This interdisciplinary research network was formed by Historic Environment Scotland to discuss, observe, explore and expand understandings of the archaeology of the contemporary, across and beyond Scotland. GSA Reading Landscape Research Group members participated in the workshops.
This interdisciplinary research network was formed to: discuss, observe, explore and expand understandings of the archaeology of the contemporary, across and beyond Scotland; to enable the development of a research culture to create and inform approaches for Scotland’s contemporary archaeology; and to create avenues of discourse with policy makers, archaeologists, artists and others about the contemporary archaeologies of Scotland.
The term 3M (dis)organisation is a mashup of the ubiquitous nature of the 3M Company (eg Scotch® tape), and the idea of contemporary archaeology in Scotland, occupying a space into the third millennium. Contemporary archaeology can be considered in two parts:
• A methodological approach that encourages archaeologists to engage with the contemporary world as a suitable subject for archaeological study, and by exploring traditional and new methodologies
• It also provides opportunities for archaeologists to develop new theoretical approaches, which archaeological discourse requires.
Two research questions at the heart of the project:
• What are the roles and opportunities for contemporary archaeology in Scotland today?
• How can contemporary archaeology benefit communities and engage with major social
issues of the day in Scotland?
The project has comprised of a series of knowledge sharing workshops in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Orkney and Edinburgh to look at the following themes:
• Episode 1: Glasgow, focusing on different encounters with a sense of place within the City;
• Episode 2: Aberdeen, exploring concepts and practices of art/archaeology, graffiti and street art as a material evidence, beyond official narratives, of contemporary archaeology (in collaboration with the Nuart festival);
• Episode 3: Stromness, Orkney, experiencing arrange of historic and contemporary archaeology sites and landscapes across Orkney, including those relating to renewable energy;
• Episode 4: Edinburgh, discussing how to develop this research network to further explore urgent issues within contemporary archaeology.
Historic Environment Scotland were funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh to develop this research network.
Participants: Iain Anderson, Dr Alex Hale, Mark Scott (Historic Environment Scotland), Dr Kenny Brophy (University of Glasgow), Dr Stuart Jeffrey, Sue Brind, Jenny Brownrigg, Dr Gina Wall (The Glasgow School of Art), Dr Jim Harold, Birthe Jorgensen (independent artist), Cara Jones (Archaeology Scotland), Professor Sian Jones (University of Stirling), Daniel Lee (Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology), Dr Gavin MacGregor, Dr Paul Murtagh (Northlight Heritage), Dr Mhairi Maxwell (V&A Museum of Design, Dundee), Dr Jeff Sanders (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland), Dr Antonia Thomas (University of the Highlands & Islands).
Reading Landscape 