2023: The Year in Retrospect

Esteemed colleagues and friends,

We are excited to share this end-of-year newsletter, in which we will look back at the whirlwind year that was 2023.?

In 2016, the Save Cultural Heritage Group (SCHG) was established by five Archaeology graduates who wanted to create a group of professionals with activities and support services that would cater to the specific needs of those in the field. Today, we are the only initiative of its kind working globally, serving each day with a variety of online programs and services.?

When the pandemic hit, back in 2020, we from SCHG decided to shift all activities online. This set off a series of incredible collaborations, interesting events, and wonderful interviews. It also gave us the opportunity to create a network of professionals from all over the world: from America to Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.?

Recap our milestones of 2023 with us!?

Warmly,

The President, SCHG (Global)

The Success of the Free Online Courses (FOC)?

April 2023 marked our FOC project's 3rd anniversary, which was a great opportunity to celebrate our project's history and emphasise the vital role it has played in the social and academic transformation of our community.?

In 2020, the Free Online Courses were introduced as an inclusive and accessible platform within the online cultural heritage sector. This platform has garnered over 7,000 enrollments, offers 300+ video lectures, and is supported by 35+ mentors who are graduates of recognized universities. Our courses are free, interactive, introductory, self-paced, equipped with qualified personal mentorship, and honor-coded to protect academic integrity. They are designed for anyone enthusiastic about Ancient and Cultural Heritage Studies. Upon successful completion, certificates are awarded on the recommendation of our mentors.

These courses are at the heart of the Academic team who diligently review the course contents and provide support for the mentors. Although the FOC team is working on a voluntary basis, SCHG has created an international community of motivated instructors and enthusiastic learners that has reached all five continents of the globe, and resulted in hundreds of enrollments worldwide. Despite the challenges of recent years, the success of the FOC project is a testament to SCHG’s dedication to its mission of exploring, interpreting, preserving, and promoting cultural heritage.

Visit our website to take a look at our courses here and reach out to us if you want to contribute with a topic of your own!

Here is an overview of our successful 2023 courses:

Ga Yeon Kim mentored the course "Discover Korea beyond the Media", which took students on a journey through Korea’s history, spanning from ancient times to modern democracy. Students also explored key themes including cultural heritage, the contributions of women in Korean history, and the history of K-pop.

Check out the course playlist here!

The course "Prehistoric Archaeology of Britain", taught by Ceri Pennington, delved into Britain's prehistoric eras, spanning the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. Each week explored distinct periods, using case studies to illuminate key developments in technology, rituals and societal structures across these ancient periods.

Check out the course playlist here!

Jenna Davenport returned to reteach "Introduction to Palaeontology" which provided a comprehensive exploration of Earth's evolutionary history. From the Cambrian Explosion to the rise and fall of dinosaurs, and onward through mammalian and human evolution, each week explored fundamental aspects of palaeontology.

Check out the course playlist here!

Dr Laura Castro Royo mentored the bilingual course "Introduction to the Achaemenids" in English and Spanish. It provided (art) historical and archaeological insights into the Achaemenid Empire, an ancient and vast empire on the Iranian plateau from around 600 to 330 BCE.?

Check out the course playlist here!

The course “Introduction to Human Osteology”, taught by Carina Molean Leiri?o, provided a comprehensive journey through the world of anthropology and further related disciplines, covering a wide range of topics from the basics of anthropology to taphonomy.?

Check out the course playlist here!

Emile Nelson mentored the hands-on course "Introduction to Archaeological Illustration", which brought illustration to life for our students through theory and practical demonstrations, including the study of stratigraphy and pottery shards.?

Check out the course playlist here! ??

Museum Week 2023: 7 Days - 7 Hashtags - 7 Stories

Museum Week 2023, taking place from June 5th to 11th, marked the tenth anniversary of MuseumWeek, making it a special milestone for the global museum community. With environment as the central theme, this week highlighted the crucial role of culture in addressing environmental challenges. SCHG participated by creating engaging posts and reels that explored the daily themes, uncovering the connections between cultural heritage and the environment.?

For #EnvironmentMW, we delved into the influential role of museums in promoting sustainability, including sustainable architecture and green energy initiatives leading to museums inspiring positive change.?

For #Web3MW we explored the ever-evolving role of technology in museums, from digitising collections to enhancing visitor experiences, and considered the ethical and environmental implications of these advancements.

For #FoodMW, which was also World Food Safety Day, we looked at the heritage of food and shared a lifelike “food map“ showcasing iconic foods from different countries, reminding us of the diversity of culinary traditions.

For #OceansMW, in support of World Oceans Day, we highlighted the important role museums play in showcasing biodiversity and educating us about the ocean's importance as a resource and sanctuary for marine life.??

For #aiMW, we discussed how AI can enhance museum experiences while shedding light on the ethical implications that accompany it. AI offers endless possibilities, from capturing visitor interactions to creating innovative educational programs.?

