Download the Workshops Schedule here (pdf)
Indigenous Forum: Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup
Organisers:
Anita Painter, Dalabon Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Milliwonga Sandy, Rembarranga Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Mavis Jumbiri, Mielli Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Linda Gotjan, Dalabon Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
This forum is hosted by Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup. We will discuss the work that we do to keep culture strong and to look after our families. We support women, children, families and community by running culturally-led programs that incorporate traditional Indigenous healing and wellbeing practises. We use our cultural ways to help with health and wellbeing. This forum will include examples of basket-weaving, making bush medicine and water blessing by Traditional Owners. Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup is a place of healing.
Indigenous Forum: Traditional Fire Management by Mimal Rangers Land Management
Organisers:
Anita Painter, Dalabon Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Tracey Camfoo, Dalabon Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Linda Gotjan, Dalabon Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Mimal Rangers Land Management, Northern Territory, Australia
This discussion forum will focus on Aboriginal wisdom and how traditional land management methods can help prevent bushfires. Australia did not have catastrophic bushfires prior to colonisation by the British. Aboriginal cultural burning is low-intensity. Fires burn in a mosaic pattern (like a chessboard), allowing animals to move between areas. Afterwards, the burnt hollows of trees provide homes for selected animal species and some plants regenerate. Mimal Rangers Land Management are working collaboratively with Elders, Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land to ensure the land is cared for properly. This includes looking after the vegetation, waterways, and access back to country. Indigenous people are especially invited to attend this forum and share their knowledge with us.
Theme 12/Workshop 01: Let’s Talk Traceology! Cross-Cultural and -Contextual Perspectives on Use-Wear Analysis of Specialised Copper-Based Artefacts
Organisers:
Stefan Gridling, Department of Archaeologies, University of Innsbruck, Austria, gridling.stefan@gmx.at
Katarína Petriščáková, Department of Archaeology, City of Prague Museum, Czech Republic, petriscakova.katarina@centrum.cz
Over the last three decades use-wear analysis of metal artefacts – or Metalwork Wear Analysis (Dolfini and Crellin 2016) – has become a well-established method in archaeology. By detecting and interpreting the distinctive marks left on the surface of artefacts, this technique has significantly deepened our understanding of their use. It not only offers insights into the functional aspects of tools and weapons, but also sheds light on the life cycle of objects. Furthermore, when combined with other techniques, use-wear analysis allows us to explore objects’ biographies and offers a window into the lives and practices of the people who made, used, and discarded them.
This session invites researchers from across the globe to present and discuss use-wear analyses on copper-based artefacts, including copper alloys such as bronze. We invite a wide variety of contributions but particularly encourage submissions focused on tools and weapons — such as swords, spears, daggers, and axes — from different archaeological contexts, allowing for cross-cultural comparisons of wear patterns and interpretations, identifying both similarities and regional variations in the use of these objects, as well as exploring how context influences wear traces.
We also welcome contributions that examine region-specific artefact types and compare their use to similar objects from other areas, thereby broadening our interpretive framework. Participants are encouraged to present their observations through both oral presentations and visual formats. Also, pictures and photos regarding use-wear traces on posters in panel discussions are welcome.
How to Calibrate pXRF Data for Archaeological Research: A Workshop Hosted by the Global pXRF Network
Organisers:
Dr Michelle J. Richards, The University of Melbourne, Australia, michelle.richards@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Andrew McAlister, The University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, andrew.mcalister@auckland.ac.nz
Dr Bruce Kaiser, Chief Scientist Veracio, USA
Dr Lee Drake, University of New Mexico, USA, b.lee.drake@gmail.com
Dr Michaela Schauer, University of Vienna, Austria, michaela.schauer@univie.ac.at
This workshop builds upon the basics of pXRF analyses in archaeometric research to advance participants’ knowledge to the next level. We will demonstrate how and why custom calibrations are necessary for research quality pXRF data and participants will get an introduction to CloudCal to achieve this. CloudCal is open source software that allows researchers to custom calibrate data from different pXRF instruments (e.g. Niton, Olympus, Bruker).
While this workshop is targeted at advanced users of pXRF, we wish to be inclusive of anyone wanting to use pXRF in their research to learn how to optimise this technique. We will offer plain language explanations alongside the technical details. We also invite participants to bring existing pXRF data to the workshop for assessment. Please bring your laptop.
