PhD Studentship Evaluating the Cultural Cost of Development in the New South Africa

UCL Department / Division
Institute of Archaeology
Location of position
London
Duration of Studentship
3 years
Stipend
£17,719 per annum
Vacancy Information
The UCL Institute of Archaeology invites applications from eligible candidates (including graduates from South African MA programmes, see below) for a full-time PhD studentship, fully funded for 3 years by the Leverhulme Trust, to commence as soon as possible from 10th January 2022. The project will be principally supervised by Dr Rachel King (UCL) and secondarily supervised by Dr Keneiloe Molopyane (University of Witwatersrand). Extensive opportunities for fieldwork and public engagement in South Africa will be fully funded (see the attached document for further details).
Studentship Description
The PhD project is designed to contribute novel data to cutting-edge global concerns about heritage and restitution, while providing employable skillsets like ethnographic data collection and analysis, audio/video production, developing public engagement strategies, report-writing for a policy audience, database management, and familiarity with the development industry. These skillsets are transferrable across the UK and South Africa.  
The proposed doctoral research aims to take a historical and anthropological approach to understanding how South African heritage institutions have attempted to decolonise their treatment of human remains, especially those accessioned after being disturbed by development projects. Restitution, reconciliation, and reparation are major, active themes in defining heritage justice within African contexts; the PhD will interrogate these through detailed investigation of how democratic heritage policy instruments articulate with legacy institutions like major museums to decide how the dead should be salvaged, honored, or warehoused. The doctorate forms a core part of a Leverhulme Research Project Grant led by Dr King, which aims to achieve a detailed, diachronic understanding of how the South African state has valued heritage when it is at odds with development.
Person Specification
We are looking for an excellent, highly promising student committed to interdisciplinary work in heritage and archaeology. Applicants may come from a variety of backgrounds (archaeology, heritage studies, history), but it is expected that the successful applicant will be able to clearly explain the relationship between their existing training and the topic of the studentship, including how their interests and career aims relate to the proposed topic area.
Eligibility
Candidates should hold a Masters degree with an overall grade of 70% or better, with at least 70% for dissertation; or South African equivalent. We invite applications from candidates with a demonstrable background in southern African archaeology and heritage or in possession one of the following South African MA/MSc degrees: MA Archaeology (Wits), MSc Archaeological Heritage (Wits), MA Archaeology (University of Cape Town).
We encourage eligible candidates holding other South African degrees to contact Dr King for an informal discussion before applying.
For formal queries relating to this studentship, please contact Dr Rachel King, [email protected]. Queries regarding the application process should be addressed to Lisa Daniel, UCL Graduate Admissions Administrator, [email protected].
Further information about the UCL Institute of Archaeology is available at: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology
Please use the below link for details on how to apply: 
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/apply/application-form.pdf
Contact name
Lisa Daniel
Contact details
[email protected]
UCL Taking Action for Equality
Closing Date
22 Oct 2021
Latest time for the submission of applications
23:59
Interview date
5 November 2021
Studentship Start Date
10 January 2022