1

McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research

Anniversary Fellowship

Final Stage Application

Bryn Trevelyan James (University of Manchester)



Letter of Application (250 words) 2
Detailed Research Project Proposal (1500 words) 3-8
Interdisciplinary Conference Outline (500 words) 9
Curriculum Vitae 10-17




2

Letter of Application: Experience & Interests
To the Panel,
I specialise in West African archaeology and social anthropology, with particular interests in the
materiality of medico-religious practices, substances, spaces and beliefs, as well as syncretism
between distinct medical cultures. I am particularly interested in the complex interconnections
between savannah and forest medical cultures in Ghana, from their earliest historic period on the
periphery of trans-Saharan trade routes, through to the era of Atlantic contact and beyond. Thus I
am fascinated by continuity and change in medical cultures, how such inferences may be accessed
archaeologically and ways these understandings can be articulated for diverse audiences in relation
to present and future well-being.
Much of my research experience has been on the interface between archaeology and anthropology,
applying an archaeological ethnographic approach to engagement with indigenous medicine
specialists in Accra, Ghana (2010/11) and in related work among Manchesters African community
(2013/14). These interests stem from fieldwork on Tim Insoll and Ben Kankpeyengs Talensi
medicine project in northern Ghana (2007) where alongside interviews with elders I applied
ethnobotanical surveys to identify archaeological sites in the landscape. Novel and interdisciplinary
lines of enquiry are at the core of my approach with staff in the UoM Material and Life Sciences I
have collaborated on a range of residue analysis projects, including Profs. Insoll and Kankpeyengs
Talensi shrine (2004-11) and Koma Land medico-religious figurine (2012-14) research. I am thus
equally interested in accessing subjective ethnography and empirical study of ecofacts and material
culture, ideally through partnership with Ghanaian colleagues in a way which brings positive
impacts for local stakeholders.

Sincerely,

Bryn Trevelyan James

3

POWERF UL PL ANT S : T HE ARCHAEOL OGY OF MEDI CO-
REL I GI OUS PL ANT US E I N S OUT HERN GHANA
The archaeology of African medicine is poorly understood, particularly in relation to the material
culture of herbalism. However, across Ghana historic and contemporary importance of efficacious
plant species can be read in the landscape through survival and active curation of ancestral forests
and sacred groves. In south-eastern Ghana, such communal medico-religious practices have resulted
in human-environmental interactions preserving around 800 islands of biodiversity. Working in
partnership with Ghanaian colleagues, a selection of these sites closely associated with recent
excavations producing evidence of medicinal practices has been identified.
This study proposes combining contemporary ethnobotany and palaeobotanical coring at
sacred groves with the latest analytical protocols for residue analysis of excavated materials,
through which a diachronic perspective on regional herbal plant species use since 1200 C.E. can be
reached. The significance of this project lies in detecting continuities and changes in botanical
composition of groves and medicines overtime, how these may be linked to healing and ritual
practices, and what this says about indigenous knowledge cultures, past and present. Consequently,
relevance to Anniversary Fellowship themes aligns closely with interests concerning human-
environment interaction, material culture and heritage.

RES EARCH QUEST I ONS
Can we detect botanical composition changes at sites and sacred groves over time and link these
to medicinal and ritual practices? What does this imply for human-environment interactions in
the region?
Can a firm set of methodologies and analytical protocols using latest techniquesbe refined for
investigating the palaeobotany of indigenous medicine? Particularly via residue analysis?
Did groups in the region have a shared medical material culture as suggested by linguistic and
other evidence? Is there evidence of exotic (botanically non-local) species becoming integrated
within indigenous pharmacopeia?

T HEORET I CAL CONT EXT
Bias against material understandings of healing in African anthropology limits archaeological
investigation of medicine (Morris 2011). In order to broaden interpretive perspectives, particularly of
comparatively neglected areas like herbalism, a theoretical framework open to a wider range of
analogy is necessary (Insoll 2011). Here, ethnoarchaeology is rejected as research strategy, not theory,
and the emerging field of archaeological ethnography identified as a better suited space (Hamilakis &
Anagnostopoulos 2009). Drawing inspiration from the Material-Culture Turn, this project is thus
situated on the interface between archaeology and anthropology, encompassing both empirically-
driven methodologies, and valorising indigenous and alternate archaeologies including the voices
of contemporary healing practitioners. Ghanas position on the periphery of trans-Saharan trade
routes, and later as a centre for Atlantic networks, impels engagement with world-systems theory and
4

post-colonial theory. However, given the research aims proposed, historic particularism underpins the
projects theoretical approach.