Theme 16/Workshop 01: Decolonising Disaster Heritage Research from Indigenous Land-based Knowledge and Art Activities from Canada and Bangladesh
Organisers:
Dr Ranjan Datta, Department of Humanities, Mount Royal University, Canada, rdatta@mtroyal.ca
Colleen J. Charles, Woodland Cree First Nation from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, ccharles@firstnationsuniversity.ca
Dr C. Emdad Haque, Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, cemdad.haque@umanitoba.ca
Dr Jebunnessa Chapola, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Regina, Canada, jchapola@mtroyal.ca
This workshop explores decolonising disaster heritage research through Indigenous community-led land-based knowledge and art activities from Canada and Bangladesh. Centring on Indigenous land-based approaches, the workshop highlights cross-cultural and intergenerational learning to address colonial legacies in disaster resilience. Participant-relatives will engage in land-based practices, such as learning decolonial tools and storytelling from Cree communities in Canada and land-based scholars from Bangladesh. Art activities, including reconciliation in canvas, will connect residential school impacts, and traditional knowledge with community-driven narratives of reconciliation. The workshop emphasises reciprocal learning, self-determination, and the transformative tools of decolonial methodologies in disaster research. Activities will showcase how integrating spiritual, cultural, and environmental practices can strengthen adaptive capacities and create healing within disaster-affected communities. Participant-relatives will leave with actionable insights for applying decolonial and community-led approaches in their work, fostering meaningful partnerships and deepening respect for Indigenous knowledge systems in disaster heritage and environmental sustainability research.
Theme 16/Workshop 02: Grass-root Responders in Changing Island Landscapes: Recording Heritage Sites Impacted by Natural Disasters in the Pacific
Organisers:
Christophe Sand, Head ICOMOS Pasifika; christophe.sand64@gmail.com
Mere Ratu, Blue Shield, vanuamere@yahoo.com
Annette Kuehlem, German Archaeological Institute, annette.kuehlem@dainst.de
Christian Reepmeyer, German Archaeological Institute, Christian.Reepmeyer@dainst.de
Ania Kotarba, Archaeology and Curatorial and Museum Studies and Environment Institute, the University of Adelaide, Australia, ania.kotarba@adelaide.edu.au
Loretta Hasu, University of Otago, haslo228@student.otago.ac.nz
Michelle J. Richards, The University of Melbourne, Australia, michelle.richards@unimelb.edu.au
Robin Wright, Digital Preservation Coalition – Australasia and Asia Pacific, Australia, robin.wright@dpconline.org
Processes associated with climate change and rising sea level have started to have multiple consequences for Pacific Islanders. The coastal erosion witnessed on every Island is dramatically threatening the future of coastal settlements and especially the sustainability of atolls. Confronted by the rapid disappearance of the landscapes that have been home for tens of generations of their forefathers, some Island communities have teamed with researchers to record their vanishing tangible heritage, as well as the intangible heritage that is associated with the islands, though different media, and especially using digital recording.
Unfortunately, there is no hope to see this form of collaborative work fulfilled on every Island experiencing heritage loss in the Pacific. This workshop though, proposes to discuss alternative ways to empower local communities in the recording of their tangible and intangible heritage. While digital recording must be favoured when possible, the members of ICOMOS Pasifika consider that less technically constraining methods should be made accessible for grass-root communities with little access to powerful wires and high-tech tools. This workshop plans to: 1) discuss these issues, 2) to present a Heritage Tool-Kit easily operated by Indigenous communities and, 3) to consider ways to disseminate it as widely as possible.
In addition to interested colleagues working in the Asia-Pacific region, we invite participants from around the globe who are facing these issues to share their experiences.
