New Sensory Approaches to the Past shortlisted for the EAA Book Prize 2026

Posted on 10th June, 2026

We are delighted to announce that New Sensory Approaches to the Past: Applied Methods in Sensory Heritage and Archaeology, edited by Pamela Jordan, Sara Mura and Sue Hamilton, has been shortlisted for the 2026 European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) Book Prize.

Awarded annually, the EAA Book Prize recognises exceptional recent publications by EAA members. This year’s prize attracted a highly competitive field, with a selection of seven titles shortlisted.

The winner will be announced at the Opening Ceremony of the 32nd Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists, which will take place in Athens later this year.

Shortlisting for the prize reflects the originality, scholarly quality and wider contribution of New Sensory Approaches to the Past. Bringing together an international range of contributors, the volume explores how people in the past experienced their worlds through the senses, offering innovative approaches that challenge the predominantly visual focus of traditional archaeological research.

Through case studies spanning diverse periods and geographies, the book demonstrates how attention to sound, smell, movement and embodied experience can open up new perspectives on cultural environments and lived experience. Its interdisciplinary scope highlights the value of integrating methods and insights from across archaeology and beyond.

Published open access by UCL Press, the book is freely available to read online, ensuring its research can reach and inform readers across the world.

We warmly congratulate the editors and contributors on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to the announcement of the 2026 prize winner in Athens.