MET HODOL OGY
Contemporary ethnobotanical reports and palaeobotanical findings from sacred grove soil coring
programmes will provide benchmark data framing residue analysis of excavated materials from
spatially-related archaeological sites. Combining the three data sets, a diachronic perspective on
regional herbal plant species use can be interpretively accessed.
Ethnobotanical methodology
Existing ethnobotanical data is available for each site in partnership with Ghanaian archaeologists.
Following the established Healers Tools methodology, this will be supplemented by additional semi-
structured interviews with local indigenous medicine specialists and on-site collection of plant
specimens, to be identified by Daniel Abbiw of the University of Ghana (UoG) Herbarium. Dr Rachel
Webster, Curator of Botany, Manchester Museum, will provide consultant support.
Coring programme
To be undertaken in sacred groves for purpose of pollen analysis, working in co-operation with
David Atta-Peters (UoG) an archaeobotanist with palaeobotanical interests.
Adopting a belt transect method, coring of groves will be conducted via stratified random quadrant
sampling taking 2-3 cores and 1 surface sample per km
2
, using a manually-powered soil coring auger.
The device recovers soil samples 8cm in diameter by 10cm in length and is capable of recovering
cores up to 4m in depth, sufficient for (and beyond) the time period studied. Soil cores will be
subsampled for pollen analysis and prepared for transport in plastic liners sealed with
fluoropolymer swatches.
Residue analysis
Using laboratory resources at the University of Cambridge,excavated materials selected in
partnership with Ghanaian colleagues will undergo residue analysis for botanical identification. This
cannot currently be done in Ghana the only archaeobotanical laboratory in West Africa being
Professor Sowunmis, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Multiproxy studies combining the following have proved particularly useful when applied to
non-conventional residue evidence: plant microfossils; stable C and N isotopes; lipids,
proteins and carbohydrates analyses; mineralogical analysis (e.g. FTIR).
Key assets: George Pitt-Rivers Laboratory for Bioarchaeology; Glyn Daniel Laboratory for
Archaeogenetics; Dorothy Garrod Laboratory for Isotopic Analysis.

Feasibility of accessing past herbal medicine practices via these methodologies is indicated by
recent Africanist studies including: Nixon, Murray & Fuller (2011); Van der Veen (2011); Day (2013);
Giachi et al. (2013); Insoll, MacLean & Kankpeyeng (2013).
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ARCHAEOL OGI CAL EXCAVAT I ONS & S ACRED GROVE S I T ES

Site Predominant
Ethnic
Group
Occupation
Dates
Archaeological
Excavations
Excavated
Material
Storage
Location
Krobo
Mountain
Site
(0 05E - 6
05N)
Ga-Dangme c.a. 1200
1900 C.E.
(Precise
AMS dates
available
soon.)
Ongoing
Krobo
Mountain
Archaeological
Research
Project led by
William
Gblerkpor

10 medicine
pots; 5
grinding
stones; shrine
accoutrements

University
of Ghana,
Legon
* Associated with ancestral forests, sacred groves (c. 1.5-2 km
2
total), caves and rock shelters at
the Krobo Mountain Reserve. Also related to Osu Doku Hill archaeological site.


Shai Hills
Site
(5 54N - 0
4W)
Ga-Dangme c.a. 1500 to
1892 C.E.
James
Anquandah,
1980-90
4 medicine
pots; 3
grinding
stones


National
Museum
of Ghana
stores
* Associated with sacred groves (c. 2 km
2
total), shrines and ancestral caves at Shai Hi lls
Resource Reserve and Shai Hills Production Reserve.


Accra
Plains
Katamansu
Shrine
(5 52N - 0
06'W)
Ga 18
th
to 19
th

century
C.E.
Wazi Apoh
and Kodzo
Gavua, 2000-
2001
5 medicine
pots; 7
grinding
stones; 2
brass vessels;
1 European
vessel; a
medicine
mans wares

University
of Ghana,
Legon
* Associated with the Pinkwai Forest sacred grove, a 1 km
2
area of dense vegetation.

Publications detailing these sites and materials include: Anquandah (1997); Apoh & Gavua (2010);
Gblerkpor (2008, 2011).

Extended bibliography available on request.

