Guerrilla Archaeology

Festival-goers at four events across England and Wales this summer will engage with the past as part of University activity to bring archaeology alive.

A team led by Dr Jacqui Mulville, Reader in Bioarchaeology at the University's School of History, Archaeology and Religion will visit the Secret Garden, Wilderness, Green Man and Shambala festivals with the Guerrilla Archaeology project.

Based on the theme of Shamanic Street Preachers the team will introduce festival audiences to the richness of human societies of the past.

Speaking about the project, Dr Mulville said: "Talking to people at festivals is a great way to ensure wider coverage and a greater range of audiences for our work. By involving our students we can engage directly with a younger festival audience, provide student training and bring archaeology alive. Prepare to wonder at the richness of human societies in the past, follow in the footsteps of ancestors and explore your wild side.

"The Shamanic Street Preachers draw on thousands of years experience to give people the chance to get a new perspective on the world. Shamans mediated between animals and humans, ourselves and the spirit world, the living and the dead. They healed through ceremony, ritual, music and dance. With our costumes and disguises we want to breathe new life into Shamanic ideals.

"My archaeological research is a fusion of science, art and nature and in collaboration with students and artists we have designed a variety of events that provide information on the past, entertain and provoke real debate. This year we're delighted to return to Green Man, in an area near one of our projects at Llangorse Crannog in Wales, following the success of last year's initial outing. We look forward to meeting more people out and about this summer across Britain."

In Guerrilla Archaeology's first outing last year, thousands of people of all ages actively engaged with the Back to the future theme over the three days at the Green Man festival, interacting in meaningful ways which surpassed expectations and earned praise from festival organisers.

The vibrant programme included workshops, installations and performances that blended science and nature with entertainment, art, craft and design and was held in the Festival's 'Einstein's Garden' area. Working with artist Paul Evans, Guerrilla Archaeologists encouraged participants to use their imagination to travel back in time to discover past animals, drowned worlds and ancient fashion. They handled archaeological artefacts, learnt about the archaeology of the Green Manfestival site and Wales, and pegged significant events onto the 'washing line of time' – as well as creating future fashion, accessories and models. The festival-going public were asked to create and design what future animals will look like, with the help of the artist.

Guerrilla Archaeology's festival project is supported by Cardiff University and the National Museum of Wales. Find out more about Guerrilla Archaeology here http://guerillaarchaeology.wordpress.com/festivals-2012/

Guerrilla Archaeology will be at the following festivals:

SECRET GARDEN, 19 -22July, Abbots Rippon, Cambridgeshire

Shaman Henry Dosedla and the musician Dylan Adams join the Guerrilla Archaeologists, revelling in the 'Ceremony' theme.

WILDERNESS, 10 -12 August 2012, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire

The Shamanic Street Preachers will be out to convert the public on Friday 10 August at 4pm, and running two hour long workshops on Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at 11am where festival-goers can become Shamanic through ceremony and disguise.

GREEN MAN, 17 – 19 August, Glanusk Estate, Crickhowell, Wales

Back in Einstein's Garden with a focus on Shamanic Science for another outing

SHAMBALA, 23 – 27 August, near Market Harbourough

Returning to the themes explored at Secret Garden, the Guerrilla Archaeologists will finally offer the chance to make music, art and new friends at their action camp and Shamanic Yurt.