Creative fringe of the European Association of Archaeologists Glasgow
Dr Jeff Sanders is the project manager for Dig It! 2015, the year-long celebration of Scottish archaeology run by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in partnership with Archaeology Scotland. He has a PhD in archaeology from the University of Edinburgh and his research interests include European prehistory, research management, and ritual studies.
The act of archaeology is often used as a metaphor for exploring memory, with psychotherapists digging down through the layers of individual memory as an archaeologist does on an excavation. For archaeologists however, the individual human mind represents a challenge. How can we ever reconstruct what someone was really thinking? We find evidence of our ancestors and attempt to reconstruct the agency behind their actions, but there is no clean separation between the mind and the culture surrounding it. Jeff Sanders will briefly explore these issues before addressing how archaeology in itself can be surprisingly therapeutic.
Gordon Barclay is a GP/Physician trained NHS consultant General Adult Psychiatrist working in Argyll, covering Kintyre and the Isle of Islay. He is an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Glasgow University.
Among other psychotherapeutic modalities he uses, and is a trainer in, Brainspotting and CRM (Comprehensive Resource Model), embodied/experiential approaches to the treatment of psychological trauma.
The Art and Archaeology of Memory
Govan Old Parish Church (Stephen's Chapel)
Friday 4th September 2.30 - 4pm
A dialogue concerning the archaeology of mind between consultant psychiatrist Gordon Barclay and archaologist Jeff Sanders.
Grounded in neuroscience, we will explore what new practices in psychotherapy can bring to our understanding of the core of archaeology.
Short presentations and discussion.
Chaired by Kate Robinson.
The event will be recorded.
Getting here:
Govan Old Parish Church
866 Govan Rd, Glasgow G51 3UU
0141 440 2466
The Art & Archaeology of Memory event will take place in the Stephen Chapel which is at the far end of the Church to the left hand side.
From Govan subway station go straight ahead along Govan Road. Govan Old Parish Church is approx 150m on the right.
Ferries depart from Riverside Museum weekdays till 6pm.
By Bike: National Cycle Network, Route 7 (cross the river at Bells Bridge)
Sat Nav: G51 3UU
Parking: on-street car parking is available in the vicinity of the church.
Govan Old Map
Govan Old Street View
In his presentation Gordon Barclay will suggest, with the aid of brief clinical vignettes, that the art of working with traumatic memory has to begin with a grasp of how the overarching polarity of connection/defence, or love/fear, is grounded in the neurophsiology of what might be called archaeology of mind.
Govan Old Parish Church is open to the public from 1pm. You are very welcome to arrive early and view the Govan Stones and 'Wandering Home', an exhibition of photographs by Thomas Joshua Cooper.