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Author ORCID Identifier

Dr Jayne Price corresponding author jayne.price@chester.ac.uk

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3719-1851

Dr Caroline Pudney https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8859-7547

Keywords

prison education; pro-social; intervention; archaeology; learning needs

Abstract

This paper presents the educational focused outcomes of a set of workshops entitled 'Introduction to Archaeology’ that were delivered within a prison. The workshops were delivered as part of a project that seeks to explore the pro-social benefits and social capital (i.e. social and structural aspects that support positive identity formation) that could be developed through engagement with archaeology, specifically for those within the criminal justice system. The workshops offered a bespoke, alternative, educational offering within an adult male prison in Wales. It was designed and delivered by an archaeologist who has an established background in the field, especially in relation to community engagement and education. The social experiences of prison participants were recorded via multi—modal methods and analysed by a criminology researcher. The inter-disciplinary project did not specifically seek to consider how archaeology can offer an innovative, alternative prison education. However, the potential of the inclusive learning that it offered through exploration of artefacts, activity and discussion in small group environments, has been revealed. The paper outlines the potential of such an approach and sets out the benefits within wider literature on prison education, public archaeology and archaeology education.

Author Bio

Jayne Price is Deputy Head of Division Social and Political Science and Senior Lecturer Criminology at the University of Chester. Her research interests include improving conditions and circumstances for young people and young adults within criminal justice settings.

Caroline Pudney is currently Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Chester. Her PhD (Cardiff University) was on Iron Age and Roman Britain after which she went on to be ‘community archaeologist’ for a national heritage body. This is where key aspects of her current research and practice interests lie: exploring the potential social value of archaeology.

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