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| The Archeology and Intellectual Disability project: unearthing prejudices about science to members of this group | "Archeology is synonymous with passion and passion does not understand race, or sex, much less capabilities." Under this premise, the Professor of Prehistory at the University of Murcia (UMU) Ignacio Martín Lerma and the Unit for Scientific Culture and Innovation (UCC + i) have launched a series of visits to occupational centers in Murcia and Almería to that the users of these institutions can put themselves in the shoes of authentic archaeologists. This is an initiative that is part of the Archeology and Intellectual Disability project: unearthing prejudices, which aims to put an end to the preconceptions that exist around the people who are part of this group, making them participants in scientific knowledge.
The objective is to transfer to the occupational centers the experiences of the first stage of the project, in which several people with intellectual disabilities were working in situ in the archaeological site of Cueva del Arco (Cieza), a place that has the oldest cave paintings of the Region of Murcia. During the visits, several workshops and recreations of archaeological excavations have been carried out, following a rigorous protocol to respect all the security measures established in the face of COVID-19.
These simulations play a very important role, since they allow users of centers that do not have a high degree of autonomy to also enjoy the experience at the field level. The participants of the different sessions have been able to learn to carve stone as our ancestors did in their day and to analyze the pieces found in the excavation like true scientists.
All this with the support and under the careful supervision of Sergio Rodríguez Dengra, user of the ASPRODALBA occupational center (Vera, Almería), who in the initial phase of the project worked together with the scientific-technical team in the Ciezano deposit.
Their presence in these activities is the clear example that it is possible to do Archeology without barriers. In addition, with the aim of also getting to know about this project family, friends and other users of the occupational centers, at the end of each day there has been an exhibition with the materials resulting from the workshops. Ignacio Martín Lerma confesses that directing this project he has lived very emotional moments when he saw how the users of the centers turned into activities and were excited to make a discovery.
The researcher and disseminator highlights the importance of doing not only a science, but also a more inclusive dissemination: "Through this type of initiatives we demonstrate to people who unfortunately tend to stay away from scientific disciplines, that they dedicate themselves to the study of History or Archeology is not at odds with having an intellectual disability ". Along these lines, José Manuel López Nicolás, vice-rector for Scientific Transfer and Dissemination of the UMU, emphasizes the importance of working so that science reaches all groups: "Make no mistake, science does not reach all population groups That is why this project is so necessary.
" The visits have been made in occupational centers that belong to Plena Inclusión, a national network of organizations that ensures compliance with the rights of people with intellectual disabilities.
This project is funded by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) - Ministry of Science and Innovation.
Source: Universidad de Murcia
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