UOA 15: Archaeology

REF 2021: Unit of Assessment 15

UOA 15: Archaeology

REF 2021

We鈥檝e capitalised on our breadth of expertise to maximise our societal impact. Our work is helping cultural heritage to thrive, and to promote sustainable heritage economies.听Our work also promotes community engagement and wellbeing, as well as contributing to food security, human health in an environmental context and the sustainability agenda.听

We have expanded enormously as a community since the last REF exercise, and are continuing to grow ambitiously.听We are an听inclusive department and try to ensure all our colleagues have the opportunity to develop their research, teaching and professional practice.

Find out more about the impact of our research

How the chicken crossed the globe: using zooarchaeology to transform education and reframe public perceptions

Staff conducting research:听Dr Julia Best,听, ,听,

Chickens are the world鈥檚 most widespread and abundant domestic animals - with more than 23 billion worldwide, they听provide much of the world鈥檚 primary meat and egg resources. Their diffusion from their Southeast Asia origin is almost entirely due to human-assisted transportation; as such, their natural history reflects human history, and the species holds a high degree of social significance. However, the timing and circumstances of their spread across the globe, and their transition into a food resource have been poorly understood.

裸聊直播 research has explored听chicken use from their first domestication to their modern-day roles and examined the cultural and environmental impact of this important species.听

This has been used听to create a wide range of activities and events to engage with more than 100,000 people, including children, older people and vulnerable groups. This has听transformed perceptions and knowledge of the long, interconnected histories of humans and chickens and the role of chickens in future human and animal health, well-being and environmental sustainability.

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Reframing Stonehenge: improving the visitor experience and mental wellbeing, bringing economic benefit to the heritage sector, and preserving the landscape

Staff conducting research:听, , Dr Vanessa Heaslip

Stonehenge is perhaps听the world鈥檚 best-known prehistoric monument and 裸聊直播 research听has answered important听questions about the site and improved the visitor experience.听

听裸聊直播 has conducted five interconnected projects in the past 20 years which have explored: the wider landscape surrounding Stonehenge; the primary source of the Stonehenge bluestones听at sites in south Wales and their perceived healing powers;听the landmark discovery of the 鈥楤luestonehenge鈥� stone circle, settlement activity and Neolithic houses at Durrington; and examining听whether a creative exploration of historic landscape could improve people鈥檚 mental health and wellbeing.听

This has introduced a new timeline of human activity at Stonehenge, contributing to the narratives told in the new Visitor Centre which opened at the site in 2013. 裸聊直播 research provided key information and data that helped create life-sized replica Neolithic houses, CGI reconstructions of the landscape, and physical artefacts for the exhibitions. It also helped update content for the official Stonehenge website, guidebook, map, audio-tour, displays, and information panels.

Professor Darvill and Dr Heaslip worked with heritage NGOs and mental health charities to create 鈥楬uman Henge鈥�, a 10-week programme of activities taking place both within the stone circle and the wider landscape to improve mental wellbeing.

裸聊直播鈥檚 research continues to feed into the future management and preservation of the Stonehenge landscape, forming a core component of the latest听Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site Management Plan.听

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裸聊直播

REF 2021: Unit of Assessment 15