The Public Archaeology of Death - Howard Williams
Envisioning Cremation: Art and Archaeology
The Public Archaeology of Death - Howard Williams
Aaron Watson [+]
Monumental Heritage Consultancy
Dr Aaron Watson is an independent researcher, Creative Director at Monumental Heritage Consultancy, and an Honorary Fellow in Archaeology at Durham University.
Howard Williams [+]
University of Chester
Howard Williams is Professor of Archaeology in the Department of History and Archaeology, University of Chester.
Description
Focusing on artist’s impressions of early Anglo-Saxon cremations, we reflect on the potentials and challenges of collaborations between artists and archaeologists to both convey the fiery transformation of the dead in the human past, and provide reflection on our society’s own engagement with mortality in which cremation has become a commonplace dimension. We show the potential of art to challenge pre-conceived notions and understandings of cremation past and present, positioning art as a key dimension of public mortuary archaeology.