Decolonizing Archaeology-related Photographic Archives

CYENS Centre of Excellence in collaboration with LSE kick start the “Decolonizing Archaeology-related Photographic Archives” project! The interdisciplinary research team brings together knowledge aiming to critically examine different photographic archives in archaeological museums in Cyprus and the UK and make policy suggestions on how these archives can be “de-colonialized” and be given new affordances.

*The project is funded by the Hellenic Observatory and will take place for the period 1/1/2022 – 31/12/2023 in Cyprus and the UK.

This project aims to critically examine different photographic archives in archaeological museums in Cyprus and the UK and make policy suggestions on how these archives can be “de-colonialized” and be given new affordances. The originality of the project lies in the fact that decolonization practices in the GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) sector are still lagging in Cyprus. While the island became independent 60 years ago, several colonial structures are still in place; i.e. legislation, buildings, museums, libraries, and archives. Decolonization as a political process has been extensively addressed by established academics and new researchers, however discussion on the theory and process of decolonizing the photographic archives of museums – or the museums themselves – is still relatively new.

Research Team

Project Coordinator and Principal Researcher: Dr. Theopisti Stylianou-Lambert, Associate Professor, Cyprus University of Technology/ Museum Lab Group Leader, CYENS Centre of Excellence, Cyprus

Research Team Member: Dr. Antigone Heraclidou, Research Associate, CYENS Centre of Excellence, Cyprus

LSE Collaborator: Dr. Joanna Lewis, Associate Professor, Department of International History, LSE, UK

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