Download the preliminary program
Registration:
All are welcome. Lunch & coffee will be provided.
Please RSVP in advance.
Date: April 22, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Collaborative Digital Research Space (CDRS)
MN3230, Maanjiwe Nendamowinan
University of Toronto Mississisauga
Find information on parking at UTM, campus maps, and directions.
List of Speakers:
Kristian Howald, Sheridan College
Namir Ahmed, Toronto Metropolitan University
Carl Knappett, University of Toronto
Andreas Yates, Toronto Metropolitan University
Claire Jensen, University of Toronto
Carrie Atkins, University of Toronto
Lan Li, University of Toronto
Heather M.-L. Miller, University of Toronto
Phil Sapirstein, University of Toronto
Rachel Di Cresce, University of Toronto
Raquel Robbins, University of Toronto
Giles Morrow, McMaster University
SeungJung Kim, University of Toronto
Workshop Rationale & Description:
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary offers three definitions of the term ‘reconstruction.’ The first is the “act or process of rebuilding, repairing, or restoring something.” The second is the “recreation or reimagining of something from the past especially by using information acquired through research,” and the third is “a technical process by which scientific principles and techniques are applied to physical evidence in order to create an accurate reenactment or understanding of a past occurrence or event.”1
Historical disciplines engage with all three types of ‘reconstruction’ in their work both directly and indirectly. The enduring disciplinary desire to restore and ‘complete’ incomplete historical artifacts, structures, and scenarios persists.2 This encompasses the conservation and repair of endangered heritage sites, the creation of architectural maquettes and dioramas, the decipherment of inscriptions and texts, and the reconstruction of fragmentary artifacts and buildings through drawings. Moreover, recent advancements have led to the development of digital and multisensory reconstructions of historical sites and processes. But despite the concerted efforts of historians, archaeologists, and anthropologists, attempts at faithful reconstruction often inevitably result in the creation of new construction(s) of the past, shaped and influenced by our own interpretive perspective(s).
Much like literary translations, reconstructions are an act of interpretation, and are informed by the worldviews, knowledge-making practices, and disciplinary orientations of those creating them. This raises questions about who has the authority to reconstruct the past. Attempts at historical reconstructions have often been criticized for presenting a single perspective on a complex past, inadvertently influencing future interpretations and understandings of the past, and simultaneously erasing local and indigenous interpretations in the process. As powerful mnemonic devices, historical reconstructions have also disproportionately influenced the popular perception of the past in popular culture. Reconstructions are effectively sensorial palimpsests, and by engaging the senses, they leave a lasting impression on the imagination. Sensorially appealing reconstructions, drawings, translations, and visions of the past often continue to resonate even when their factual details may be challenged or disproven by new evidence, which is why some scholars have advocated for the use of the term “simulations” instead of “reconstructions.” 3
In response to these criticisms, there is some hesitation among historical scholars to directly engage with interpretive reconstruction. Nevertheless, despite this hesitation, attempts at interpretive reconstruction can be productive opportunities to expand disciplinary boundaries and challenge existing disciplinary narratives. Reconstructing the past often highlights our fragmentary understanding of the past and compels us to acknowledge knowledge gaps within our own disciplines. This workshop will provide an opportunity for scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds to present and discuss their research on multiple facets of historical (re)construction.
Tia Sager, Senior Research Associate of Digital and Collaborative Scholarship
1 “Reconstruction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster.
2 Stanley-Price, Nicholas. 2009. “The Reconstruction of Ruins: Principles and Practice.” In Conservation, 1st ed.,
edited by Alison Richmond and Alison Bracker. Routledge.
3 James, Simon. 1997. “Drawing Inferences: Visual reconstructions in theory and practice.” In The Cultural Life of
Images: Visual Representation in Archaeology edited by Brian Molyneaux. Routledge.