CHAT 2013: Experience, University College London, 8–10 November 2013

Colin Philip Sterling

doi:10.5334/pia.450

Abstract

For ten years now CHAT (Contemporary and Historical Archaeology in Theory) has set out to challenge assumptions around the archaeology of the recent past with a series of thought provoking thematic conferences. This year, the 11th annual CHAT Conference was held at University College London and jointly organised by the Institute of Archaeology and Atkins,1 with a broad focus on the topic of ‘experience.’ Over three days, established academics, early career researchers and practicing heritage professionals from across the world offered up their take on this sometimes nebulous theme. The results were - in turn - captivating, frustrating, enlightening and provocative, but never boring.

Highlights

Rodney Harrison and Sefryn Penrose began the conference with introductory remarks which emphasised the practical and theoretical impetus behind the chosen theme
Graves-Brown challenged our idea of what archaeologists could or should study with a stimulating paper on advertising, design and material culture, taking in electric kettles, the Model-T Ford, mobile phone cases and Freudian psychoanalysis
An evening drinks reception to celebrate the launch of the Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of the Contemporary World (Harrison, Graves-Brown, Piccini eds. 2013) offered an informal setting to discuss the issues raised at the end of the first sessions

Summary

Introduction

Rodney Harrison and Sefryn Penrose began the conference with introductory remarks which emphasised the practical and theoretical impetus behind the chosen theme. The remainder of the first day included papers on the practice of contemporary archaeology in Detroit and its value to the future of the city, the experience of absent buildings in two quite disparate locations (Indianapolis and northern Finland), and artistic research into Scotland’s nuclear industry. Sterling: CHAT 2013 den and neglected pasts in the present, drawing on innovative methodologies to complicate and challenge preconceived notions of banal, evocative or menacing material environments.

Results

Conclusion