Permission status: All research permits and co-operation is in place thanks to long-term
partnerships with the University of Ghana, Legon, and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.

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NECES S ARY RESOURCES
Applications to the McDonald Grants and Awards fund will be made to cover these costs over three
years. Existing personal equipment will be carried over.
AMS-Samples Stainless Steel Environmental Soil Auger Sampling Kit [No. 209.56] 1341.10
3x return flights. Heathrow to Accra, Ghana 1560
Multiple Entry Visa (2 years) 160
6 months subsistence in Ghana at 20 per day (based on prior in-country expenditure) 3600
Research Associate/Translator remuneration (Elvis Aboluah) 1800
Laboratory testing (based on provisional estimates) 6500
14961


PROJ ECT T I MEL I NE

October 2014
* Nov.-Dec. Fieldwork: preliminary site surveys


2015
* Jan.-Feb. Initial ethnobotanical and palaeobotanical fieldwork
Collect materials for residue analysis, initiate upon return to UK
Begin organising conference
Analyse initial fieldwork findings
* Sept.-Nov. Conclude ethnobotanical and palaeobotanical fieldwork


2016
Analyse fieldwork findings, conclude archaeological residue analysis
Begin writing up results, publishing initial articles
* Mid-late 2016, hold interdisciplinary conference


Late 2016 through 2017
Write-up and publish findings as journal articles
Edit conference publication



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ANT I CI PAT ED OUT COMES

Grey-literature reports on each sites provisional palaeobotanical and ethnobotanical findings.

Four journal articles publishing: (1) palaeobotanical and ethnobotanical findings
[Anthropology and Medicine]; (2) residue analysis outcomes [Journal of Archaeological
Science]; (3) case-orientated methodological framework for medico-religious palaeobotanical
research [Journal of Experimental Botany]; (4) study-overview consolidating programme
findings [Cambridge Archaeological Journal].

Joint publications with Ghanaian colleagues on specific sites [e.g. Nyame Akuma].

Edited volume from conference [McDonald Institute publication or BAR, etc.]

Additional

Where appropriate, text panels at sites in English and Twi outlining heritage features and
pointing to their value for understanding past and future community wellbeing.

Cabinet display on African medicine at the National Museum of Ghana, Accra consisting of
listed excavated materials along with contemporary images and narratives from the sites.


F EAS I BI L I TY

Methodology potential for studies combining archaeobotanical and multiproxy residue analysis to
access African plant medicine practices archaeological established by recent literature (see page 3).

Materials relevant materials from key sites are already identified, located and accessible.
Necessary permissions and interdepartmental partnerships are in place (see page 4).

Outcomes journal preparation workload and timescales are in-line with prior writing and
publication trajectories as are additional public-facing outcomes.


RES EARCH COL LABORAT ORS ( a b b r e v i a t e d )
Note: Prospective Cambridge collaborators are those colleagues whose experience of the laboratory
assets it would be beneficial to share.

Internal Collaborators

External Collaborators
Emma Lightfoot
(http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/directory
/elfl2)

Bart Van Dongen (University of Manchester)
(http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/bart.vandongen/)

Martin Jones
(http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/directory
/mkj12/)
Benjamin Kankpeyeng (University of Ghana)
(http://www.ug.edu.gh/index1.php?linkid=596&sectionid=
827&page=3)
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Rachel Ballantyne
(http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/directory
/rmb51)

Daniel Abbiw (University of Ghana)
(http://www.ug.edu.gh/index1.php?linkid=464&sectionid=
945&page=2)

Ronnika Power
(http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/directory
/rkp30)

David Atta-Peters (University of Ghana)
(http://www.ug.edu.gh/index1.php?linkid=540&sectionid=
840&page=9)

Tamsin OConnell
(http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/directory
/tco21)

Dorian Fuller (University College London)
(http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/people/staff/fuller)

Rachel Webster (Manchester Museum)
(http://universitylivinglab.org/people/rachel-webster)

Sammy Nkumbaan (University of Ghana)
(https://www.linkedin.com/pub/sammy-
nkumbaan/67/681/b30)

Tim Insoll (University of Manchester)
(http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/Tim.insoll/)

William Gblerkpo (University of Texas/University of Ghana)
(http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/anthropology/Graduat
e-Program/profile.php?id=wng239)















