): GERMANIA 101

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