In the aftermath of violence: heritage and conflict transformation in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one such locale where dichotomous understandings of the past underpin contemporary conflict, with society still very much impacted by the 30 years of violence known as The Troubles. Ongoing efforts to embed conflict transformation into the investigation and interpretation of contested archaeological sites are allowing for the development of a new form of praxis of relevance more broadly to post-conflict peacebuilding. While the levels of violence seen during The Troubles have dissipated and Northern Ireland works to improve its economic standing and develops its role as a tourist destination, society is conversely more divided than it was in 1998. A further twist in the Brexit story for Northern Ireland relates to identity politics and the peace process, and the relationship between Northern Ireland and Scotland. Legacies of The Troubles remain unresolved, and the role played by older histories are not fully recognised in either political analyses or in mainstream top-down, conflict transformation projects.