Top: View of Krobo Mountain from the southeast, showing sacred grove site. Left: Recently
abandoned shrine site, Shai Hills. Right: Kasitsote vessels, used for ritual and medical
purposes, excavated at Krobo Mountain. (Photos used with permission from William Narteh
Gblerkpor.)
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POWERF UL PL ANT S : CONT EMPORARY & T EMPORAL PERS PECT I VES
ON RI T UAL & MEDI CI NAL PL ANT S I N WES T AF RI CA
Recent years have seen an emerging interest amongst Africanist researchers across disciplines in the
materiality of medico-religious plants, their socio-economic biographies and complex roles in human-
environment interactions. Amongst archaeologists this has led to increasing interest in understanding
narratives and processes of medico-religious plant use derived from material-culture and palaeobotanical
evidence. Anthropologists and ethnobotanists meanwhile have given substantial attention to ways in which
ritual and curative uses of plants shape and maintain symbolic and empirical human-environment
relationships. These streams of research are strongly convergent and archaeological science is adding
temporal depth to this scholarship with the development of increasingly sophisticated analytical protocols.
The open time frame considered by this conference is directed at encouraging a wide diversity of
interdisciplinary contributions for discussion, illustration and comparison. Particularly sought are papers
building on recent research or introducing new conceptual or analytical ways of interpreting the material
culture of ritual and medicinal plant practices and relationships of these to human-environment interactions
across West Africa and beyond. The conference has been devised to review the progress of scholarship which
ground the perceptions of these relationships in the sciences and humanities and explore and critically
appraise newly emerging methodologies, theories and engagement practices.
Participants are invited to contribute to this stimulating meeting from across the sciences and humanities, as
well as from heritage bodies, museum groups, commercial consultancies and other disciplines. Crucially, since
we intend this event to articulate why understanding past and contemporary use of plant resources in Africa is
important for the present and future health of the world as a whole, we would like the event to be as inclusive
and enjoyable as possible. As such, we encourage the attendance of undergraduates and interested members
of the public with alternate perspectives which may expand exchange of knowledge in this field.
The meeting will be organised to cover five main themes:
1) Biographies and narratives of medico-religious plants
2) The material culture of powerful plants in West Africa
3) Human-environment interactions: material, sensory and landscape approaches
4) Recent developments in analytical protocols
5) Plants and wellbeing: new approaches and theoretical perspectives
Each theme will be applied to both
A paper session consisting of two 15-20 minute presentations.
A round table dialogue comprising several 10 minute presentations, following which the session will be
open to discussion from all participants. Sessions will be filmed with speakers permission and made
available as podcasts.
A final plenary session bringing all participants together will report back on findings and contributions from
individual sessions, ending with identification of key topics, potential collaborations and necessary future
research directions.
Additionally, there will be a poster exhibition, in which research relating to any of the above aspects can be
presented. Particularly encouraged are poster submissions from undergraduates and post-graduates.
Publication of the proceedings is planned, splitting papers into sections covering the five themes co-edited by
contributors, with an introduction and conclusion reflecting overall findings from the plenary session.
10

BRYN TREVEYLAN JAMES
1.14 Abito Apartments, Greengate, Salford, M3 7NB.
bryn.james@manchester.ac.uk | +44 (0) 7817 158 266


Date of Birth 10 September 1986.
Current Role University of Manchester, Graduate Teaching Assistant (2010)/Lecturer (2013) | Manchester
Museum, Researcher in Residence (2013) | De Gruyter Publishing, Assistant Editor, Open Archaeology, (2014).
EDUCAT I ON & QUAL I F I CAT I ONS
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, 2005-2013
PhD Archaeology (A1 Pass No Cor rections, March 2014)
Doctoral thesis: The Healer's Tools: A study of Material Assemblages amongst Healing Practitioners in Ghana
and their Archaeological Implications.
Supervisor: Professor Tim Insoll. Examiners: Professors Brian Morris and Colin Richards.
Received full fees and bursary award from University of Manchester Humanities Endowment Scholarship
(Theme: Culture, Identity and Change).
Fieldwork funded by the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) in 2010 and again in 2011.

MA Archaeology of Identity: Disti nction (Covering theoretical, political and ethical issues in the study of
identity, including ethnicity, nationalism, religion, gender and sexuality.)
Thesis: Broadening Perspectives on Indigenous Healing: Bori Spirit Possession Among the Hausa.
Supervisor: Professor Tim Insoll.
Received full fees award from Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

BA (Hons.) Archaeology: Fi rst
Placed top within stream for both first year Moderation and Final Honours Schools.
John Ryland award for academic achievement.

