Issue 27 | Retrospect Journal | Prejudice and Pandemics
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ArchSoc Needless to say, it was a very different semester for ArchSoc with no in-person events possible. We moved regular events online as well as developing alternative events. Our lecture series successfully moved onto Zoom with high attendances from students, staff, and the general public. One particular lecture had an attendance of just under 60 people with attendees from the USA, Canada, Ireland, and Denmark. Our thanks to all of our speakers from first semester: Prof. Jim Crow, Dr. Jonny Geber, Dr. Guillaume Robin, Dr. Manuel FernándezGötz, and Rich Hiden and Rachel Backshall, for providing interesting and insightful discussions. ArchSoc’s fortnightly lecture series will continue in second semester with talks from speakers such as Prof. Ian Ralston and Dr. Joanne Rowland. We were still able to hold our traditional Halloween and Christmas social events, albeit via Zoom. Thank you to everyone who attended and made them so enjoyable. Group pumpkin carving via video-conferencing software was a personal highlight. We also developed our online coffee afternoons to provide a safe social meet-up in this time of isolation. These were in collaboration with ArchPALS who provided academic support during discussion on coursework. This semester a new event for us was a Scavenger Hunt around Edinburgh and, virtually, further afield. Released weekly, sites were visited and recorded by participants with a chance to win, following government and university guidelines. All sites were visitable virtually so that students could get involved if they were not comfortable with going out in the current situation or were not residing in Edinburgh. We also included sites from further afield that were for virtual visiting Sam Land ArchSoc President (2020-2021)
only, such as Stonehenge. The scavenger hunt was well-enjoyed and provided motivation to go out during restrictions whilst remaining safe. Our particular thanks to committee members Darcey Spenner, Becky Underwood, and Patrícia Hromadová for organising and producing the scavenger hunt across the semester. Once again, congratulations to the overall winner Megan Powell and to our runners-up Ross Morrison and Grayson Thomas. In October, we held an EGM to elect members to the new committee positions of First Year Representative, Postgraduate Representative, and BAME Officer. We were happy to welcome Ross Dempster (First Year Rep), Katie Duke (Postgrad Rep), and Becky Underwood (BAME Officer) into these roles. Our thanks to all the candidates that ran for the positions. We look forward, in second semester, to collaborating with the ArchSocs of the University of Highlands and Islands and Glasgow University on the SSAS Conference 2021. We also look forward to our Fieldwork Fair, likely to be online, and to the continuation of our other events. We hope to see you there! You can keep up to date with ArchSoc via Facebook (Edinburgh University Archaeology Society), Instagram (@edinarch), or emailing us at edin.archsoc@gmail.com with any queries or to be added to the mailing list. I would like to thank all of the committee for overcoming difficult times this semester and organising fantastic events. Thank you to our members and everyone who attended lectures or events this semester, and finally my thanks to Retrospect for the opportunity to share ArchSoc’s semester with you.
