A space at the table? Global challenges and contemporary archaeology as plural transdisciplinary design for the future

Bibliographic Data

ID7472102
AuthorsMatthew Davies (0000-0001-9740-0622, University of Cambridge, corresponding author), Samuel Lunn-Rockliffe (0000-0002-4511-9457, University of Cambridge)
Year2026
Volume100
Issue409
Pages207-217
Publication date2026-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAntiquity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-598X • E-ISSN: 1745-1744
PublisherAntiquity Publications (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.15184/aqy.2025.10210
OpenAlexW7128591578
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited30

Archaeologists often proclaim that they have much to contribute to the ‘global challenges’ of the twenty-first century, yet they find little space at the policymaking table. In this debate article, the authors argue that archaeologists seeking practical relevance must start with a critical, expanded understanding of the contemporary, including how communities, stakeholders and complex policy structures operate to navigate unfolding socioecological crises. They propose a reversed historical directionality grounded in transdisciplinary research design that integrates contemporary challenges and community-defined priorities from the outset to foster a dynamic, future-facing dialogue that more readily informs pathways to tangible impact

Plural · Relevance (law · Space (punctuation) · Transdisciplinarity · Archaeological Research and Protection · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Historical and Cultural Archaeology Studies

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Open DOIOpen Access