REF 2021: Unit of Assessment 15

UOA 15: Archaeology

REF 2021

We’ve capitalised on our breadth of expertise to maximise our societal impact. Our work is helping cultural heritage to thrive, and to promote sustainable heritage economies. Our work also promotes community engagement and wellbeing, as well as contributing to food security, human health in an environmental context and the sustainability agenda.

We have expanded enormously as a community since the last REF exercise, and are continuing to grow ambitiously. We are an inclusive department and try to ensure all our colleagues have the opportunity to develop their research, teaching and professional practice.

Find out more about the impact of our research

How the chicken crossed the globe: using zooarchaeology to transform education and reframe public perceptions

Staff conducting research: Dr Julia Best, Dr Phillipa Gillingham, Dr Ellen Hambleton, Professor Mark Maltby, Professor John Stewart

Chickens are the world’s most widespread and abundant domestic animals - with more than 23 billion worldwide, they provide much of the world’s primary meat and egg resources. Their diffusion from their Southeast Asia origin is almost entirely due to human-assisted transportation; as such, their natural history reflects human history, and the species holds a high degree of social significance. However, the timing and circumstances of their spread across the globe, and their transition into a food resource have been poorly understood.

BU research has explored chicken use from their first domestication to their modern-day roles and examined the cultural and environmental impact of this important species.

This has been used to create a wide range of activities and events to engage with more than 100,000 people, including children, older people and vulnerable groups. This has transformed perceptions and knowledge of the long, interconnected histories of humans and chickens and the role of chickens in future human and animal health, well-being and environmental sustainability.

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Reframing Stonehenge: improving the visitor experience and mental wellbeing, bringing economic benefit to the heritage sector, and preserving the landscape

Staff conducting research: Professor Timothy Darvill, Professor Kate Welham, Dr Vanessa Heaslip

Stonehenge is perhaps the world’s best-known prehistoric monument and BU research has answered important questions about the site and improved the visitor experience.

BU has conducted five interconnected projects in the past 20 years which have explored: the wider landscape surrounding Stonehenge; the primary source of the Stonehenge bluestones at sites in south Wales and their perceived healing powers; the landmark discovery of the ‘Bluestonehenge’ stone circle, settlement activity and Neolithic houses at Durrington; and examining whether a creative exploration of historic landscape could improve people’s mental health and wellbeing.

This has introduced a new timeline of human activity at Stonehenge, contributing to the narratives told in the new Visitor Centre which opened at the site in 2013. BU research provided key information and data that helped create life-sized replica Neolithic houses, CGI reconstructions of the landscape, and physical artefacts for the exhibitions. It also helped update content for the official Stonehenge website, guidebook, map, audio-tour, displays, and information panels.

Professor Darvill and Dr Heaslip worked with heritage NGOs and mental health charities to create ‘Human Henge’, a 10-week programme of activities taking place both within the stone circle and the wider landscape to improve mental wellbeing.

BU’s research continues to feed into the future management and preservation of the Stonehenge landscape, forming a core component of the latest Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site Management Plan.