Archaeology By and For the Pacific: Building on the Legacy of the Lapita Conference Series 1988–2023
Organisers:
Charles Radcliffe, University of Otago, New Zealand, charles.radclyffe@otago.ac.nz
Emilie Dotte-Sarout, Social Sciences, Archaeology, University of Western Australia, Australia, charles.radclyffe@otago.ac.nz
Scott Fitzpatrick, University of Oregon, USA, smfitzpa@uoregon.edu
Christophe Sand, Senior Archaeologist, New Caledonia Government, Senior Research Associate, IRD-Nouméa, Head ICOMOS Pasifika, Nouméa, christophe.sand64@gmail.com
Mathieu Leclerc, Australian National University, Australia, mathieu.leclerc@anu.edu.au
Roxanne Tsang, University of Oxford; University of Papua New Guinea, roxanne.tsang@arch.ox.ac.uk
Pacific archaeology has entered a new phase. We have more Indigenous practitioners than ever before, many of them based in the islands, and never has there been such a strong emphasis on empowering communities to steer archaeological, museum-based and cultural heritage work. Drawing inspiration from this, the aim of the workshop is to continue discussions about the future of the Lapita Conference Series. The series grew from its beginnings in the late 1980s as a small collective of Lapita specialists to a major, international gathering of a wide array of researchers, community knowledge-holders and topics centred on Pacific cultures, languages and histories.
In the final session of the 10th International Lapita Conference held in Fiji in 2023, entitled ‘Future Plans for the Lapita Conference’ and chaired by founding figure, Emeritus Prof. Matthew Spriggs, broad discussions were held between senior and younger generations of attendees to decide what the future of the Lapita Conference could and should look like. Observations were shared of the conference series having naturally grown out of its ‘Lapita shell’ over the decades, and there was widespread support of the series evolving into a pan-Pacific archaeology conference. This workshop builds on this discussion and subsequent meetings held since 2023 by a working group of Pacific archaeologists. Further perspectives are welcomed, and a collective approach is essential to fulfill the working group’s vision to uphold the legacy of the Lapita Conference Series, broaden its inclusivity to all of Oceania and especially Indigenous practitioners, by giving those working in local or national institutions in the islands the opportunity to share their results, and to form a new pan-Pacific archaeological association. A key purpose of such an association will be to drive the evolution of a new conference series, and to operate sustainably, equitably and cooperatively with existing archaeological and cultural associations and conferences in the region. We welcome broad participation to contribute to answering questions about what the future of Pacific archaeology should look like, and how a new pan-Pacific archaeology conference series and association could help achieve shared aspirations.
Navigating the New World of Publishing Archaeology Articles
Organiser:
Mitchell Allen, Scholarly Roadside Service, University of California Berkeley Archaeological Research Facility, mjaltamira@sbcglobal.net
The once staid world of publishing archaeological research has been overturned by numerous disruptions in both the field and the publishing world. Younger scholars attempting to publish an article now must understand options provided by open access journals, predatory journals, impact factors, megajournals, and international journals, all of which may seriously affect the author’s ability to get published, the costs associated with it, the readership reached, the professional rewards attached, and the work required of the author. This workshop provides both a description the basic process of finding an appropriate journal for your writing and getting it successfully accepted and published, as well as reviewing the variety of newer publication options and their strengths and dangers.
Film: Portalis: Heritage and the Search for the First Settlers of Southeastern Ireland
Organisers:
Stanton W. Green, Professor Emeritus, Anthropology, Monmouth University, New Jersey, USA, Stanton.Green@gmail.com
Claudia B Green, Portalis Project Co-director
In 2022 after 40 years of archaeological and related research on the first settlement of southeastern Ireland and its connections with southern Wales, the Portalis Project (originally The Bally Lough Archaeological Project), culminated in a professionally produced documentary film (45 minutes) and a coordinated major museum exhibit at the Waterford Treasures Museum (an official branch of the National Museum of Ireland). This interactive workshop will include a screening of the film and a discussion of the museum project from both research community participation aspects. Discussion will centre on the broad archaeological and environmental benefits of the project for students from primary grades through graduate studies and the public at-large.
Unveiling the Enduring Legacy and the Behavioural Niche: Decoding Ancient Subsistence Patterns with Special Reference to Bow and Arrow Usages Amongst the Hunting-gathering Indigenous Communities of Maharashtra, India
Organisers:
Dr Buddharashmi Mani, Director General, National Museum, New Delhi; Vice Chancellor, Indian Institute of Heritage (IIH), Noida, Brmani@hotmail.com
Dr Rajiv Nigam, CSIR Emeritus Scientist, Former chief scientist (Dy Director) and Head (Geology, Marine Archaeology) National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India, rajivnigam1954@gmail.com
Dr Tishyarakshita Nagarkar, Senior Associate and Editor (Project Ethnography of 45 Tribes of Maharashtra), Dept of Anthropology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India; Visiting Faculty, Indian Institute of Heritage, Noida, bhargav.tishya@gmail.com
This workshop examines the application of ethnographic research in reconstructing ancient subsistence patterns, specifically emphasizing the role of bow and arrow in hunting, warfare, and daily activities. Participants will acquire knowledge regarding methodologies, data interpretation, and interdisciplinary approaches that encompass archaeology, anthropology, and ethnography.
