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
Material and Visual Culture; Contemporary Art and Archaeology; Markmaking, Rock Art and Graffiti; Environmental Humanities; Interdisciplinary Pedagogies; Practice-as-Research; North Sea and North Atlantic; Cultural Heritage;
PhD Supervision
Helen Garbett: “The Human-Limpet Project: An art-based investigation into human and limpet entanglements over time”
Gary Lloyd: "Made Through Making: Stonework, skill and social change in Neolithic Orkney"
Sophie Durbin: "Burial Assemblages of Early Medieval Orkney: Approaches for Remote Audience Engagement"
Key Projects
North-Sea Heritage in Transitions: North-Sea Heritage in Transitions
The Many Lives of Cardboard: The Many Lives of Cardboard
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): International network for contemporary archaeology in Scotland
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
Committee Member, Contemporary and Historical Archaeology in Theory conference standing committee
2025 → …
Panel Member, UKRI Interdisciplinary Assessment College
2024 → 2026
Editorial Board Member, British Archaeological Reports, Contemporary and Historical Archaeology Series
Oct 2020 → …
Trustee, Orkney Natural History Society Museum (Stromness Museum)
Dec 2015 → …
Keywords
- CC Archaeology
- N Visual arts (General) For photography, see TR
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):
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SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
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Collaborations from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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North-Sea Heritage in Transitions (AHRC Doctoral Focal Award: Art history, visual arts and creative practice)
Thomas, A. (CoI), Permar, R. (CoI), Innes, M. (CoI), Anderson, J. (PI), Gapp, I. (CoI), Kinsella, K. (CoI), Macklin, R. (CoI), McKean, T. (CoI), Fremantle, C. (CoI), Pritchard, D. (CoI) & Clarke, J. (CoI)
Project: Research
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The Many Lives of Cardboard
Thomas, A. (CoI), Razzall, L. (PI) & Boast, H. (CoI)
1/02/26 → 31/05/27
Project: Research
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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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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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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)
1/05/23 → 31/10/24
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, 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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Development of an interdisciplinary conceptual framework to understand marine energy transitions in North Sea coastal communities
Gormley, K., Burdon , D., Atkinson, D., Bevan, A., Harland, J., Jaeger, S., Kerr, S. A., Lee, D., McCarron, A., McGrane, S., McWhinnie, L., Potts, T., Shapovalova, D., Sheehy, J., Thomas, A. & Alexander, K., 18 Feb 2026, In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition. 100143.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Downloads (Pure) -
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 AccessFile110 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
Prizes
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Highlands and Islands Students’ Association (HISA) Most Inspiring Lecturer 2025
Thomas, A. (Recipient), 10 Feb 2025
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Art and Architecture at the Ness of Brodgar (Invited speaker)
Thomas, A. (Invited speaker)
18 Jun 2026Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Invited talk
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The Institute of Making, University College London
Thomas, A. (Visiting researcher)
7 May 2026Activity: Visiting an external institution › Visiting an external academic institution
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Sensing transition: Arts methodologies and the politics of energy futures
Thomas, A. (Invited speaker)
29 Jun 2026 → 30 Jun 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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External Examiner (PhD, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of Dundee)
Thomas, A. (Examiner)
11 Aug 2026Activity: Examination
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TRANSECTS Storylines Workshop/Walkshop: WHALING
Thomas, A. (Organiser), Bevan, A. (Organiser), Saunders, L. (Organiser) & Atkinson, D. (Organiser)
26 Sept 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Culture for Climate Scotland Local Assembly (Invited speaker)
Thomas, A. (Invited speaker), Kaar, J. (Invited speaker) & Lee, D. (Invited speaker)
28 Apr 2026Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Invited talk
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UHI Perspectives on Heritage Futures
Thomas, A. (Speaker)
9 Jun 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
Press/Media
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University of Aberdeen to lead major new North Sea heritage doctoral research consortium
9/07/26 → 10/07/26
5 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Written in Stone
Card, N., Richards, C. & Thomas, A.
1/12/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Digging the Bigger Picture: The Friends of Cookham Abbey Art and Archaeology Symposium - Day 1
23/06/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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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
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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