Reversing the Narrative from Violence to Peace: Some Thoughts from an Archaeologist

Archaeologists with ambitions to be relevant, ethical, and useful can decide to confront difficult, deeply embedded current problems. We archaeologists have the power of narrative. Narratives are what drive us; they are what we teach each other. They reinforce what we believe, repeat, cite, and fund—both within the discipline and in the stories we return to the public sphere. In Life and Death Matters, Barbara Rose Johnston raises the crucial question: "Can we build environmentally sound and socially just solutions to our problems in ways that minimize or prevent the incidence of violent conflict?" How will archaeologists employ narrative tactics to respond?