Objectives of the Workshop
- Introduce ethnographic methods as tools for reconstructing ancient subsistence patterns.
- Analyse the cultural and functional dimensions of bow and arrow utilization.
- Examine case studies that link ethnographic observations with archaeological evidence.
- Facilitate hands-on activities for participants to analyse both ancient and contemporary analogues.
Who can Participate and Benefit from the Workshop?
- Archaeologists studying past human activity through the excavation and analysis of material remains.
- Scholars who study human societies, cultures, and their development.
- Students of history and cultural studies
- Researchers who study cultures and communities through direct observation and participation.
- Individuals engaged in the study of ancient technology and cultural reconstruction
Materials for the Workshop
- Replicas of bows and arrows from diverse cultures.
- Ethnographic videos and documented field studies.
- Materials on methodologies and case studies.
Anticipated Results
- At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will:
- Examine the function of ethnography in the reconstruction of ancient lifestyles.
- The bow and arrow play a crucial role in subsistence strategies.
- Acquire practical skills in the analysis of material culture utilizing an ethnographic perspective.
This workshop offers a platform for scholars and enthusiasts to engage with ethnographic and archaeological methodologies in analysing ancient subsistence patterns. Participants will enhance their understanding of traditional technologies and their significance in human survival and adaptation through a combination of theoretical discussions and practical activities.
Societal Resilience to Prehistoric Environmental Shocks in the Asia-Pacific Region
Organisers:
Ezra Zubrow, University at Buffalo USA, ezubrow@gmail.com
Patrick Daly, Washington University, USA, dalyp@wustl.edu
Michael Frachetti, Washington University, USA, frachetti@wustl.edu
There are growing global concerns about the vulnerability of our political, economic, and social institutions to systemic shocks, such as disasters, climate change, and pandemics. Projections suggest that the 21st century will see increasingly severe concurrent environmental and public health stresses that could trigger or overlap with financial and geopolitical crises. This has led to increased academic and policy interest in how lessons from the past might inform efforts to build societal resilience in the present. In this session, we welcome participants who provide archaeological examples of how past societies have been impacted by, and responded to, severe environmental shocks, such as disasters and climatic changes. We are especially interested in exploring how the unique temporal perspective of archaeological case studies can help re-theorise how societal resilience plays out over extended temporal and spatial scales. The purpose of this session is to share evidence and data, as well as methodologies and theories, that can be used for translating prehistoric lessons about societal resilience into contemporary discourse. It is meant to be interactive and participative and will be in a hybrid format. Areas of interest will include but not be limited to shocks, such as prehistoric natural disasters, long-term environmental degradation, disruption of prehistoric commodity and production routes and supply chains, demographic changes, political and social instability, and population displacement. Although focusing on the Asia Pacific Region, participants concerned with other areas of the world will be welcome.
Heritage Economics: Economic Information in Support of Heritage Research, Conservation and Communication
Organisers:
Brent Lane, Fellow of Global Heritage Economics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; Expert Member, ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Economics of Conservation (ISCEC), brent_lane@unc.edu
Dr Darius Arya, Director of the American Institute for Roman Culture, Rome, Italy, darius@dariusarya.com
Dr Jen Aultman, World Heritage Director, Ohio History Connection, Ohio, USA, jaultman@ohiohistory.org
Jasmine Straga, Director, Fédération Mondiale du Cirque, info@jasminestraga.com
Dr Paul Burtenshaw, Senior Director, The World Monuments Fund, pburtenshaw@wmf.org
The intersection of archaeology and cultural heritage with the field of economics can at times seems more like a collision in which respective goals and values conflict, often to their detriment. However, it also common that economic information can support archaeological research, conservation, and communication when used to elicit a broad base of public and private support and stewardship through the identification and elucidation of otherwise unrecognised shared interests. This workshop will bring together a spectrum of archaeologists and cultural heritage professionals who have demonstrated the means and value of ‘heritage economics’ information in mobilising and maintaining stakeholder and host community support.