COWBRIDGE SIXTH-FORM, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, 2003-2005
A-Level Biology, Chemistry, History, Maths (A).
Granted unconditional offer to University of Manchester.

COWBRIDGE COMPREHENSIVE, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, 1998-2003
13 GCSEs (A/A*).

ACADEMI C PUBL I CAT I ONS

In
Prep.


Insoll, T., Trevelyan James, B., Linseele, V., and Gasson, P. In Preparation. Eclectic Materiality: A
Healers Basket from East Africa in the Manchester Museum.
An Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used by Migrant Healers in Accra, Ghana. In
Preparation.Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
Thinking Through Collection: Curating Public Engagements with West African Medicine
Assemblages. In Preparation. World Archaeology, Collection Special Issue, 48: 2.
Images of the Other: The Role of Turawa Spirits in Constructing Hausa Conceptions of European
Ethnicity. Under Peer Review. Open Archaeology.
11

2014 Writing Stones and Secret Shrines: An Exploration of the Materialisation of Indigenous & Islamic
Beliefs within West African Spiritual Medicine. In Gemi-Iordanou, E., Gordon, S., Matthew, R.,
McInnes, E. &Pettitt, R. (eds.) Medicine, Healing, Performance: Interdisciplinary Approaches to
Medicine and Material Culture. Oxford: Oxbow. 136-159
The Spirit of the Plant: Exotic Ethnopharmacopeia Among Indigenous Healers in Madina, Accra.
Anthropology Matters. (In press 2014)
Cikiand jiki: The Inner and Outer layers of West African Islamic healers workspaces. In Armitage, N.
&Houlbrook, C. The Materiality of Magic: An Artifactual Investigation into Ritual Practices and
Popular Beliefs. Oxford: Oxbow. (Forthcoming 2014)
Exploring African Medicine, Health & Well-being: Workshop Programme Toolkit. Manchester:
Manchester Museum.
Researcher in Residence Programme, Exploring African Medicine, Midway Report to Funders.
Manchester: ArtsMethods/RCUK & SALC.
2013 Trading Well-Being: The Materiality of Medicine and Religion at a Healers Market, Accra, Ghana,
exhibition catalogue, 20 August - 20 November 2012, Manchester Museum, Manchester.
Sacred Groves, Home to Herbs & Spirits; Ritual for Sale. Wares of a Medicine Supplier's Stall; By
Gods Power A Healers Sign Board; Cooking the Witch's Medicine; The Medicine is in my
Hands. Royal Anthropological Institutes Education Outreach Programme. Anthropological
Fieldwork: Africa. London: Royal Anthropological Institute.

Web. 17 April 2013 http://www.flickr.com/photos/raieducation/
2012 Exotic Ethnopharmacopia and Traditional Healing in Madina, Accra. Proceeding of 2
nd
Royal
Anthropological Institute Postgraduate Conference, 13
th
September 2012. University of Kent, UK.
EmslieHorniman Award, Discursive Report for Public Dissemination. The Healers Tools A Study
of Material Assemblages amongst Traditional Practitioners in Ghana and their Archaeological
Implications. London: Royal Anthropological Institute.

Web. 21 May 2012 www.therai.org.uk/past-awards/emslie-horniman-award-bryn-james/
2011 EmslieHorniman Award, The Healers Tools, Post-2010 Fieldwork & 2011 Interim Report to
Trustees. London: Royal Anthropological Institute.
2010 The materialisation of indigenous & Islamic beliefs within West African spiritual medicine.
Proceeding of the Medicine, Healing & Performance session at the 32
nd
Annual Conference of the
Theoretical Archaeology Group, 17
th
-19
th
December 2010. University of Bristol, UK.
EmslieHorniman Award, The Healers Tools, 2010 Interim Report to Trustees. London: Royal
Anthropological Institute.
S EL ECT ED CONFERENCES & PRESENT ATI ONS

2014

Guest speaker, Centre for African Studies Basel (CASB) Workshop Research, Exhibitions and African
History, University of Basel, Paper Title TBA, 25
th
October 2014.
Opening speaker, Researcher in Residence Conference, Manchester Museum, The Researcher in
Residence Programme: Exploring African Medicine @ Manchester Museum, 16
th
June 2014.
12

Guest speaker, RCUK Researcher Development Day, Manchester Business School, Researcher
Development at UoM: The Researcher in Residence Programme, 14
th
May 2014.
Conference organiser (funded by SALC &ArtsMethods) and speaker, Exploring African Medicinal and
Religious Objects @ Manchester Museum, a part of Manchester Histories Festival, Manchester
Museum, Thinking Through Collection: Reflections on the Recently Completed Healers Tools
Project, 22
nd
March 2014.
2013 Guest speaker, African Archaeology Research Day 2013,University of East Anglia, Africas Material
Culture Past and Present, Medicine in their Hands: The Potential Role of Contemporary Healers in
Broadening Interpretive Perspectives on the Materiality of Medicine and Ritual, 1
st
-2
nd
November.

