Well-Being through Archaeology and Heritage
Resolving Therapeutic Unknowns
Edited by Timothy Darvill Edited by Vanessa Heaslip Edited by Kerry Barrass
Paperback (Forthcoming)
(January 2027)
ISBN: 9781805833529
6.85 x 9.69 inches
Price: $56.00
This volume explores how archaeology and cultural heritage can support well-being through therapeutic practice, community participation and research. Bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives, it examines the principles, challenges and evaluation of heritage-based initiatives while identifying future directions for research and practice.
In March 2023, the Scaling-up Human Henge project brought together a community of researchers, practitioners, and experts through experience, for the Well-being through Archaeology and Heritage Symposium held at Bournemouth University. The papers in this volume grew from that exchange of ideas, and the meeting of disparate specialisms. Contributors explore the unknowns of our approaches to heritage-based well-being projects and theory, sharing the underpinning therapeutic principles, practice, participation, and research, which illuminate ways forward for our mutual interests.
List of Contributors
List of Abbreviations
Foreword – Kate Mavor
Acknowledgements
Editors’ personal note – Vanessa Heaslip and Kerry Barrass
Chapter 1: Introduction: Journeys into Wellbeing Through Archaeology and Heritage – Timothy Darvill†, Vanessa Heaslip, and Kerry Barrass
Heritage and Well-Being Projects
Chapter 2: Stepping into Nature – Stephanie Aburrow, Julie Hammon and Steve Wallis
Chapter 3: Archaeology for Well-Being: The Later Prehistoric Norfolk Project – Andy Hutcheson
Chapter 4: Archaeotherapy: Finding Connectedness, Understanding and Healing at a Heritage Site – Harriet Sams
Chapter 5: Human Henge: Creating Opportunity and Delivering Activity – Gavin Perry-Harry, Daniel O’Donoghue and Yvette Staelens
Chapter 6: Reflections on Music from a Henge – Maxence Des Oiseaux
Engaging with Cultural Heritage
Chapter 7: PPI and Partnership in the Heritage and Wellbeing for NHS Staff (HerWellNHS) Project – Joanna Sofaer, Ofelia Zaboloteanu, Nick Maguire, Bryony Whitmarsh, Joe Shoebridge, Sharon Court, Millie Salkeld, Jason Sadler, Desi Gradinarova, and Anoop Chauhan
Chapter 8: Set the Scene: Situating Active Engagement in Community Archaeology and Well-being – Francesco Ripanti
Engaging with Cultural Heritage
Chapter 9: Heritage and Well-being in a Cross-Cultural Context: Challenges and Opportunities – Zena Kamash, Anne Ferrey, Omar Jassam, Zhala Amin, Layla Salih, and Emma Palmer-Cooperiv
Chapter 10: Archaeology on Prescription: Active Engagement Through Field Archaeology – Christina Henzel and Arran Johnson
Chapter 11: Heritage: Progressing Inclusion, Tackling Loneliness and Inequalities – Liz Ellis
Chapter 12: Five Ways to Wellbeing with Heritage Open Days – Sarah Holloway
Chapter 13: Cultural Heritage as Human and Social Capital: frameworks for Measuring Well-being Change – Faye Sayer
Chapter 14: Well-Being Approaches and the Heritage Sector – Linda Monckton
Evaluating Heritage and Well-Being Programmes
Chapter 15: Authentic and Meaningful Participation in Heritage or Related Activities (AMPHORA) guidelines – Eva Makri, Karen Burnell, Paul Everill
Chapter 16: Funding Archaeological and Heritage Well-being Programmes Via Health and Care Services: capturing Both Well-being and Value for Money – Ann-Marie Hawton and Elizabeth Goodwin
Chapter 17: Evaluating the Direct Impact of Heritage on Well-being – a Spiritual Matter? – Claire Nolan
Chapter 18: Human Henge: Our Story and Lived Experience – Vanessa Heaslip, Martin Allfrey, Kerry Barrass, Timothy Darvill†, Laura Drysdale, Elizabeth Goodwin, Gavin Perry-Harry, Anne-Marie Hawton, Daniel O’Donoghue, Yvette Staelens and Toby Sutcliffe
Chapter 19: Onwards and Upwards: Voices from Human Henge – Laura Drysdale, Simon Chaplin, Tess Denis, Liz Maisonpierre, Mark Marshall, Melanie Rogers and Louise Topp
Chapter 20: Feeling Useful: A Pilot Study to Investigate the Impact of Archaeological Participation on the Mental Well-being of Older People – Frances Breen
Chapter 21: Promoting Well-being Through Archaeology in Professional Environments – Celia Orsini
Afterword Timothy Darvill 1957 – 2024 A personal appreciation – Miles Russell
Timothy Darvill was the Professor of Archaeology at Bournemouth University from 1991 until his death. He led the ‘Scaling-up Human Henge’ and ‘Human Henge’ projects, amongst many other research and archaeological fieldwork projects. His research focused on the Neolithic of northwest Europe and he published over 20 books and 200 papers and articles. He held roles in many organizations including Cotswold Archaeology and the Society of Antiquaries of London. Tim was appointed OBE for services to archaeology in 2010.
Professor Vanessa Heaslip’s research interests are in communities who experience health inequity and social exclusion and whose voices are not traditionally heard in the academic and professional discourse. She has received numerous awards including Sigma International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame (2025), Chief Nurse Award for Adult Social Care (2025), Royal College of Nursing Northwest Award for Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (2024), Burdett Hero Award (2022) and Woman of the Year (2019).
Kerry Barrass, MA Ceramic and Lithic Analysis for Archaeologists; BA (Hons) Archaeology and Prehistory. Visiting Fellow, Bournemouth University.
- Edited by Timothy Darvill
- Edited by Vanessa Heaslip
- Edited by Kerry Barrass
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