Why Did XXX Cross the Southeast Asia Borders?
Organisers:
Hatthaya Siriphatthanakun, SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SEAMEO SPAFA), Bangkok, Thailand, hatthaya@seameo-spafa.org
Supitcha Sutthanonkul, SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SEAMEO SPAFA), Bangkok, Thailand, spc.whs@gmail.com
Sachipan Srikanlaya, SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SEAMEO SPAFA), Bangkok, Thailand, sachipan@seameo-spafa.org
Southeast Asia boasts a rich and diverse heritage, reflecting the region’s cultural and historical complexity. Heritage-related disciplines in the region continue to evolve, unveiling new discoveries and stories that deepen our understanding of its past.
This forum aims to provide a platform for sharing updates, ongoing works, and field experiences among archaeologists and people in heritage-related fields, whether professionals or emerging practitioners. By fostering an open exchange of knowledge, insights, and challenges, the forum seeks to create opportunities for valuable lessons learned, broaden perspectives, and enhance collaboration across the heritage community. Participants will engage in discussions on recent discoveries, pressing issues, and personal experiences from the field, ultimately contributing to a more connected and informed approach to heritage in Southeast Asia.
This forum seeks to serve as a platform for open dialogue, professional growth, and strengthened networks, ultimately contributing to the collective advancement of archaeology, heritage conservation, arts, museology, and related fields in Southeast Asia.
Theme 09/Workshop 01: Playing with the Past – Action Learning for Community-based Heritage
Organiser:
Kate Clark, University of Canberra/University of Western Sydney, kate.clark@canberra.edu.au
This ‘train the trainers’ workshop will introduce heritage educators and practitioners to activities that develop skills in values-based heritage practice, either in the classroom or in the community. It will take participants through some of the activities in Playing with the Past – the first action learning book for heritage (https://www.berghahnbooks.com/title/ClarkPlaying)
The book emerged from my frustration at the lack of skills in engaging with people and amongst heritage practitioners. These skills matter because heritage policy and practice ultimately involve understanding other people’s values – what matters, and why, and to whom?
The c.80 activities in the book can be used to teach skills in values-based heritage practice or as a framework to engage communities to understand what matters to them. It starts with activities to explore our own heritage and then provides activities that incorporate multiple different values into standard heritage policy methodologies – planning, impact assessment, interpretation, site management, advocacy and strategic thinking.
This fast-paced workshop will take participants through three very different activities and touch on the pedagogical and policy-based learning from each. The aim is to give participants the confidence to develop their own thinking and approaches in this field.
Wairua (Spirit) Safety and Archaeology
Organiser:
Dr Des Kahotea, Ngati Pukenga, Ngati Ranginui, Ngaiterangi (Tauranga Moana, Aotearoa/New Zealand, dkahotea@gmail.com
This workshop is about personal spirit safety for Indigenous archaeologists when traversing and excavating ancestral sites, especially working in the field with non-Indigenous colleagues. Each indigenous culture has their respective beliefs and protocols for personal spirit safety and this workshop is to bring experience and knowledge to share with each other, as well as to reinforce and support customary ritual practices in our role as Indigenous archaeologists. This will be an informal discussion group about how individual archaeologists manage this issue and the importance of the role of local Indigenous communities and elders.
African Theories of the Present-Past
Organisers:
Kathryn Weedman Arthur, University of South Florida, USA, kjarthur@usf.edu
Innocent Pikirayi, University of Pretoria, South Africa, innocent.pirkirayi@up.ac.za
Peter Ridgeway Schmidt, Emeritus, University of Florida, USA, schmidtp@ufl.edu
Since the first archaeological inquiries into African pasts, Western theories of archaeology and history have ignored African ways of making and representing the past and utilized African societies as a testing ground for universalising Western theories. We contend that we are long overdue for serious discussion and realisation of African ontologies and epistemologies as the basis for understanding African pasts. The organisers bring to the fore summaries of their recent collaborative discussions concerning the interplay of African memory and ontology on understanding African heritage landscapes and materiality. In this workshop, we open our ideas for discussion with aspirations to broaden our knowledge about potential counter-narratives, challenges, and hopes for developing inclusive practices that safeguard how diverse African societies construct pasts.
