Professor Tony Pollard's inaugural lecture

History at the Sharp End: Engaging with the Past through Conflict Archaeology

Drawing on personal experience in a field that during my time as an archaeologist has developed from a fringe activity to the academic mainstream, this inaugural lecture will spotlight the contribution that archaeology has made to our understanding of a variety of conflict-related episodes, including the battles of Bannockburn (1314), Culloden (1746) and Waterloo (1815). The benefits of combining the roles of historian and archaeologist will be further emphasised while considering the recovery of war dead at Fromelles (1916) and the rediscovery of the famous ‘Great Escape’ (1944) tunnels at Stalag Luft III. Other issues to be touched upon along the way will include the role of television, working with veterans and public engagement. In conclusion, I will suggest how the field might develop in the light of more recent conflicts, particularly the Falklands War of 1982.