The Public Archaeology of Treasure

Select proceedings of the 5th University of Chester Archaeology Student Conference (31 January 2020) reflect on the shifting and conflicting meanings, values and significances for treasure in archaeology’s public engagements, interactions and manifestations.

The Public Archaeology of Treasure comprises the select proceedings of the 5th University of Chester Archaeology Student Conference which took place on 31 January 2020 in the lecture theatre of the Grosvenor Museum, Chester and was complemented by an online Twitter conference on the following morning, 1 February 2020. Reflecting on the shifting and conflicting meanings, values and significances for treasure in archaeology’s public engagements, interactions and manifestations, the volume emphasises how education and research cannot avoid the persistent and evocative associations of ‘treasure’ in socio-political discourse and popular culture. This first-ever exploration of ‘the public archaeology of treasure’ thus offers a host of timely themes and perspectives on the public engagement with, and popular receptions of, archaeological artefacts and assemblages written by students, researchers, educators and heritage practitioners.