The Archaeology Profession and Broadcasting after the Second World War: Tracing the Development of the BBC Radio Series "The Archaeologist", 1946-1966.

Journal: Bulletin of the History of Archaeology (forthcoming)

Abstract:

Archaeology featured on BBC broadcasts almost since the beginning of the regular radio service in 1922. The ensuing decades saw the emergence of BBC radio producers who specialised in working on archaeological themes. The establishment of the Third Programme in September 1946 provided a new platform for 'intellectual' content, and a fresh impetus for archaeologists and radio producers to collaborate in the provision of educative and entertaining broadcasts about the past. Accessing archive material from the BBC Written Archives at Caversham, and referencing scholarship from the disciplines of media research, archaeological historiography and public history, this paper addresses the nature and development of the long-running radio series "The Archaeologist". Through highlighting the interactions between broadcasting archaeologists and radio producers, notably key players Glyn Daniel, Gilbert Phelps, Peter Laslett and John Irving, it is shown that the series had an important place in the communication of archaeology to the British public. The significant role of radio in the development of archaeology as a profession is uncovered, and a forgotten chapter in the history of science communication brought to light.

Source: Manual