Guest speaker, Trading Well-being: The Materiality of Medicine and Religion at a Healers Market,
Accra, Ghana in the Manchester Museum Collection Bites Seminar Series, Manchester Museum,
November 2013.

Guest speaker, Royal Anthropological Institute Horniman Day at the Horniman Museum, London,
The Healers Tools: Exploring the Materiality of Healing in Accra, Ghana, 25
th
October 2013.
Social Networking since 1600: Current research and new perspectives, University of Manchester,
Presented Entering restricted social networks of indigenous healing knowledge and practice in
Accra, Ghana, 24
th
May 2013
14
th
Annual Researching Africa Day Workshop, Researching Africa: The Follow of Research?,
University of Oxford, Presented Accessing secret medicinal knowledge: The challenge of engaging
with traditional healers in Ghana, 23
rd
February 2013.
Guest speaker, An interpretive thick text approach to broadening archaeological perspectives on
traditional healing in sub-Saharan Africa, in the African Peoples and Pasts Seminar Series,
University College London, 17 January 2013.
2012 The 34th Annual Conference of the Theoretical Archaeology Group, University of Liverpool, Session:
"The Materiality of Magic: An artifactual investigation into ritual practices and popular beliefs,
Presenting Ciki and jiki: The Inner and Outer layers of Islamic healers workspaces in Madina,
Accra, 17 to 19 December, 2012.
Organised symposiums on Joint Anthropology-Archaeology Events at the Social Anthropology
Seminar Series 2012/13, University of Manchester, 15 Oct. & 5 Nov. 2012.
Care In The Past: Archaeological and Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Durham University, Presented
The use of herbal remedies in treatment and care by traditional healers in Ghana, 6 October 2012.
The 2nd Royal Anthropological Institute Postgraduate Conference, University of Kent, Session:
Environmental Frontiers, Presented The Spirit of the Plant: Exotic Ethnopharmacopia Among
Traditional Healers in Madina, Accra, 13 September 2012.
Guest speaker, The materiality of ethnomedicine among migrant healers in Ghana, preliminary
findings, in the Archaeology Postgraduate Research Seminar Series 2011/12, University of
Manchester, 16 April 2012.
2011 Organised Archaeology Postgraduate Seminar Series 2010/11, University of Manchester, September
2010 June 2011.
Media.Manchester Science Festival 2012, Images of Research Photo Competition, Runner Up Prize: The
Medicine is in my Hands. Web. 7 Nov. 2012 www.manchesterimagesofresearch.co.uk/the-medicine-is-in-my-
hands/
13

T EACHI NG EXPERI ENCE

Lecturer, Department of Archaeology, University of Manchester, September 2013 Present
I teach students at all levels from first-year undergraduates to MA. I am increasingly involved in mentoring
and guidance for post-graduates. In the 2013/14 semesters I designed seminars and lectures as a sessional
lecturer and co-convenor of the following courses:
ARGY60371: The Archaeology of Social Identities (MA)
ARGY30502: Theory & Practice in Archaeology
Graduate Teaching Assistant & Tutor, Department of Archaeology, Sept. 2010 June 2013
During my postgraduate study at Manchester I was responsible for teaching first, second and third-years in
lectures, group seminars and individual tutorials.
Theory & Philosophy of Archaeology (2010/11 & 2013/14)
Themes in World Archaeology (2011/12)
History of Archaeology (2013/14)
Additional duties included supporting course leaders, supervising students during field-trips and fieldwork,
marking coursework and exams, and liaising between academic staff, office administrators and the student
body.

