Dear colleagues,

(With apologies for any cross posting)

"Education shaping public perceptions of medieval archaeology" 

We would like to draw your attention to EAA2020 session#411 which aims to explore the relationship between education and public perceptions of medieval archaeology. We are currently welcoming offers of papers for this session exploring aspects what we know about how medieval archaeology is taught, learned or otherwise encountered in schools, and/or the impact of this on public attitudes. Abstracts of no more than 300 words for presentations or posters should be submitted via the conference website https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2020 by the deadline 13th February 2020.

Please consider if you would like to offer a paper, and do forward this message anyone else who you think might be interested. If you have any queries, you are welcome to get in touch.

Best wishes,

Carenza Lewis (University of Lincoln, United Kingdom) [log in to unmask]
Alexandra Chavarria (Universite di Padova, Italy) [log in to unmask];
Arkadiusz Marciniak (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland) [log in to unmask]; 
Jesús Fernández Fernández (Univeriste di Oviedo, Spain) [log in to unmask];
Abigail Górkiewicz Downer (University of Chester, United Kingdom) [log in to unmask];

Abstract

EAA’s 2019 lively roundtable developing a MERC-sponsored ‘manifesto’ for medieval  European archaeology included discussion about the impact of public perceptions, not only on archaeological practice but also on wider society. There was a consensus that a better-informed public with a more nuanced understanding of medieval history and archaeology would help better protect medieval heritage (tangible and intangible), enhance the benefits it offers, and mitigate some of the malign uses to which it can be put. It was recognised that education is fundamental to this, accordingly this session aims to explore how medieval archaeology is taught, learned or otherwise encountered in schools, and the impact of this on subsequent attitudes. 

This session welcomes papers that present, review, question or challenge the ways in which young people are exposed to medieval archaeology in educational settings, especially in school. We look forward to papers from the widest possible range of places, exploring themes which may include (but are not limited to): 
•	how medieval European archaeology is taught in (or excluded from) formal school curricula;
•	commonalities and differences in the place of medieval European archaeology in school curricula across Europe (and beyond);
•	the extent of opportunities beyond formally prescribed curricula for young people to learn about medieval European archaeology and how these can (or should be) incorporated into classrooms; 
•	attitudes of young people and/or educators to teaching and learning which encompasses medieval European archaeology;
•	how teaching of medieval European archaeology has changed over time; 
•	the impact of external factors (such new technologies/discoveries or changes in political or educational ideologies) on teaching and learning around medieval European archaeology;
•	the impact of school-age learning about medieval European archaeology on adult attitudes or life experience;
•	priorities for the future, for archaeologists and/or educators, in ensuring education can help medieval European archaeology help society?

This will be an exciting session with lively discussion about these various pedagogical facets which will help us all better understand how medieval archaeology today is perceived and propagated, and which may contribute to the development of future approaches to teaching and learning which will positively inspire future generations about medieval European archaeology.

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