Format: Paper presentations with discussion
Convenors:
Durga Kale, University of Calgary, Canada
durga.kale@gmail.com
Akash Srinivas, Centre for Interdisciplinary Archaeological Research, Ashoka University, India
akashsrinivas123@gmail.com
Malavika Chatterjee, Centre for Interdisciplinary Archaeological Research, Ashoka University, India
malavikachats@gmail.com
Research within various themes in archaeology has garnered considerable attention over the years, along with considerations around the accessibility of this research to the public. Digital media, such as podcasts and social media, have revitalised the modalities of science communication. With newer modes of communication and data retrieval, questions of academic integrity, rigorous research, and authentic data presentation continue as key topics at the intersection of public and academic discourse. Further, our experience hosting a podcast on archaeology also highlights the undulating landscape for digital data consumption. This session seeks to expand on the discussion centred around the accessibility of archaeological research through digital modes of communication. Accessibility, in this sense, could be a literal discussion on access, gate-keeping through paywalls, etc., for the digital products; the broader structural issues of both archaeology and technologies; or the presentation of “popular” data resulting in the continued sidelining of less “sensational” stories from around the world. For this discussion, the session invites perspectives on the inclusion of diverse voices and data from under-represented geopolitical areas, focusing on embracing more perspectives while reconstructing narratives through archaeological research. Through this, the session seeks to open the forum for discussing possible avenues to make archaeological research more accessible and equitable to its many stakeholders. The archaeologists’ point of view could be expanded to include the discussion on the expectations of media communication that range from story-telling to sensationalism, as a crucial factor in the success of archaeology in social media. With this session, we hope to break the ground on archaeology and digital space to build a community of scholars who work in similar research areas. With this, we hope to work towards discussing ethics, best practices, and using academic research on public platforms, in the face of AI.
Papers:
Encounters with the Digital Divide: Power, Narratives, and the Untold Histories of Mexico City Online
Sandra Lorena Lopez Varela, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
UNESCO’s assertion that “the sharing of knowledge and information, particularly through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), has the power to transform economies and societies” presents a compelling vision. This paper challenges the universality of that claim by examining how economic disparities have created a digital divide, restricting access to these transformative tools and resulting in unequal opportunities to acquire knowledge. Analysing the economic dynamics behind ICTs reveals how global and governmental institutions shape knowledge construction by controlling online content, including how we engage with the past. To address this imbalance, we developed Alternative Mexico (mexicoalternativounam.com), a project using a free mobile application for iOS and Android devices, alongside social media platforms to empower residents of Mexico City and its surrounding areas to share their “stories” about the past. This initiative, built on a teaching-research alliance with the public, aims to counteract the digital divide. By asking who has access to online contents and whose knowledge is being communicated, the discussion emphasises how digital technologies often amplify dominant, state-sponsored, or academic narratives, influencing whose stories are told and preserved online. In doing so, we aim to honour the public’s rights to memory and to communicate their “stories” through digital platforms.
Representing Heritage in Media: Mexican Heritage and the Disney Movie of Coco
Valentina María Valiente Arizmendi, Universidad de Barcelona, Spain
In today’s globalised world, media and communication reshape how cultural heritage is represented, creating new opportunities and challenges. These media facilitate connections across distances, often in one’s own language, enabling new portrayals that strive for authenticity and respect, moving beyond stereotypes. A notable example is Disney’s Coco, which has had a global cultural impact. This paper examines how Coco represents Mexican heritage and whether local communities perceive it as authentic or as a reimagined stereotype. It also explores why cultural representation matters and how it affects the communities depicted. Media representations can make heritage more accessible to global audiences while sparking debates on racism, stereotypes, and equity. Additionally, the study highlights the role of digital platforms and visual narratives in enabling local communities to share and preserve their intangible heritage. Finally, it argues that ethical and innovative uses of modern media, such as animation, can enrich cultural heritage communication and inspire best practices for researchers, communicators, and content creators engaging with diverse audiences.
Bridging Research and Public Engagement: The Power of Short Documentaries in Archaeology – Viatges a la Prehistòria de Castelló YouTube Channel
Didac Roman, Universitat Jaume I, España
Gustau Aguilella, Servei d’Arqueologia-Diputació de Castelló, España
Inés Domingo, ICREA-Universitat de Barcelona, España
Daniel Sanz, Technician in multimedia projects, España
As archaeologists in academia, we recognise heritage promotion as a key part of our mission. Our short documentaries, shared through a Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@ViatgesprehistoriaCastello) provide an accessible platform for sharing archaeological knowledge, bringing both well-known and lesser-known prehistoric sites into the public eye. By transforming complex scientific research into engaging narratives, we foster a deeper appreciation of our shared past, while bridging the gap between academia and society.
A key strength of this approach is our direct involvement as presenters. Our firsthand narration aims at ensuring scientific accuracy, while making research more relatable and engaging. Communicating directly with audiences strengthens public trust and offers unique insight into our archaeological work.
Produced in Catalan, with Spanish and English subtitles, our documentaries reinforce the presence of a minoritised language in scientific communication. We also incorporate the voices of local stakeholders, museum curators, and national park staff, strengthening the connection between archaeology and the territory. By focusing on regions at risk of depopulation, we showcase how cultural heritage can drive sustainable tourism and regional revitalisation. Through digital media, we aim to amplify the visibility of archaeological sites, empower local communities, and connect research with a global audience.
