When recycling silver and gold seems evident and has been around for decades, how can the practice be applied to other materials, what organisations and which individuals are already facilitating or exploring this approach, and what could we as artists, makers and designers change as part of our practices in order to become, and more importantly think like ‘Urban Miners’ re-valuing waste materials, critically reflecting on appropriation and being mindful of the longevity of our own work. In history, perhaps through necessity, re-use was common, and archaeologists have found many examples of ‘Urban Mining’ in history. As reflecting on the past can be insightful, Sofie is joined by archaeologist Dr Carlotta Gardner who has been investigating a range of archaeological materials including ceramics, metals, glass, and waste materials associated with these respective industries. They talk about her fascination for the subject, her career to date and her thoughts on Urban Mining.

Listen to this episode here on Spotify.

See all the BAJ Podcast episodes here.

About Dr Carlotta Gardner

Carlotta is an archaeologist who uses science-based techniques to investigate crafting practice, technology, and interactions in the past. Her research has focused on reconstructing the chaîne-opératoire of archaeological objects from a range of periods, locations and made from a variety of materials. Furthermore, by combining her interests and expertise, Carlotta explores the concept of cross-craft interactions in her work.

Find out more here.