Story Telling with Maps for Archaeological Representations (Scientific Studies, Developing Teaching Aids for Students and Development of Creativity) (ONLINE ONLY)
Organisers:
Supun Siriwardane, GIS Solutions, Sri Lanka
W.R.J.V. Premachandra, Dept of Archaeology, Sri Lanka
Storytelling with maps can be identified as a combined method of modern artistic and scientific representation of information. Since geographical thinking and mental maps have been a part of human evolution, the maps can be used as a very powerful way of conveying archaeological facts with more insights to the spatial thinking process. Early humans might have used maps for indicating risk and safety areas, food availability or primary routes, with graphical representations that had been developed with cave arts and other representations. Therefore, spatial thinking and representations came as a supporting tool for story telling of particular incidents or scenarios.
In the modern context, digital ways of mapping with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have been used with web platforms for effective data visualisations. Story Maps can be identified as a digital way of representing scientific information with an attractive flow of text, media and other creative tools. This workshop will cover essential story map creating techniques using unique Sri Lankan archaeological sites which contain a diverse collection of archaeological stories. User creativity is the most important CBD (Capacity Building) factor to be obtained from the workshop. Local language-based poetry and literature can be represented as story maps as a teaching aid for multiple disciplines beyond archaeology, such as history, literature etc.
Theme 22/Workshop 01: Proposing a Global Charter and Advisory Body on Ethical Engagements with Ancestral and Archaeological Human Remains
Organisers:
Ronika Power, Macquarie University, Australia, ronika.power@mq.edu.au
Melanie Pitkin, Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney, Australia
Jacinta Carruthers, Macquarie University, Australia
Faten Kamal, The Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt
Alice Stevenson, University College London, UK
Alexandra Doubleday, Macquarie University, Australia, alexandra.doubleday@mq.edu.au
Bernardette Mercieca-Spiteri, Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, Malta
Sharon Sultana, National Museum of Archaeology, Heritage Malta, Malta
Jess Thompson, University of Cambridge and National Museum of Scotland, UK
Trish Biers, Duckworth Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK
This workshop is aligned with the session: ‘Ethics and Human Remains in Museums and Other Institutions’ (Theme 22: Changing Bioarchaeological Ethics and Practice in the 21st Century). The World Archaeological Congress has a long tradition of advocating for better practices in engagements with ancestral and archaeological human remains, their descent communities, and ‘communities of implication’. The Vermillion Accord on Human Remains was adopted at WAC 1989 in South Dakota, USA, and the Tamaki Makau-rau Accord on the Display of Human Remains and Sacred Objects was adopted at WAC 2006 in Osaka, Japan. While the principles of both accords remain of great value, it has nonetheless been 36 and 19 years respectively since their adoption. The 21st Century has seen the emergence of issues worthy of consideration in this realm, including but not limited to scientific advancements, Black Lives Matter, and De- and Anticolonial imperatives, to name a few.
Furthermore, despite the unique status of ancestral and archaeological human remains in global cultural heritage, there is no international charter/convention on standards, principles, or protections; no international advisory body or committee within which pertinent matters can be addressed; and no dedicated forum in which ideas, resources, and better practice strategies can be shared, developed and circulated on a regular basis. In the absence of such a body and charter/convention, ancestral and archaeological human remains and those who care about and work with them are not receiving the attention and support worthy of their status. This does not reflect well upon our moral or ethical obligations or duty of care towards past peoples and descent communities today, nor the values and practices we seek to instil and uphold for future generations.
This workshop will: 1) reflect on the Vermillion and Tamaki Makau-rau Accords in relation to the contemporary world and disciplinary practices; 2) audit the current situation of ancestral and archaeological human remains within leading international regulatory bodies; 3) map prospective opportunities and entities for collaboration; and 4) plan next steps, if required. The end goals of this session are to establish a global network of people interested in these matters, refresh their priority in WAC, and determine a path towards formal recognition and positioning of ancestral and archaeological human remains on the international cultural heritage agenda.
