Undergraduate Course: Political Uses of the Past: Community, Collaboration and Participation in Heritage Practice (ARCA10106)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course explores the political uses of the past through examining how communities engage with, challenge, and contribute to heritage making processes in the United Kingdom. Students will engage with key debates around uses of heritage in politics, and grassroots practices of co-production and participation, while developing practical skills in creative participatory methodologies. The course will equip students with knowledge to critical engage with heritage practice and key skills that are increasingly sought in museum, heritage and archaeological practice. |
| Course description |
This course provides an in-depth exploration of political uses of the past through participatory heritage practices in the United Kingdom. Through theoretical discussions and practical applications, students will engage with key debates in the politics of heritage, and consider the role of participatory heritage practice in social justice movements. The course interrogates how heritage is constructed, who has the right to interpret the past, and how participatory approaches can empower communities while challenging institutional narratives.
Students will examine methodologies such as critical discourse, collaborative mapping, digital storytelling, and activist heritage initiatives. They will engage with real-world case studies, including community archaeology and co-curation, grassroots heritage campaigns, and participatory museum projects. Practical workshops, creative seminars and case studies from heritage activist practice will equip students with the tools to apply participatory methods in their research and critical interrogate the politics of the past in heritage practice.
Topics include:
Theories of the politics the past and contested heritage
Methods of participation and co-production in heritage
Ethics of community-based research and engagement
Heritage and social justice: inclusion, representation, and power
Case studies of participatory heritage activism in the United Kingdom
Digital heritage and participatory technologies
The role of museums and institutions in framing the politics of the past
National and international policies and frameworks for participatory practice
Financial and cultural challenges in delivering sustainable participation
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Archaeology courses at Grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
(also to be included)
** as numbers are limited, visiting students should contact the Visiting Student Office directly for admission to this course * |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
70 %,
Practical Exam
30 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework«br /»
3,000 word Essay (70%)«br /»
Practial assignment «br /»
1,000 words (30%) |
| Feedback |
Students are expected to discuss their coursework with the Course Organiser at least once prior to submission, and are encouraged to do so more often. Meetings can take place with the Course Organiser during their published office hours or by appointment. Students will also receive feedback on their coursework, and will have the opportunity to discuss that feedback further with the Course Organiser. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically examine political uses of the past in contested heritage
- Critically engage with key concepts such as community engagement, public archaeology, collaboration, co-production and participation
- Demonstrate an understanding of ethical considerations in political heritage research
- Develop practical skills in utilising and critically assessing participatory methodologies in heritage practice
- Reflect on the impact of participatory practice on political uses of heritage and the past
|
Reading List
Atalay, S. (2012). Community-Based Archaeology: Research with, by, and for Indigenous and Local Communities.
Boerma, S. (2022). The Aftermaths of Participation
Bozoglu, G. et al. (2024) The Routledge International Handbook of Heritage and Politics
Gibson, L. & Pendlebury, J. (eds.) (2009). Valuing Historic Environments.
Janes, R. & Sandell, R. (2019). Museum Activism
Moshenska, G. (2017). Key Concepts in Public Archaeology.
Pringle, E. (2019) Rethinking Research in the Art Museum
Richardson, L. J., & Almansa-Sánchez, J. (2015). ¿Do You Even Know What Public Archaeology Is?¿ Trends, Theory, Practice, Ethics.
Roued-Cunliffe, H. & Copeland, A. (2017). Participatory Heritage
Smith, L. (2006). Uses of Heritage.
Waterton, E., & Smith, L. (2009). Taking Archaeology Out of Heritage.
Various UNESCO, ICOM, Scottish Government and Historic Environment Scotland policy documents |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
On successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
Critically engage with the politics of heritage and political uses of the past
A participatory and community-based approaches in heritage practice.
Assess participatory and community-based approaches in heritage practice and apply methodological frameworks to real-world heritage projects.
Develop and implement ethical and impactful engagement strategies in heritage work.
Reflect on the social and political dimensions of heritage research and participation |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Jon Henderson
Tel:
Email: jon.henderson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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