A Conscious Uncoupling: Public Archaeology and Disrupting the Status Quo

About

Join The Sussex Archaeological Society for its annual Long Man Lecture in March 2026, welcoming acclaimed archaeologist, author and broadcaster Raksha Dave for an inspiring and thought-provoking evening. The event will be hosted by the Society’s President, Mike Pitts, and will take place at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA), University of Sussex.

A Conscious Uncoupling: Public Archaeology and Disrupting the Status Quo

Archaeology is often presented as a way of sharing the past with the public. But who decides which stories are told, how they are told, and whose voices are heard? And what happens when gaps in knowledge are filled by misinformation and pseudoarchaeology?

For the 2026 Long Man Lecture, Raksha Dave calls for a conscious uncoupling from the habits and assumptions that have long shaped the discipline. She will explore how public archaeology has driven innovation, challenged traditional viewpoints and developed new agendas. Drawing on her experience as a field archaeologist, broadcaster and public advocate, she argues that archaeology must move beyond simply “including” people towards genuinely sharing power, listening to communities and confronting long-standing hierarchies. The lecture will also examine how poor engagement, silence or exclusion can create space for pseudoarchaeology to flourish – and why responsible, open public archaeology matters now more than ever.

Raksha Dave is President of the Council for British Archaeology and a graduate of the UCL Institute of Archaeology. She has worked on research excavations around the world, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Çatalhöyük in Turkey, and has built a distinguished career in contract archaeology across the UK.

She is also widely recognised for her work in broadcasting. Her recent television series Hidden Wonders, hosted by Sandi Toksvig, uncovers extraordinary archaeological discoveries and the powerful human stories behind them. Her other television credits include Time Team, Digging for Britain, Digging Up Britain’s Past and The Great Plague. In 2023, her debut book Lessons from Our Ancestors was published and shortlisted in the Discover category of the British Book Awards. Through her fieldwork, writing and broadcasting, Raksha Dave continues to reshape how audiences see – and value – the shared past.

About the Long Man Lecture

Founded in 2023, the Long Man Lecture series showcases new ideas and perspectives from leading voices across heritage, the arts and policy. The series supports The Sussex Archaeological Society’s charitable mission while bringing Members and the wider public together for an engaging annual event. Previous speakers have included Janina Ramirez and Alexandra Harris.

Commenting on the 2026 lecture, Vice-Chair Matt Pope said:
“We are delighted Raksha Dave has accepted our invitation to deliver the Long Man Lecture in 2026. As broadcaster, writer, public figure and professional archaeologist, she is both a heritage-sector star and inspirational champion. We are hugely looking forward to welcoming her and learning from her as an organisation and community.”