For #HeritageMW, we emphasised the significance of institutional decolonisation and the recognition of underrepresented community voices in museums and heritage sites; valuing diverse knowledge systems by actively engaging with underrepresented communities.

For #SunMW, we showcased the Nebra Sky Disc and its ancient astronomical symbolism. We celebrated the sun's cultural significance by discussing exhibits featuring artefacts, artworks, and religious items associated with solar worship or mythologies.

We are looking forward to the next Museum Week in 2024!

Museum Talk 3.0?

This year’s Museum Talk featured Christeah Dupont, former Assistant Curator of the Point Ellice House Museum and Gardens, who has worked more than five years in the cultural heritage sector. Due to a lack of sustainable funding, the management of the museum was handed over to the province of British Columbia, which forced the museum to close its doors. Christeah shared how important it is to be vocal about cultural heritage work, as this work is of great value to community building.???

When another non-profit society was contracted to manage the museum, the Point Ellice House Museum and Gardens reopened. Our interviewee got offered her position back. However, she decided not to return. We wish her all the best for her future career!

Make sure to watch Christeah’s videos here!???

90 Seconds Museum Talk?

Every year, the SCHG hosts a short-talk video series event called “90 Seconds Museum Talk” during Museum Week celebrations. This event features participants sharing their insights into their careers, the event's hashtags, and how they celebrate Museum Week in short 90-second videos. Participants are free to choose their topics and questions, and can record their videos using their cell phones. Check out Chiara Brancato talking about AI tools and content marketing here.

Weekend Talk Revisited

In 2021, the SCHG launched a new entertainment show: the Weekend Talk as a platform for researchers, professionals, and students to talk about their work and interests in an informal atmosphere. However, it differs from the typical panel discussions or interviews in that, alongside exploring our guests' professional backgrounds, we also gain insight into their favourite things and hobbies. As a part of the show, our guests try out different games such as guessing the right answers and captioning pictures.

Check out the episode with anthropologist and historical archaeologist Dr Karen Bellinger here, who talked about a captivating world where anthropology meets the airwaves and television screens. Be inspired, enlightened, and mesmerized by her profound insights into humanity's past, present, and future.

Recap of ArchTalk Season 02

ArchTalk 2023 was another resounding success! We partnered up with brilliant people, including Dr Laura Castro Royo (Las Plumas de Simurgh), Dr Matilda Siebrecht (The Archaeologist’s Teacup), Rebeka Gergácz (F?ld, Kaland, Ilyesmi | Régészet), and Niloofar Yazdkhasti (The Museum Matters). Our partners contributed amazing talks to our sessions, which proved to be yet again incredibly enriching experiences overall. We are happy to share some highlights from our international event, including brilliant presentations and lively discussions.

The keynote included introductions and short narrations by the team members of the Save Cultural Heritage group, followed by the engaging keynote address delivered by Dr Gino Caspari and moderated by our partner Laura.?

The subsequent three sessions of ArchTalk 2023 shared academic and practical insights from professionals and early career researchers in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage.?

Ancient Paths & Modern Tracks explored the use of historical and archaeological heritage in various forms of media, including films, video games, and comics. Laura, for instance, talked about representations of Achaemenid cultural sites in modern media, discussing the depiction of the City of Kings, Persepolis, in three examples, namely in the comic “Takht-e Javidan”, in the video game “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey”, and in the movie “300: Rise of an Empire”.?

Climate Change & Cultural Heritage centred around the intersection of archaeology and climate change. Rebeka focused on the topographical study of prehistoric sites in Hungary, while sharing insights on how climate change impacts archaeological sites and practices. She emphasized that while climate change presents significant challenges to archaeological work, it also stimulates development for preserving heritage and making archaeological work greener.?

Accessible Communication in Archaeology delved into the captivating realm of accessible communication in archaeology, exploring innovative methods to disseminate archaeological knowledge and engage a wider audience. Matilda emphasized the importance of exploring innovative ways to disseminate archaeological knowledge and to engage with a broader audience, highlighting the issues with accessibility of academic publications outside of academia and the use of digital platforms and visual media.?

These talks and the following discussions perfectly underscored the importance of finding creative ways to engage audiences and disseminate knowledge related to cultural heritage.?

ArchTalk 3.0 in 2024 - Call for Partnerships and Volunteers!

Get ready for another brilliant season in 2024!

If you or your organization share our passion and would like to partner with us, please get in touch with us via email or social media. Also, if you are interested in joining our team as a volunteer and contributing to the success of next year’s event, we would be delighted to welcome you. Thank you once again for your continued support and engagement!

Thank you for following along up until this point. We appreciate your support and would like to wholeheartedly thank you for your interest in our initiative and projects. We are looking forward to creating even more exciting formats and seeing you in the brand-new edition of our newsletter that will launch in 2024.?

The Save Cultural Heritage Group wishes you a great start to the New Year!

The Team of SCHG (Global)