Digitization in archaeology and (re)presentations of the past

Aims

A vast number of digital tools are available for archaeologists to be used for documentation, analyses, to share data, for learning, or to engage with the past. These include hardware such as scanners, software programs, applications for mobile phones/iPad/tablets, pod casts, Internet sites, social media, etc. This seminar aims at exploring digitization in archaeology and museums, and the themes raised cover both practical/technical issues and theoretical considerations.

Based on their PhD work, the student participants will present papers that, in some regard, relate to digitization in archaeology or museums. The participants are welcomed to demonstrate available digital tools, but focus ought to be on wider methodological and theoretical questions that digitization raises. The presentations might, but are not limited to, touch upon one or several of the following themes:

How digitization influences various aspects of archaeology

Digitization is an important reminder that external factors such as technical achievements influence the discipline of archaeology. The participants are therefore encouraged to identify and discuss to what extent and in what ways new technologies influence how knowledge about the past is constructed and presented, and consequently how the past is perceived, or the consequences digitization might have for museums or heritage management.

Technical and methodological aspects

Papers are welcomed that present available digital tools and how these can be utilized by archaeologists and museums. Challenges posed by using these tools ought to be considered, whether of technical or epistemological nature. For instance, how are “data” being selected and “captured” through digitization? To what extent does digitization represent material culture? Does digitization influence how we value original artefacts? Does digital data and representations become a new type of heritage? Should archaeologists and cultural historians themselves achieve necessary technical skills in order to maintain a disciplinary control of the material? What will the consequences be for the cultural historical disciplines if we leave much of this development work to technical experts?

Digitization in museums and presentations of the past

Digital resources are often seen as viable tools for sharing data, learning and presenting a cultural historical material to the public, students and school-children. However, the expanding potential of digitization raises several questions. For instance, to what extent does digitization influence the role and character of museums? Is it possible that the expectations generated by the current technical advances are too high and impossible to fulfil for most museums? The need for digital access varies for different interest groups, but is it realistic to expect that the museums can take into account all these different needs? Are digital and interactive tools in the museums more about exploring new technologies – toys to play with – than useful tools for learning about the past? What characterizes good digital learning tools?

Virtual pasts and popular culture

Digital technology offers a unique chance for people to construct and experience versions of the past that differ from those constructed by academics. For instance, Internet and social media can be used to create networks where people share their own interests in and interpretations of the past. Digital reconstructions, virtual communities and computer games enable people to experience the past and even play a role in it. However, which past is created and experienced in these digital worlds? Do they nourish a multivocal and democratic involvement with the past, or are they controlled by commercial interests, a fascination for current technology, or particular ideologies that ought to be identified and analyzed? To what extent should museums, archaeologists and other cultural historians be inspired by the digital tools used in popular culture and use these in order to communicate, or to create a dialogue about, “our” versions of the past?

 

Course work

The format will be organized around two components:
- Lectures from established researchers. The lectures will be underpinned by a beforehand circulated reading list.
- Seminars where student papers are discussed. To these seminars students will be required to submit a 10 page paper before the seminar. At the seminar, students will be required to orally present (15 minutes) elements relevant to a discussion of the submitted paper, as well as serve (10 minutes) as a first opponent to fellow students papers. All students and lecturers are expected to participate in an ensuing open discussion (30 minutes).

 

List of lecturers

Palmyre Pierroux, Associate Professor, InterMedia, University of Oslo

Timothy Webmoor, Research Fellow in Science and Technology Studies,Institute for Science, Innovation and Society, University of Oxford

Sarah Lowe, Associate Professor of Graphic Design, University of Tennessee

Atle Omland, Post doc., Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History, University of Oslo. 

 

Organiser

Post doc. Atle Omland, Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History, University of Oslo. 

  

Credits 

1 month or 7 ECTS

Location, travel and costs 

The course will take place in Athens, Greece. The Graduate School will support travel and accommodation for all participating PhD students from Nordic universities. Air tickets must be arranged by the graduate student her-/himself. We encourage you to buy the cheapest fare. Accommodation will be arranged by the School, and two PhD students will share a room. 

Registration

The Graduate school invites all registered PhD students to apply for participation. The application (in English) should include information on the individual PhD project, and how the project will benefit from the planned PhD course. Please use this application form. From these applications the board of the Graduate School will select c. 20 PhD students for the course. Interested PhD students should apply for the course to: Atle Omland. Email: atle.omland@iakh.uio.no with a copy to Lene Melheim. Email: a.l.melheim@iakh.uio.no. 

Information

For further information please contact Lene Melheim, Administrative Officer, Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History, University of Oslo, Box 1008 Blindern, N-0315 Oslo, Norway. Email: a.l.melheim@iakh.uio.no. Phone: (+47) 99755435, Fax: (+47) 22841901. Or Atle Omland, Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History, University of Oslo. Email: atle.omland@iakh.uio.no.
 

Deadlines

New deadline for applications: August 22, 2011, 12 AM

Confirmation on your participation will be sent out shortly after this date together with a reading list.

Abstracts of ½ page: August 29, 2011

Submission of working papers (10 pages, Times New Roman 12, Spacing 1,5): September 12, 2011 

Distribution of papers and appointment of opponents: September 19, 2011