Digging Archaeology through Social Media – 20 & 21 April 2022

Date: 20 & 21 April 2022

Location: Online

Credits: 1/2 ECT

Public outreach is an essential part of archaeology. To ensure ethical accountability to impacted communities, policy-makers, and funding bodies, the relevance of archaeological research must be shared with the wider public. In the last two decades digital opportunities for facilitating such outreach have developed significantly since the earliest discussions of ‘digital public archaeology’, as has internet connectivity and the online presence of modern society in general.

Social media forms an excellent medium for archaeologists to share research and results, while also enthusing the general public – and each other – regarding the discipline. Familiarity with the media-consumption habits and needs of particular groups is therefore important, as is an understanding of how social media can be used to share and highlight current archaeological research.

To further explore this topic, we will be hosting an online workshop on Gather Town focusing on the dissemination of archaeological research through social media. Part of the workshop will be dedicated to like-minded archaeologists – including individual researchers, museums and research institutions, heritage organisations, and one-time projects – sharing their experiences on social media outreach. There will also be the opportunity for participants to have their social media presence reviewed by professional outreach coach Petra Kevenaar of social media management bureau ‘Hashtag Junkies’ in a smaller-scale interactive session.

Preliminary Program >>

In addition to the speaker talks, we will also have 12 posters in the main foyer of the Gathertown space. Any students wishing to submit a poster correlating to the theme of the conference should apply by emailing it to m.i.siebrecht@rug.nl. Archon students will have first preference, and the deadline for poster applications is April 18th.

Registration: Please send an email to sasja@vandervaart-verschoof.com and inform her that you are an ARCHON member.

Assignment: ARCHON members can receive 1 EC if they participate both days and present a poster or hand in a reflection report, a proposal or a content plan (see below). Students can obtain 2 ECs if they present a poster AND hand in a report/proposal/content plan.

1. Reflection report
For the reflection report, you should focus on the approaches taken in the workshop and review these critically, using references to at least two sources of literature to support your reflection. If applicable, include how you would apply one or more of the presented approaches to your own research, and why you think that is relevant. The main goal of the report is for you to critically assess what you’ve learned during the course. It’s important that your report is creative and original.

Requirements reflection report:
– 1500-2000 words (excl. bibliography)
– References to literature in the text (at least two) and a separate bibliography.

– Use the following format to name your file: Archonreport_*name of the course*_*your name*.
– Submit your report to the coordinator by sending an email to secretary@archonline.nl.

2. Proposal
This option is for those who do not have an active social media presence, but who still want to engage more with non-specialist audiences. For the proposal, you should focus on the examples provided in the workshop and show how you can implement the ideas discussed into your future research. The main goal of the proposal is for you to critically assess what you’ve learned during the course, and how it can be applied in a broader sense outside of social media. It’s important that your proposal is creative and original.

Requirements proposal:
– 1500-2000 words (no bibliography required)
– References to points brought up in the workshop, including specific examples that have inspired your proposal.

– Use the following format to name your file: Archonproposal_*name of the course*_*your name*.
– Submit your report to the coordinator by sending an email to secretary@archonline.nl.

3. Content plan

This option is for those who have an active social media account that they are already using to share information about their archaeological research, or that they wish to start using for that purpose. For the content plan, you should provide a practical overview of your ideas for future content, a timeline plan of how you will implement these ideas, and explain the relevance and motivation behind this plan. The main goal of the plan is to implement what you have learned during the workshop, and demonstrate how you plan to engage more with non-specialists in the future. It’s important that your plan is creative and original.

Requirements proposal:
– 1000-1500 words (no bibliography required)
– References to points brought up in the workshop, including specific case studies and examples that have inspired aspects of your plan.

– Use the following format to name your file: Archonplan_*name of the course*_*your name*.
– Submit your report to the coordinator by sending an email to secretary@archonline.nl.