Reflections

Given the press release today, I wasn;t actually planning to release this one next, but it feels like kismet!  In the introduction to her 2016 paper, Stratton states: “When analysing human osteological material, one of the key aspects studied is the sex of the skeleton. The osteologist, based on various anatomical features, will attempt to define each individual as either male or female. Right from the initial assessment, the skeleton is being fitted into a binary (male/female) system, before any interpretation of the material is even started.” (Stratton, 2016, pg.855). Whilst this is true of modern-day post excavation methodology, there are some limits as to how successfully this can be carried out, “Sexing of skeletons has a varying degree of certainty, and some skeletons will defy categorisation, either due to poor preservation or being intersex (Fausto-Sterling 1993).” (Stratton, 2016, pg.855) These limitations were even more prevalent in the past, before osteoarchaeology becam...

Generally, if one were to ask a member of the public who had not studied archaeology or had a passing interest in the subject from media sources, to name an archaeologist, fictional or non-fictional, the majority would name a male archaeologist, or even a male presenter for a medium showcasing archaeology to the public. Nelson states that “Archaeology has been gendered male”, which in turn has had a lasting impact on all women who have gone on to study and become archaeologists. This is despite the many key roles in developing field methodology and research that have been held by many women, and most developer-led field teams of the current day being comprised of a chiefly female contingent. Likewise, for many years, interpretation of human activity in the past has been limited to the gendered specific, familial roles that conformed to societal norms of the typical nuclear family in the 1950’s 60’s, being presented at that time by predominantly white, middle aged, male archaeologists...

  Introduction My name is Gemma. I am a field archaeologist in the UK. I work primarily in developer-led archaeology, I also volunteer to teach on academic and outreach research digs both in the UK and further afield. I have a strong interest in welfare and wellbeing in my industry, as well as equality and representation. My independent research centres around perceptions of the female gender in archaeology, it's interpretation and subsequent portrayal to the wider world. With many thanks to the admirable Dr Rachel Pope who recently informed me that what I do is referred to as "Reflections" in classics. As someone from a working class, former mining town, and a woman, both a social status and standing that at one point would have excluded me from pursuing a career in archaeology, I thought I would share what I learn as I investigate the perceptions of the female gender, and how they are subsequently portrayed to the wider world.