I’m delighted to be guest editing this edition of the Sainsbury Institute e-bulletin. It offers a chance to showcase the work of the Centre for Archaeology and Heritage, where I work as an archaeologist with a focus on later prehistory and the early medieval period in Europe and Japan. My interests also extend to cultural heritage, with a comparative perspective. Additionally, I’m particularly interested in how archaeology and heritage can impact health and well-being.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of visiting Japan on several occasions. I’ve studied both its later prehistory, the Yayoi (1000 BCE—200 CE) and Kofun (200 CE—538 CE) periods, as well as the management and dissemination of cultural heritage through local government structures, universities, and museums. Last year, under the auspices of the Nara to Norwich project led by Professor Simon Kaner and Professor Susan Whitfield, I also visited South Korea, providing further context and comparison. During that visit, I had the pleasure of meeting many colleagues, including Professor KIM Sangmin, who is now studying with us here in Norwich for 18 months. This is a fantastic opportunity for us all to learn more about his expertise in Iron Age South Korea and the Yayoi period of Japan.
My research on the Yayoi period was consolidated through an eight-week Research Fellowship at the Rekihaku, National Museum of Japanese History. This fellowship allowed me to develop my understanding of the changes that occurred in later prehistory at both ends of Eurasia, particularly the development of metal smelting and smithing technologies and the emergence of commodity money through metal trade. This led me to consider the use of coinage and other trading media for various forms of exchange. I have presented this work at several conferences, including the European Association of Archaeologists and the Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference, held at the University of East Anglia in late 2023, and I am currently working on an article based on this research. I am greatly endebted to the late Professor Matsugi Takehiko for facilitating my study visit to Japan, and to all the archaeologists he introduced me to while I was there, who so generously shared their time and knowledge with me.
Professor KIM and I are currently collaborating on a project that explores the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, specifically the beginning of iron use. We’re comparing the situation in Japan and South Korea with Western Europe and Britain. We’ve submitted an application to the Korean Foundation for a three-year project and anticipate hearing back in early June.
Recently, we attended the Iron Age Dialogues Conference in Cardiff, which provided valuable insights into recent developments in British Iron Age studies. The conference focussed on Britain, with a few contributions from Germany and France offering international perspectives.
Two keynotes from Nial Sharples of the University of Cardiff and Melanie Giles from the University of Manchester were particularly insightful and provided key frameworks for understanding social changes in later prehistory. These and other conference insights will aid our project’s development.
Within the Centre for Archaeology and Heritage, we are currently developing a five-year plan. One exciting project we are working on is exploring pilgrimage in Japan and the UK. This project builds on the Nara to Norwich project, and a pilgrimage is currently being planned between Norwich to Walsingham later this year. This will be followed by a more ambitious Japanese pilgrimage between Hasedera in Nara Prefecture and Ise in Mie Prefecture.
We are also developing a programme focused on the role of local government in promoting cultural heritage. This project examines how government in Japan and Britain promotes and encourages participation in cultural heritage, particularly archaeological discoveries. We plan to collaborate with partners like Norwich City Council and Nara Prefecture, continuing the Nara to Norwich concept into new areas.
A long-time ambition of ours is a project in 2027 celebrating the 150th anniversary of Edward Sylvester Morse’s excavation of the Ōmori Shell mound. This project aims to examine the history of archaeological work in Japan and explore the significance of the Jōmon period (c. 14,000—1000 BCE) and archaeological work in Japan more broadly for world heritage.
For the past few years, we have been running an archaeological fieldwork project here in East Anglia, the Later Prehistoric Norfolk Project. This may seem like an unusual venture for a research institute focussed on Japan, but it has been a fantastic opportunity for Japanese archaeologists to engage in British archaeology. A central aspect of this project is Archaeology for Wellbeing, which explores the positive impact of participating in research. The multinational nature of the project significantly contributed to this, creating a stimulating and cross-cultural forum that fostered ideas and creativity among all involved. Partners in this project include the Restoration Trust and Synergy Multi-Academy Schools Trust.
Research Fellow, Centre for Archaeology & Heritage