Animal bones as powerful carriers of meaning: memory and identity, life and death

Project summary

This project will bring together zooarchaeology and contemporary art to explore the scientific, cultural and symbolic significance of animal bones. Working with the University of Sheffield’s zooarchaeological reference collection, four artists will collaborate with researchers to create new artworks that examine themes of memory, identity, life and death. These creative responses will be presented alongside the collection in a public exhibition at the Festival of the Mind, offering new ways for audiences to engage with zooarchaeological research.

By combining scientific expertise with artistic practice, the project will make zooarchaeology more accessible to diverse audiences while demonstrating the value of interdisciplinary collaboration. It will increase the visibility of the zooarchaeological reference collection beyond its traditional teaching and research role, encourage new perspectives on human–animal relationships and environmental change, and create opportunities for future partnerships between the arts and sciences.