Biocultural and Archaeological Heritage Resilience in the Landscape of Maya Communities (ONLINE ONLY)
Organisers:
Lilia Lizama Aranda, Friends of Archaeologists Without Borders, Mexico
Ivan Batun, Friends of Archaeologists Without Borders, Mexico
Amina El Mekaoui, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan
Gertrudis Guzman, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan
Maria Kantun Chim, Comunidad de Ixil, Yucatan
Ingrid Quijano Cisneros, Comunidad de Ixil, Yucatan
This workshop aims to foster an interdisciplinary and multi-actor dialogue space where land defenders and collaborators involved in energy transition projects in Yucatán can share their insights on struggles and resistance in their territories. The session will examine the tensions and challenges peasant and Indigenous communities face as they defend their lands, culture, and rights. With a holistic approach, the discussion will focus on the following thematic axes: human rights in peasant and Indigenous struggles, preservation of the archaeological agricultural landscape and its links to Maya heritage, territorial defense against dispossession, biodiversity conservation amidst capitalist expansion, and the protection of cultural heritage, including language and traditional knowledge. The workshop will also emphasize Indigenous perspectives on climate change and local adaptation strategies.
This workshop will unite scholars, activists, and Indigenous leaders to foster meaningful exchanges and propose sustainable, community-led heritage resilience pathways.
Workshop Objectives
1. Facilitate Dialogue: Create an inclusive and interdisciplinary forum for Indigenous leaders, peasant communities, and scholars to share knowledge and experiences.
2. Address Heritage Resilience: Explore how biocultural and archaeological heritage can be protected amid socio-political and environmental threats.
3. Analyse Climate Adaptation: Discuss Indigenous adaptation strategies to climate change beyond Western-driven solutions.
4. Propose Solutions: Develop a collaborative approach to energy transition that respects local knowledge and land rights.
Workshop Structure
The workshop will be divided into four thematic sessions. Each session will begin with a brief academic and community-based presentation and a roundtable discussion.
1. Human Rights and Indigenous Land Struggles
- Overview of international and Local Legal Frameworks.
- Case studies on Indigenous-led resistance against land dispossession.
- Community-based strategies for legal advocacy and territorial defense.
2. Biocultural and Archaeological Heritage Conservation
- Connections between agricultural landscapes and Mayan heritage.
- Community-driven efforts to protect sacred sites and ancestral lands.
- Threats posed by industrial and extractive projects.
3. Biodiversity and Capitalist Expansion
- Impact of Energy and Urbanisation Projects on Biodiversity.
- Women-led environmental movements in Maya communities.
- Strategies for sustainable land stewardship.
4. Mayan Identity and Language Revitalisation
- The role of language and traditional knowledge in territorial resistance.
- Impacts of globalisation on cultural heritage.
- Community initiatives to strengthen Indigenous identity.
Access Synchrotron Radiation Facilities for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage: Open SESAME for Your Research
Organisers:
Kirsi O. Lorentz, The Cyprus Institute, Cyprus, k.lorentz@cyi.ac.cy
Andrea Lausi, SESAME synchrotron, Jordan, andrea.lausi@sesame.org.jo
Mirjam van Daalen, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland, mirjam.vandaalen@psi.ch
Annick Froideval, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland, annick.froideval@psi.ch
Frank Lehner, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Germany, frank.lehner@desy.de
Wantana Klysubun, Synchrotron Light Research Institute (SLRI), Thailand, wantana@slri.or.th
SUNSTONE EU Project WP2, https://sunstone.sesame.org.jo
Archaeological remains and cultural heritage constitute a crucial record of past civilisations and life ways, and their preservation, analysis and interpretation requires detailed analyses, including with advanced technologies. Synchrotron radiation approaches are increasingly used to analyse archaeological remains and cultural heritage, ranging from bulk measurements to structural and chemical characterisation through advanced high-resolution imaging in micro and nano meter scales. While synchrotron facilities are open through international peer-review to every researcher, globally, knowledge and knowhow as to how to access these facilities for archaeology and cultural heritage – including ideation, feasibility exploration, writing of successful beamtime proposals, execution of beamtimes, and data analysis and dissemination – are still relatively limited within the archaeological and cultural heritage communities.
