CDRS Brings Scholars Together to Explore New Ways of (Re)Constructing the Past
On April 22, scholars gathered at the Collaborative Digital Research Space (CDRS) for a full-day workshop titled (Re)Constructing the Past: Critical Approaches to Historical Reconstruction. Organized by CDRS Senior Research Associate Dr. Tia Sager, the event drew more than forty participants from across the Greater Toronto Area and featured twelve speakers from four Ontario universities, creating an energetic space for conversation across disciplines and career stages.
At the heart of the workshop was a shared question: how do scholars reconstruct the past through their work, and what are the stakes of doing so? Archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians came together to reflect on reconstruction not only as a technical process, but as a critical and often contested practice.
“Any discipline that engages with the past, be it the ancient past or the more recent historical past, must confront reconstruction in at least some aspect of its work,” says Sager, whose research focuses on the archaeology of architecture, social change, and social interaction in the Bronze and Iron Age Eastern Mediterranean.
“But attempts at reconstruction can be incredibly fruitful given their experimental nature,” she explains, “sometimes providing new insights into the past that may not have been considered otherwise.”
The workshop unfolded over four panels, each offering perspectives on how reconstruction shapes research in different fields and contexts. UTM scholars included Anthropology professor Heather M.-L. Miller; Prof. Carrie Atkins from Historical Studies; and Claire Jensen, a sessional instructor in the Department of Visual Studies. Speakers shared examples from their own work, addressing both the possibilities and limits of reconstructive methods. Each panel was followed by lively discussion, with participants engaging with directly presenters, posing questions, and contributing their own experiences and perspectives.
Intentionally broad in scope, (Re)Constructing the Past encouraged participants to think beyond disciplinary boundaries and to consider reconstruction as a shared challenge — and opportunity — for anyone working with the past. By bringing together established scholars, early-career researchers, and graduate students, the workshop fostered a collaborative environment where ideas could be tested and refined through dialogue.
Sager was pleased to see such a strong turnout and enthusiasm for the topic, and she was inspired by the depth of discussion that took place throughout the day.
“My hope is that this workshop was just the beginning of a deeper conversation about reconstruction as a critical tool for researchers working across historical disciplines,” Sager reflects, “and that we keep the momentum and engagement to continue having this important conversation.”