History, Heritage and Storytelling: The Interplay of Media and Archaeological Narratives in 21st Century India
Dr Afshan Majid, Shweta Sinha Deshpande and Esha Prasad, Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India
Historical and archaeological narratives are often used to legitimise and validate the identity of a nation state. The ‘museum’ has been a legitimate tool in constructing a nation’s identity and heritage by representing the past through artefacts and choices of historical material. Today, ‘media’ through its agency, interactive forms and wide reach brings forth issues of identity, representation and multivocality. It builds a specific memory of and for a population, their geographical territory and heritage. This paper brings together popular media such as cinema, documentaries and news, as important mediums for the creation, dissemination and transformation of knowledge and storytelling with regard to India’s identity in the 21st century. It will deconstruct this shared text available to the masses through language, context, target audience, and their reaction. Though there is mass appeal through popularisation of narratives, there is also delegitimisation of fact-checking, erasure of scholarship, and make-believe historiography that questions established narratives to propagate new and old ideas of history. The narrative on identity has been a fluid space propagated through multiple tools over time; the science of archaeology within this, thus becomes a validating tool in the process of identity building.
Comics, Digital Media, and Research: A New Path for Academic Engagement
Kush Dhebar, Consultant, Dept of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Haryana, India and Founder and Director of Vratya Foundation
The author of this paper initially faced challenges in reaching a wider audience with his PhD, titled “An Iconographic Study of the Sculptures of Grappling and Pugilism on Vijayanagara Monuments,” due to the academic jargon used. Recognising the need for a more accessible format, the author restructured his work into two broader themes: Vijayanagara and Grappling/Pugilism. This categorisation allowed for the creation of more approachable narratives. Additionally, the author collaborated with an illustrator to produce comic-style adaptations of his research, incorporating panel-wise suggestions and visual references to maintain academic integrity.
The first comic focused on Vijayanagara, while the second explored Mallavidya, the ancient Indian art of grappling. Both comics used fictionalised narratives based on primary research sources to depict cultural and social phenomena, such as the cosmopolitan nature of Vijayanagara, featuring characters from diverse international backgrounds, and thought-provoking discussions on Shakti worship, chauvinism, and menstrual health. These comics effectively communicated complex cultural and social concepts in a simple, engaging manner, resonating with both young and old readers. The success of this approach highlights how comics can bridge the gap between academic research and a broader audience, offering an innovative medium for making scholarly work more relatable and accessible.
Podcasting History: Exploring the Intersections of Podcasting, Archaeology, Anthropology and Science Communication
Akash Srinivas, Centre for Interdisciplinary Archaeological Research, Ashoka University, India
Malavika Chatterjee, Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, India
Durga Kale, University of Calgary, Canada
Podcasts are a creative way to engage a wide array of individuals by effectively and efficiently disseminating information, while entertaining audiences and democratising research. Within the last decade, it has been noted that audio entertainment, such as podcasts, has grown in popularity due to their ease of accessibility, their wide range of themes and their enabling of multitasking. Chippin’ Away is one such podcast. With the aim for science communication, this podcast creates a space for well-researched dialogue on the various aspects of South Asia’s past, through all available avenues, including history, archaeology, anthropology, art, and oral traditions. We explore the ‘how’ of creating a collaborative space as we discuss the processes for the creation and curation of this podcast that grounds our on-field experience as archaeologists, researchers and instructors. We reflect on the various benefits, potential, and avenues for science communication in archaeology, while also identifying the limitations and restrictions of this medium in the ever-changing landscape of heritage management, knowledge dissemination, and the 21st-century digital mediascape. In our discussion, we dive into the realities of engaging research in a digital space, juxtaposing this with our experiences drawn from traditional academic spaces, and translating the same to a broader audience.
Archaeology in the Digital Territory: Exploring Instagram in Brazil
Marcia Bezerra, Universidade Federal do Pará/UFPA, Brazil
Glória Tega, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais/UFMG, Brazil
Recently, due to various factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a growth of research involving social media in the field of the humanities and social sciences. The expansion of anti-science discourse and the massive spread of fake news have an impact on science, especially affecting historically marginalised groups. To combat these narratives, researchers from many domains have developed, diversified, and enhanced strategies for scientific communication and engagement in digital media. In these digital territories, people consume and generate content, connecting with one another in a variety of ways. Instagram, for example, is a social network that enables users to edit and share photographs and videos, rendering it a fertile research site for examining visual narratives of archaeology in digital media. This study draws on research conducted on Instagram to analyse the assemblages of hashtags, images, and ideas related to archaeology in Brazil.
Exploring the Potential of Social Media in Rock Art Education and Conservation
Agustina Papú, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET; Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano, INAPL
Social media can help involve the general public, particularly younger generations, in the appreciation and protection of archaeological sites, which can be a game-changing asset while planning long-term solutions in heritage conservation.
Rock art is a vulnerable cultural heritage, often exposed to both environmental and anthropic risk factors. Part of the problem with the latter, lies in the lack of awareness of the value these remains hold, and the importance behind their preservation. But a lot of the accessible non-academic content on rock art available online is either grounded in misinformation or has a strong geographical bias.
This inspired the creation of “Explore Rock Art”, a two-platform initiative through social media, to provide curated content on rock art by an archaeologist specialised in the field. Through Instagram it aims to show the diversity worldwide of this particular heritage, while directing readers to the published research from which the information was obtained. The Youtube Channel aims to create bilingual educational content exploring the unique information these images can provide about the past, and the way archaeologists work to obtain it; breaking away from common misconceptions, engaging new audiences in the field of rock art, and creating potential allies for its conservation.