This workshop within the World Archaeological Congress 2025 addresses this, providing a forum for sharing information and skills, so that you as participant are equipped and networked to follow up further, leading to an open-sesame juncture in your archaeological research. In particular, we focus on success stories and examples from SESAME (https://www.sesame.org.jo), the first synchrotron located within the region known as the cradle of civilisation. This workshop includes ample time for discussion and exploration of possibilities synchrotrons open up for your archaeological research.
An Introduction to Animation in Archaeology for Indigenous Peoples (for beginners)
Organisers:
Abbey Rawson, Flinders University, Australia, raws0031@flinders.edu.au
Mavis Jumbiri, Mielli Elder, Northern Territory, Australia
Come and learn about digital storytelling and gain basic animation skills!
Digital Creator Abbey Rawson and Artist/Storyteller Mavis Jumbiri were introduced at a community field school outside of Katherine (Northern Territory, Australia). The pair embarked on a short, collaborative animation project featuring Mavis’s artworks and Dreaming from the Barunga community. The aim of the project was to celebrate and share Dreaming and culture through combining Mavis Jumbiri’s text and illustrations with animation techniques.
This is a skill sharing workshop, aiming to provide interested Indigenous Peoples with digital storytelling techniques. The workshop will begin with a screening of A Rainbow Serpent Story by Mavis Jumbiri, animated by Abbey Rawson.
Participants will then be invited to explore basic animation principles and practical skills, or simply observe. This workshop is aimed at beginners, with no prior knowledge, or limited experience in animation.
Paper, pens and pencils for note taking and creative experimentation will be provided. Laptops and/or private computers are welcome, but not necessary.
*Indigenous Peoples will receive priority places.
Theme 10/Workshop 01: CRMArchaeo: A Stepping Stone to FAIR Practice
Organisers:
Stephen Stead, Open University; Paveprime Ltd, UK
Jane Jansen, Arkeologerna; Intrasis, Sweden
This workshop will explore how to use CRMarchaeo, part of the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model, to link a wide range of existing archaeological documentation. In particular we will be considering the use of oral history and traditions and how they may be incorporated with excavation material. When working with data deposited in archives in different eras and by different organisations using ever-evolving recording methodologies, a recurrent problem is being able to systematically access elements of the record without immersing oneself in the recording milieu of the original deposits. This high intellectual cost must be paid by each scholar wishing to work on the records of a particular archaeological investigation and so effectively creates a barrier to extensive reuse of archived data. The FAIR data principles require “that all research objects should be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) both for machines and for people” (Wilkinson et al. 2016). One approach to making data FAIRly accessible while reducing the effort to a single ‘intellectual act’ is to map to a ‘lingua franca’, such as CRMarchaeo.
The CRMarchaeo extension has been created to promote a shared understanding of how to formalise the knowledge extracted from the observations made by archaeologists. It provides a set of concepts and properties that allow clear explanation (and separation) of the observations and interpretations made in the field and post-excavation. Attendees will work through a series of case studies that reflect different excavation documentation practices: from 1950s style day books through to context recording sheets, followed by database/CAD combos and on to modern integrated object oriented database/GIS systems, like Intrasis. The aim is to explore archetypical solutions and provide attendees with hands-on experience of mapping actual documentation practice to CRMarchaeo. This can then be applied to their own or archive documentation, both current and historical, in their own institutions or archives and lead to integrated reusable composites being available for both internal and external use. The c.80 activities in the book can be used to teach skills in values-based heritage practice or as a framework to engage communities to understand what matters to them. It starts with activities to explore our own heritage and then provides activities that incorporate multiple different values into standard heritage policy methodologies – planning, impact assessment, interpretation, site management, advocacy and strategic thinking.
Theme 06/Workshop 01: Finding Forager Foods: Challenges and Solutions
Organiser:
Andy Fairbairn, The University of Queensland, Australia
Alison Crowther, The University of Queensland, Australia
In Theme 06/Session 02, Reevaluating the Forager Spectrum, speakers will discuss how we are thinking increasingly broadly and innovatively about forager societies and lifeways in the past, yet some challenges persist, such as understanding what they ate, especially plant foods. In this workshop, participants will explore what’s new in forager food research and how we can extract every last crumb of knowledge about ancient foods from archaeological sites around the world.