Who tells your story? Diversifying narratives of the past through storytelling as an archaeological method
In this paper we address the urgent need for diversity in archaeology and propose storytelling as one of the leading archaeological methods available. Historically, archaeological work has been mainly carried out by white European, heterosexual, able-bodied men, who in turn have produced archaeological interpretations that mirror and centre their own lived experience. Marginalised communities, minorities and those who were othered have been actively ignored and excluded from archaeological narratives of the past. By not ignoring the existence of 'others' and employing storytelling as method, we demonstrate how archaeologists can acknowledge and explore marginalised lives and relationships and give them deserved recognition, space and time. We suggest that using storytelling as method not only enriches archaeological narratives but corrects our understanding of the past, demonstrating the longevity of diverse communities. In using storytelling as method our work demonstrates and ensures that archaeology is meaningful, matters, and has social justice at its heart.
