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Placemaking Through Protest: An Archaeology of the Lees Cross and Endcliffe Protest Camp, Derbyshire, England

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Abstract

The article describes the preliminary results of an archaeological survey of a protest camp occupied since 1999 in Derbyshire, England, and reflects briefly on the role of archaeology in researching contemporary activism and protests. The camp is structured by the everyday activities involved in living in the landscape, by the ‘manufactured vulnerability’ created using characteristics of the environment to contest an attempted eviction, and the public statements of protest that symbolise the campaign to the wider world. Through its longevity and the high profile of the wider anti-quarry campaign the camp is now a key element in the history of its landscape, and it is on these terms that it became the subject of archaeological research.

Résumé

L’article décrit les résultats préliminaires d’une enquête archéologique menée dans un camp de protestation occupé depuis 1999 à Derbyshire, Angleterre, et reflète brièvement le rôle de l’archéologie dans des recherches concernant l’activisme contemporain et les protestations. Le camp est structuré par les activités quotidiennes impliquées s’inscrivant dans le paysage, par la ‘vulnérabilité fabriquée’ créée en utilisant les caractéristiques de l’environnement pour contester une expulsion tentée et les déclarations publiques de protestation qui symbolisent la campagne aux yeux du monde, au sens plus large. Malgré sa longévité, son haut profil et la vaste campagne des archéologues, le camp est maintenant un élément clé de l’histoire de son paysage, et c’est sur ces termes qu’il est devenu un sujet de l’archéologie.

Resumen

El artículo describe los resultados preliminares del estudio arqueológico de un campo de protesta ocupado desde 1999 en Derbyshire (Inglaterra), y reflexiona brevemente sobre el papel de la arqueología en la investigación del activismo y las protestas contemporáneas. El campo se estructura en función de las actividades diarias relacionadas con la vida del lugar, de la « vulnerabilidad manufacturada» creada con las características del entorno para protestar contra un intento de desahucio y de los mensajes públicos de protesta que simbolizan la campaña para un mundo más amplio. Por su longevidad e importancia dentro de una campaña más amplia contra las canteras, el campo es ahora un elemento clave de la historia del lugar, razón por la que se ha convertido en el objeto de estudios arqueológicos.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the residents of Lees Cross and Endcliffe protest camp and particularly Aimee Blease-Bourne, Ben, Graham Jenkins and Ro for welcoming us and being so generous with their time and knowledge; Jon Humble and Sarah Whiteley for suggesting the idea of undertaking an archaeological survey of the camp; Stella McGuire for helpful discussions about the camp and Stanton Moor; and John Schofield and Rodney Harrison for providing a forum in which to present this article. Stella McGuire, Sarah Whiteley, Paul Graves-Brown and various camp residents read and provided constructive comments about an earlier draft of the text. Our anonymous referee suggested some useful additional references. The authors’ views do not represent the opinions of other organisations responsible for the conservation management of Stanton Moor, specifically English Heritage or the Peak District National Park Authority.

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Correspondence to Anna Badcock.

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Badcock, A., Johnston, R. Placemaking Through Protest: An Archaeology of the Lees Cross and Endcliffe Protest Camp, Derbyshire, England. Arch 5, 306–322 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-009-9106-z

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