Material culture studies became a central theme in Archaeology at Sheffield in the mid 1990s. The analysis of archaeological materials and artefacts has, however, been integral to research in the Department since its establishment in 1976, with experimental archaeology developing as a core component in this process. Sheffield Archaeomaterials was formally founded in 2019 as a means to consolidate the material-centric interests of Sheffield researchers, building on the world-leading research legacy of the Department of Archaeology. As a facet of the Cultural Materials Research Cluster, we work closely and have cross-interests with the wider departmental research community.
Innovative research is central to our group; the work of our staff, doctoral students, and postdoctoral researchers spans a broad spatial and temporal range from the Neolithic to early modern periods across Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. This has included the study of production, consumption, and classification, through a combination of analytical, ethnographic, and experimental methodologies. We work closely with craftspeople in and around the Sheffield area, recognising both the rich industrial heritage of the region and importance of practice-based research.
The research and work of Sheffield Archaeomaterials aims to:
Centralise innovative approaches to the study of materials in archaeological, historical, and heritage contexts.
Provide opportunities and an environment for the student and staff body in the Department of Archaeology to engage with nuanced approaches to materials and material culture in archaeological questions.
Develop a platform to communicate our research with a wider audience and growing archaeomaterials community.