Well-Being through Archaeology and Heritage

Contents

List of Contributors

List of Abbreviations

Foreword – Kate Mavor

Acknowledgements

Editors’ personal note – Vanessa Heaslip and Kerry Barrass

Chapter 1: Introduction: Journeys into Wellbeing Through Archaeology and Heritage – Timothy Darvill†, Vanessa Heaslip, and Kerry Barrass

Heritage and Well-Being Projects

Chapter 2: Stepping into Nature – Stephanie Aburrow, Julie Hammon and Steve Wallis

Chapter 3: Archaeology for Well-Being: The Later Prehistoric Norfolk Project – Andy Hutcheson

Chapter 4: Archaeotherapy: Finding Connectedness, Understanding and Healing at a Heritage Site – Harriet Sams

Chapter 5: Human Henge: Creating Opportunity and Delivering Activity – Gavin Perry-Harry, Daniel O’Donoghue and Yvette Staelens

Chapter 6: Reflections on Music from a Henge – Maxence Des Oiseaux

Engaging with Cultural Heritage

Chapter 7: PPI and Partnership in the Heritage and Wellbeing for NHS Staff (HerWellNHS) Project – Joanna Sofaer, Ofelia Zaboloteanu, Nick Maguire, Bryony Whitmarsh, Joe Shoebridge, Sharon Court, Millie Salkeld, Jason Sadler, Desi Gradinarova, and Anoop Chauhan

Chapter 8: Set the Scene: Situating Active Engagement in Community Archaeology and Well-being – Francesco Ripanti

Engaging with Cultural Heritage

Chapter 9: Heritage and Well-being in a Cross-Cultural Context: Challenges and Opportunities – Zena Kamash, Anne Ferrey, Omar Jassam, Zhala Amin, Layla Salih, and Emma Palmer-Cooperiv

Chapter 10: Archaeology on Prescription: Active Engagement Through Field Archaeology – Christina Henzel and Arran Johnson

Chapter 11: Heritage: Progressing Inclusion, Tackling Loneliness and Inequalities – Liz Ellis

Chapter 12: Five Ways to Wellbeing with Heritage Open Days – Sarah Holloway

Chapter 13: Cultural Heritage as Human and Social Capital: frameworks for Measuring Well-being Change – Faye Sayer

Chapter 14: Well-Being Approaches and the Heritage Sector – Linda Monckton

Evaluating Heritage and Well-Being Programmes

Chapter 15: Authentic and Meaningful Participation in Heritage or Related Activities (AMPHORA) guidelines – Eva Makri, Karen Burnell, Paul Everill

Chapter 16: Funding Archaeological and Heritage Well-being Programmes Via Health and Care Services: capturing Both Well-being and Value for Money – Ann-Marie Hawton and Elizabeth Goodwin

Chapter 17: Evaluating the Direct Impact of Heritage on Well-being – a Spiritual Matter? – Claire Nolan

Chapter 18: Human Henge: Our Story and Lived Experience – Vanessa Heaslip, Martin Allfrey, Kerry Barrass, Timothy Darvill†, Laura Drysdale, Elizabeth Goodwin, Gavin Perry-Harry, Anne-Marie Hawton, Daniel O’Donoghue, Yvette Staelens and Toby Sutcliffe

Chapter 19: Onwards and Upwards: Voices from Human Henge – Laura Drysdale, Simon Chaplin, Tess Denis, Liz Maisonpierre, Mark Marshall, Melanie Rogers and Louise Topp

Chapter 20: Feeling Useful: A Pilot Study to Investigate the Impact of Archaeological Participation on the Mental Well-being of Older People – Frances Breen

Chapter 21: Promoting Well-being Through Archaeology in Professional Environments – Celia Orsini

Afterword Timothy Darvill 1957 – 2024 A personal appreciation – Miles Russell

About the Author

Timothy Darvill was the Professor of Archaeology at Bournemouth University from 1991 until his death. He led the ‘Scaling-up Human Henge’ and ‘Human Henge’ projects, amongst many other research and archaeological fieldwork projects. His research focused on the Neolithic of northwest Europe and he published over 20 books and 200 papers and articles. He held roles in many organizations including Cotswold Archaeology and the Society of Antiquaries of London. Tim was appointed OBE for services to archaeology in 2010.

Professor Vanessa Heaslip’s research interests are in communities who experience health inequity and social exclusion and whose voices are not traditionally heard in the academic and professional discourse. She has received numerous awards including Sigma International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame (2025), Chief Nurse Award for Adult Social Care (2025), Royal College of Nursing Northwest Award for Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (2024), Burdett Hero Award (2022) and Woman of the Year (2019).

Kerry Barrass, MA Ceramic and Lithic Analysis for Archaeologists; BA (Hons) Archaeology and Prehistory. Visiting Fellow, Bournemouth University.