CURRENT RES EARCH I NT EREST S & EXPERI ENCE

Current research interests
West African archaeology, anthropology history and culture
African medicine, healing and wellbeing
Botany, ethnobotany, palaeobotany
Archaeological analytical protocols, esp. relating to residue analysis
Contemporary engagements: archaeological ethnography and community partnerships
Public dissemination: museum and heritage contributions

Employment
Lecturer in Archaeology, University of Manchester (sessional)
September 2013 Present (11 months)
As part of Manchesters archaeology department I work on both independent and collaborative projects
supporting archaeological and cultural heritage work for both the university and public and private sector
parties in the UK, Europe and Africa. This regularly involves data collection and report writing related to
tangible and intangible cultural heritage, building on extensive experience in both the basics of archaeological
survey and applied anthropological research, plus over 4 years experience in planning and reporting
ethnobotanical and ethnoarchaeological field research.

14

In my current role I have further developed technical and project coordination skills, as well as building
knowledge of archaeological analytical protocols through peer interaction and research participation
particularly as a founding member of the UoM Archaeological Science Group and a contributing member of
the UoM Palaeontology Research Group.
As a department staff member I have quickly gained responsibilities, charged with planning and
implementing academic events, and bringing fresh ideas to increase departmental impact.
Prepared successful proposals for project funding from bodies including RCUK, the Royal
Anthropological Institute, SALC Methods Fund and Manchester Histories Festival.
Supervisors and funding bodies have commended me on my effectiveness in report preparation,
negotiation with heritage associations in the UK and Ghana, and in community liaison skills.
Building on multiple seasons of fieldwork, I have managed interdisciplinary teams in the UK and
Africa, implementing study area survey programmes, deploying newly developed research materials,
including interview sheets, and logging results of community meetings.
Developing interest in stakeholder consultations has led to my concurrent position as Researcher in
Residence at Manchester Museum.


Researcher in Residence, Manchester Museum, University of Manchester
November 2013 Present (9 months)
Researcher in Residence responsible for planning and implementing events promoting awareness of, and
appreciation for, African healing material culture and practice, past and present. The role involves proposal
writing, preparation of detailed event plans, community engagement/consultation, co-ordination of an
interdisciplinary team, and liaison with public/private sector clients to secure funding. The role has recently
been expanded to include creation of a community exhibition scheduled for September to October 2014.
Part of the role has involved reinterpretation of African medico-religious objects from the collection using the
latest analytical protocols to better understand substances and species used by indigenous medical cultures.
This work has been carried out in collaboration with partners from the University of Manchester Material
Sciences Department and colleagues from the Archaeological Science Group (see Insoll, T., Trevelyan James,
B., Linseele, V., and Gasson, P. In Preparation.Eclectic Materiality: A Healers Basket from East Africa in the
Manchester Museum.)

Project:
Exploring African Medico-religious Objects in Manchester Museum,Nov. 2013 Present
(Co-Contributors: Dr Rachel Webster, Curator of Botany; Stephen Welsh, Curator of Living Cultures)
Using object-orientated methodologies this project brings together academics and the public to re-
examine collections of African medicinal and religious artefacts held at Manchester Museum. A
conference and ongoing series of workshops have: (i) highlighted important objects from the
museum's collection; (ii) examined new scientific approaches used to better understand medicinal
materials; and, (iii) critically explored the role of collectors donating African medico-religious
artefacts to museum holdings over the years. An exhibition of workshop outcomes is programmed for
display at Manchester Museum as part of Black History Month, October 2014.

15

Assistant Editor, Open Archaeology Journal, De Gruyter
January 2014 Present (7 months)
Assistant Editor supporting the Journal Editor in attracting high quality article manuscripts. The journal
encompasses novel, interdisciplinary approaches to archaeological data including archaeological science,
theory and interpretation, as well as archaeological heritage management and promotion. Invitation to join
the editorial team was extended by Managing Editor Katarzynalusarska based on my research expertise as
well as conference and publication record in these areas. The role includes 6 months vocational training
leading to certification in Academic Editing from De Gruyter, after which I receive promotion from my current
role to Section Editor: African Archaeology.
http://degruyteropen.com/people/bjames/

Co-Coordinator, School-University Partnership Initiative (SUPI), Programme: Mapping Interfaces:
Archaeology, Ecological Diversity, Sustainability (Director: Dr Stephanie Koerner)
January 2014 Present (7 months)
This project brings students and teaching staff from three local schools together with University of Manchester
based professional archaeologists and museum curators. Using artefacts belonging to the Museums teaching
collections, participants will explore questions raised by students projects about:
Patterns of similarity and contrast among the ecological histories of different regions.
Current practices likely to be impacted by environmental change.
Adaptive strategies employed in the past, and means to foster comparable adaptations today.
Relating to their continuing importance in todays increasingly globalised world, emphasis falls upon
strategies of: mobility, diversification, storage and trade and exchange.
Key words: Archaeology, Culture and Ecology, Sustainable Development

