Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Expertise
I am the Programme Leader for the MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology, and Lecturer in Archaeology, based at Orkney College. My research explores Art and Archaeology in its broadest sense, from the interpretation of prehistoric visual culture to the intersections between contemporary art practice and the archaeological imagination. My professional background is in heritage and archaeology, with experience spanning community development and heritage-led regeneration, museum curation, commercial archaeological fieldwork, and higher education teaching.
Research Interests
Contemporary Art & Archaeology; Neolithic Art & Architecture; Rock Art; Markmaking and Graffiti; Discard/Waste Studies; Interdisciplinary Pedagogies; Practice-as-Research; Scotland and the Arctic; Coastal Humanities; Cultural Heritage
PhD Supervision
Helen Garbett (PhD Creative Practice): “The Human-Limpet Project: An art-based investigation into human and limpet entanglements over time”
Gary Lloyd (PhD Archaeology): "Made Through Making: Stonework, skill and social change in Neolithic Orkney"
Teaching Expertise
I currently teach on the following modules:
Art and Archaeology: Contemporary Theory and Practice (SCQF 11)*
Contemporary Art and Archaeology in Practice (SCQF 11)*
Cultural Heritage Management (SCQF 11)*
Final Project in Contemporary Art and Archaeology (SCQF 11)*
Art and Environment (SCQF 11)
Sustainability Past and Present (SCQF10)
Archaeology of the Highlands and Islands (SCQF10/11)
* = Module Leader
Key Projects
TRANSECTS - TRANSitions in marine Energy for Coastal communities over Time and Space: TRANSECTS Coastal Communities and Energy Transitions
International Network for Contemporary Archaeology in Scotland (INCAScot)
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Art and Architecture in Neolithic Orkney: Process, Temporality and Context, University of Aberdeen
Award Date: 11 Feb 2016
Master of Arts, Archaeology and Prehistory, University of Sheffield
Bachelor of Science, Archaeological Science, University of Sheffield
External positions
Editorial Board Member, British Archaeological Reports, Contemporary and Historical Archaeology Series
Oct 2020 → …
Advisory Panel Member, Scotland's Rock Art Project (ScRAP)
Aug 2017 → …
Trustee, Orkney Natural History Society Museum (Stromness Museum)
Dec 2015 → …
Committee Member, Soulisquoy Print Studio, Orkney
2014 → 2017
Keywords
- CC Archaeology
- N Visual arts (General) For photography, see TR
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Collaborations from the last five years
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TRANSECTS: TRANSitions In Energy For Coastal Communities Over Time And Space (TRANSECTS)
Thomas, A. (CoI), Harland, J. (CoI), Bevan, A. (CoI) & Lee, D. (Researcher)
1/04/24 → 31/03/28
Project: Research
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Baby Boxes to Beige Gold: The Lifecycle of Cardboard
Thomas, A. (PI), Razzall, L. (PI) & Boast, H. (PI)
Project: Research
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The Apocalyptic Quotidian: The Everyday Crises of Environments
Bezan, S. (PI), Thomas, A. (CoPI), Razzall, L. (CoPI), Boast, H. (CoPI), Mika-Bresolin, K. (CoPI), Abdalla, D. (CoPI) & French, J. (CoPI)
Project: Research
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Thinking through Lichen
Thomas, A. (PI), French, J. (PI) & Bezan, S. (PI)
1/04/23 → 30/03/24
Project: Research
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Contemporary Art and Archaeology: Interdisciplinary Pedagogy and Practice
Thomas, A. (PI)
1/03/22 → 1/08/22
Project: Research
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International Network for Contemporary Archaeology in Scotland (INCAScot)
Hale, A. (PI), Thomas, A. (CoI), Brophy, K. (CoI) & MacGregor, G. (CoI)
29/03/21 → 29/09/23
Project: Research
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Contemporary Art, Archaeology, and Plastics
Thomas, A., 17 Sept 2024, The Routledge Handbook of Archaeology and Plastics. Routledge, p. 245-264 19 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
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Contemporary Art and Archaeology: Interdisciplinary Pedagogy and Practice in the Digital University
Thomas, A., 11 Jan 2024, Teaching and Learning the Archaeology of the Contemporary Era. Moshenska, G. (ed.). Bloomsbury AcademicResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
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MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology at UHI
Thomas, A., 2023, In: Orkney Archaeology Review. 8Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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Intensely moved by the human stories at launch of ‘World of Stonehenge’
Thomas, A., 21 Feb 2022, Ness of Brodgar Trust.Research output: Other contribution
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Mobiliary art
Thomas, A., 23 Jun 2022, Down the Bright Stream: The Prehistory of Woodcock Corner and the Tregurra Valley, Cornwall. Taylor, S. (ed.). Oxford: Archaeopress, p. 127-138 11 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Other chapter contribution
Open AccessFile18 Downloads (Pure) -
Points in the Ambience – Travels with Archaeologists and Artists in Orkney.
Brind, S., Harrold, J., Hale, A., Lee, D. & Thomas, A., 28 Jan 2022, In: The Drouth.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open Access -
Scotland's first farmers: New insights into early farming practices in North-west Europe
Bishop, R., Gröcke, D., Ralston, I., David, C., Lee, D., Shepherd, A., Thomas, A., Rowley-Conwy, P. & Church, M., 14 Sept 2022, In: Antiquity. 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile7 Citations (Scopus)109 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
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Art and Architecture in Neolithic Orkney
Thomas, A. (Speaker)
27 Jan 2025Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Invited talk
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Stone Circle 2024
Thomas, A. (Participant)
25 Sept 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Contemporary and Historical Archaeology in Theory conference 2024
Thomas, A. (Speaker) & Lee, D. (Speaker)
9 Nov 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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Nordic TAG 2024
Thomas, A. (Speaker)
7 Mar 2024 → 10 Mar 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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Cross Section: Archaeology and Art 2024
Thomas, A. (Participant)
17 Sept 2024 → 1 Oct 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Neolithic Orkney: A World of Stone
Thomas, A. (Speaker)
29 Sept 2024Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Invited talk
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Press/Media
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University Of The Good countries And Islands Scientists Lead £2.9m Drive For Beach front Sustainable power
15/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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UHI Researchers Play a Key Role in £2.9m Project to Help Coastal Communities Cope With The Move to Renewable Energy
4/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Exploring the Past to Inform the Future in Energy Transitions
2/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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British Academy, Royal Irish Academy Announce Seed Funding for Early Career Researchers to Promote International Knowledge Exchange
17/05/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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The British Academy and Royal Irish Academy announce seed funding for early career researchers to promote international knowledge exchange
16/05/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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The British Academy and Royal Irish Academy announce seed funding for early career researchers to promote international knowledge exchange
16/05/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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This is Archaeology: Impacting heritage, landscapes and lives
Thomas, A., Lee, D., Bevan, A. & Downes, J.
9/12/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Thesis
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Art and Architecture in Neolithic Orkney: Process, Temporality and Context
Thomas, A. (Author), Downes, J. (Supervisor) & Edmonds, M. (Supervisor), 11 Feb 2016Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by OU/Aberdeen)
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