Carena Institute of Sustainable Archaeologies (CISA)

Description

The Carena Institute of Sustainable Archaeologies is a research and teaching institute at Birkbeck, University of London, founded in 2025. It works on what it calls sustainable archaeologies: archaeological practice that answers climate change, conflict and demands for decolonisation by putting equity, community involvement and environmental care first, and by working alongside local and Indigenous communities on heritage sites, objects and practices. The institute backs community-led research and skills-building across the heritage sector, runs training, and works to improve labour conditions in fieldwork and to make archaeological knowledge easier to reach. Its work is organised around four themes: building new legacies with communities, dealing with legacy data, studying destructive legacies such as conflict heritage and militarised landscapes, and the histories of archaeology. In 2026 it began a formal cooperation with Syria's Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums, and it awards scholarships for master's study in archaeology and heritage. Follow the institute on LinkedIn.

Currently active

Yes

Offers funding

Yes, this infrastructure provides funding in the following categories:

Founding year

2025

Contact details

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Categorisation

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University affiliation(s)

Birkbeck, University of London
London

Partner Infrastructures

Archaeology Scotland

Archaeology Scotland is the leading independent charity working to inspire people to discover, explore, care for and enjoy Scotland’s archaeological heritage. It was established nearly 80 years … read more about Archaeology Scotland

Dalkeith

Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA)

Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) is an independent archaeology and built heritage practice with over 50 years of experience, and the only Independent Research Organisation (IRO) in British archaeol… read more about Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA)

London

Additional Partnerships

Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria); Heritage for Peace; Voices of Heritage