‘The most awkward building in England’? The ‘Rotten’ heritage of ‘Tin Pan Alley’ revisited

Like any subject, archaeology has its traditions, its conventional practices and guiding principles that ensure it stays loyal, true to its original aims. That is why today, archaeologists still excavate, generating yet more data, publishing in the latest volumes of long-established journals, or in expensive monographs that only other archaeologists will read. Archaeologists employed by heritage agencies care for monuments and historic buildings, ensuring they survive, 'for the benefit of future generations'. For many, this is how archaeology should remain. A similar cultural conservatism lingered in the UK from the end of the Second World War until, arguably, 26 November 1976 when, according to musician Phil Oakey, the Second World War finally and abruptly came to an end. That was the day punk arrived with the thrashing of guitars and streams of abuse. But punk was about more than just the music. It was an ethos, a philosophy. Conventions were challenged and the old order gradually dismantled. Pre-1976 news footage now has the resemblance of ancient history. This semi-autobiographical introduction to a collection of essays that promotes new thinking on counter archaeologies wonders if that punk ethos could not have similar benefits for archaeology. Or perhaps it exists already, more than we care to realise.

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Celebrating archaeology and the archaeology of celebrations

Sykes

Conneller

Schofield

et al. 2018

World Archaeology

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‘The most awkward building in England’? The ‘Rotten’ heritage of ‘Tin Pan Alley’ revisited

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Cited by 6 publications

References 20 publications

Vestigial Matters: Contemporary Archaeology and Hyperart

Vestigial Matters: Contemporary Archaeology and Hyperart

‘Deviants, punks and Pink Fairies’: counter-archaeologies for unreasonable people

Celebrating archaeology and the archaeology of celebrations

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