We live in curious times. On the one hand, there is a growing reckoning with some of the worst atrocities perpetrated by humans in the past. On the other, there are increasing attempts to obscure the past, such as glossing over colonialism and its ongoing impacts. At the same time, there are challenges to the relevance of studying our past, and consequent funding cuts.

Archaeology is not immune to these pressures, particularly where agendas of ‘progress’ and ‘development’ are prioritised over perceived non-essentials. Yet archaeology offers tangible and intangible benefits, connecting people to place and to each other, and supporting cultural diversity, restitution, reconciliation, and decolonisation. In response to these challenges, this session asks what a sustainable future for archaeology might look like. It explores how theory and practice can address contemporary crises, confront past shortcomings, and move the discipline toward a more sustainable future.