S EL ECT ED F I EL DWORK & RES EARCH PROJ ECT S
The Healer's Tools Fieldwork Project, Accra, Ghana(Principal Investigator)
September October 2010; September November 2011
Principle investigator leading a small team conducting ethnoarchaeological and ethnobotanical research with
indigenous healers in a Muslim migrant community of Accra, Ghana. As well as documenting tangible forms
of medicinal cultural heritage (material culture, shrines, workspaces, substance acquisition locations etc.)
intangible forms of culture traditional healing knowledge/beliefs, innovations and practices were recorded.
This included a sample of 141 herbal medicines analysed and reported following ethnopharmacological
protocol. Success of the project relied upon bringing fresh ideas at each stage, both through development of
new materials for field-research and flexibility in often challenging conditions. The role involved proposal and
report writing for which I was commended by the RAI, coordination of a local team (drafting their work plans,
schedules and budgets), liaising with government heritage bodies, and community stakeholder
engagement/consultation. Methodologically the process included interviews; site survey and mapping;
building survey, including identifying, drawing, photographing and interpreting phasing of architectural
features; and scientific sampling of medicines. Post-fieldwork analysis made extensive use of Access databases
and Excel spreadsheets to quantify and interpret data.
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Nigeria House Community Project(Principal Investigator)
September 2008 June 2009
Principle investigator conducting interviews and attending meetings with members of Manchesters African
migrant population, part of a Manchester Museum initiative to enhance community consultation on cultural
heritage, specifically health and wellbeing. The role involved preparing project specification/design, outreach
and education including preparing display panels, writing up meeting notes, desk-based research to enhance
museum collections, data entry, artefact recording, and report writing.

The Archaeology of Medicine Shrines and Substances, Northern Ghana (Director: Prof. Tim Insoll)
July August 2007
Assistant site supervisor responsible for training, assisting and monitoring local excavators during an
ethnoarchaeological project in Tongo Hills, a remote area of Northern Ghana. Role entailed preparation of a
desk-based assessment and implementation of detailed field survey programme of Yaane hill shrine complex.
Post-excavation responsibilities included data collection, assisting report preparation and writing, GIS and
survey processing, scanning site records and digitising plans/sections.

Besthorpe Quarry Dig, Nottinghamshire (Director: Adam Thompson)
June July 2005; June July 2006
Undergraduate site assistant receiving practical training and experience in fieldwork skills as part of an
ongoing archaeological programme required under extraction conditions. Working in a collaborative manner,
responsibilities included field walking (walk over and transect), assisting ground penetrating radar and
resistivity survey, stratigraphic and single context excavation, section drawing and context recording, finds
processing, sorting/ordering and cataloguing finds.

GROUPS , AS S OCI AT I ONS & CERTI F I CAT I ONS
HonoraryFellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute (FRAI)
Member of Manchester Archaeological Science Group
Student Member of the Institute for Archaeologists
Member of the Society of African Archaeologists
Member of the West African Association of Archaeology
Student Member of the British Institute in Eastern Africa
Student Associate Member of the Association of Social Anthropologists (lapsed)
Postgraduate Certificate of Teaching in Higher Education (Higher Education Academy accreditation)
Certificate in Practical Filmmaking for Fieldwork (Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology)
Certified First Aider (Emergency First Aid at Work, 2010)
*Full, clean UK driving license
Languages
English (Native) / French (Limited working proficiency) / Hausa (Limited working proficiency)
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REF ERENCES

Prof. Timothy Insoll

Archaeology, School of Arts, Languages, &
Cultures, University of Manchester, Mansfield
Cooper Building 3.18, Oxford Road, Manchester,
M13 9PL, UK.

Tel: 0044 (0) 161 275 3314
Email: Tim.Insoll@manchester.ac.uk
Prof. Sian Jones

Archaeology, School of Arts, Languages, &
Cultures, University of Manchester, Mansfield
Cooper Building 3.17, Oxford Road, Manchester,
M13 9PL, UK.

Tel: 0044 (0) 161 275 3329
Email: Sian.Jones@manchester.ac.uk