Ancient Objects - New Stories
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Sch of Archaeology and Ancient History
Abstract
This participatory research project will investigate the biographies of understudied (not selected for display) Roman-era objects in the archives of two museums/heritage sites in the East Midlands: The Jewry Wall Museum (Leicester) and The Chester House Estate (Northants). The investigations will combine guided archival research with the use of cutting-edge equipment acquired through an AHRC CapCo grant awarded to the School of Archaeology and Ancient History (SAAH) and will involve KS2/3 (7-13 years) pupils and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) (16-25 years). Participants will visit the archives to select and handle objects and will carry out guided archival research. They will attend interactive workshops where CapCo equipment will be used to investigate objects selected by participants. Their research and responses to the investigation will be showcased through a range of digital and pop-up displays co-created with staff from the organisations involved which will be incorporated within the interpretation at both sites.
Accessible digital resources for Key Stage 2/3 and SEND teachers will be developed (including videoclips of the investigation) linked to SAAH's highly successful KS2/3 Life in the Roman World (LitRW) programme for schools. Through a workshop for teachers the project will show the potential of arts and STEM integration for enthusing and empowering young people as creators, innovators and leaders within their communities, and will strengthen and enhance existing research, learning and Knowledge Exchange (KE) partnerships between SAAH, local schools and heritage sites in the East Midlands. The project will provide training, mentoring, school and community engagement opportunities for early career researchers, professional archaeologists and heritage professionals, simultaneously building capacity within SAAH, University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS),
Leicester City Council (LCC), The Chester House Estate (CHE) and the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre (NARC).
Accessible digital resources for Key Stage 2/3 and SEND teachers will be developed (including videoclips of the investigation) linked to SAAH's highly successful KS2/3 Life in the Roman World (LitRW) programme for schools. Through a workshop for teachers the project will show the potential of arts and STEM integration for enthusing and empowering young people as creators, innovators and leaders within their communities, and will strengthen and enhance existing research, learning and Knowledge Exchange (KE) partnerships between SAAH, local schools and heritage sites in the East Midlands. The project will provide training, mentoring, school and community engagement opportunities for early career researchers, professional archaeologists and heritage professionals, simultaneously building capacity within SAAH, University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS),
Leicester City Council (LCC), The Chester House Estate (CHE) and the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre (NARC).
People |
ORCID iD |
| Sarah Scott (Principal Investigator) | |
| Jose Lopez (Co-Investigator) |
| Description | Approximately 170 young people were engaged. Approximately 40 heritage/learning professionals and community heritage volunteers attended workshops. Scientific investigation was carried out on a range of objects from collections in Leicester and Northants. Virtual sessions enabled young people to connect with researchers in the lab and to ask questions. The number of young people engaged significantly exceeded the target of 90. The sessions were very well received by teachers, young people and heritage professionals, resulting in requests for further sessions and lab and museum visits. Resources were developed to support the workshops, including lesson plans and practical classroom activities. The workshops in Leicester were filmed by Leicester City Council for an installation in the new Jewry Wall Museum. The results of the research were mixed, but nevertheless provided very useful insights into the potential for further investigation and the range of factors impacting on suitability for investigation. These insights will be helpful for academics and heritage professionals interested in gaining a deeper understanding of how objects were made and used in the past and how people and objects interacted with each other. The school workshops showed the potential for engaging new audiences with the processes of scientific investigation and for making collections accessible and engaging for diverse audiences. Participants gained an understanding of the nature of the equipment and its capabilities (stereomicroscopes, metallographic microscopes and scanning electron microscopes). |
| Exploitation Route | The experiences of the participants and the results of the research might be used to inform future research involving the scientific investigation of objects in archaeological archives, and the development of public engagement programmes in museums, archives and universities. |
| Sectors | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Description | Schools and heritage partners are keen to continue the collaboration. The resources and activities are informing the development of the learning offer at heritage sites in Leicester and Northants and are proving useful for the training of staff and volunteers, building confidence and capacity. The workshops showed the potential for engaging young people with labs and archives through virtual sessions. The most significant challenges included organising the sessions in schools and visits to archives on a very short timescale (a year in advance is ideal for school activities on this scale), and coordinating participants from multiple organisations, including a film crew. The experience gained is informing the development of our partnerships with Leicester City Council and North Northants Council, including collaborative public engagement activities and the development of collaborative learning programmes. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | College workshop (18 years) SEND pupils |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 15 pupils attended a session introducing them to archaeology and the processes of scientific investigation. The session included a visit to an archaeological site, an archaeological archive and a virtual lab session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | KS3 Lab visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Visit to archaeological labs at the University of Leicester. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | School workshops KS2 (Leicester) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 120 pupils attended a workshop introducing them to archaeology and the processes of scientific investigation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | School workshops KS3 (Leicester) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 30 pupils attended a workshop introducing them to archaeology and the processes of scientific investigation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Workshop for heritage professionals and volunteers (Northants) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Workshop introducing techniques of scientific investigation in archaeology, including a practical session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |