Paper short abstract:

This paper reflects on experiential learning interrogating intellectual discourse on the body and explores how these embodied learning experiences have served to breakdown boundaries between teaching and research and between archaeology and anthropology.

Paper long abstract:

This paper reflects on an experiential workshop developed for first year archaeology and anthropology students which explores the body and embodied practices from both archaeological and anthropological perspectives. Practice and debate centered primarily on inscribing the body in both contemporary and ancient culture.

Using various media (polystyrene heads, plastic skulls, clay and our own bodies, henna, charcoal, ochre, hydraulic lime, cowrie shells etc) we explored how the body might be variously marked, inscribed, shaped, represented, transformed. Themes considered were personal biographies, style, identity, belonging, humanizing, the physical tactile sensations generated through embodied action. Particularly informative was our exploration of Neolithic skull cults - through embodied practice the students arrived at new and original observations of this phenomenon. Physical engagement, observation and discussion allowed us also to explore (and deconstruct the boundaries of our disciplines - and opened up new teaching-led research insights.