A Southampton Solent College researcher’s work on the therapeutic potential of archaeology is making an influence in Ukraine, the place it’s getting used to assist troopers and civilians traumatised by their experiences within the struggle with Russia.
Dr Karen Burnell, Affiliate Professor of Utilized Psychology, is without doubt one of the co-founders of the AMPHORA Challenge, which has developed toolkits for individuals working or collaborating in archaeological initiatives aimed toward delivering public psychological well being and wellbeing advantages.
The AMPHORA toolkits are being utilized by a Ukrainian initiative – based mostly on the historic monastery of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Nationwide Reserve, known as “Religious Restoration By means of Tradition” – which makes use of archaeology in addition to heritage crafts to assist enhance the wellbeing of Ukrainian army personnel.
Supported by the AMPHORA tips, Dr Taranenko is working with the Ukrainian Affiliation of Archaeologists (UAA) to develop a massively expanded nation-wide scheme, based mostly on his work on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Nationwide Reserve. He says,
“After the profitable use of the AMPHORA program within the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Nationwide Reserve throughout 2023-24, I made a decision to unfold related data all through Ukraine. This was helped by colleagues from the UAA, which has 26 branches all through the nation and begins with a seminar collection of 5 lectures.”
Karen realized of AMPHORA’s influence in Ukraine when she and the venture’s co-founder, Dr Paul Everill from the College of Winchester, met the venture chief, Dr Sergiy Taranenko, on the ‘Archaeology for Restoration’ convention held at Bournemouth College final summer season.
Karen, who might be giving a web-based discuss on AMPHORA’s improvement and implementation to the UAA this month, says,
“Studying that the AMPHORA tips had been adopted by the “Religious Restoration By means of Tradition” venture has been a really humbling expertise. Once we developed the rules, we have been hopeful they’d promote higher apply nationally, with scope for worldwide use. The truth that they’ve been so helpful in supporting psychological well being and wellbeing in a battle is testomony to their real usefulness and inherent flexibility.”
With plans in place for Karen and Paul to work with Dr Taranenko and his colleagues to develop bespoke ‘AMPHORA-Ukraine’ tips for the UAA, Karen says,
“We sit up for working carefully with the staff to make additional diversifications to the rules that may assist in the rehabilitation of the Armed Forces now and sooner or later.”
