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Dr Aris Politopoulos

@apolitopoulos.bsky.social
1.9K followers 170 following 47 posts

Assistant professor Archaeology and Cultural Politics at Leiden University. Archaeology, play, video games, and politics.

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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
Colleen Morgan @clmorgan.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Hey, it's publication day for "Anarchism and Archaeology" a chapter I wrote w/ Nika Shilobod, Judit del Rio, @archhelmer.bsky.social, @apolitopoulos.bsky.social James Flexner, Marian Verihuete-Azorin, Lewis Borck, James Birmingham & @blacktrowel.bsky.social folks. link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
link.springer.com
Anarchism and Archaeology
Anarchism has been gaining traction in archaeological theory and practice. In a field marked by quotidian anarchisms such as collective interpretation, health and safety practices of care, protection ...
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
Umberto Albarella STOP THE GENOCIDE! @umbertoalbarella.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
For the ARCHAEOLOGISTS: we're still collecting signatures to demand democracy & accountability from the EAA committee. Have a look at our statement: drive.google.com/file/d/1ehzn... sign it here: ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/xZZjy6le Pass it on! @archagainstaparth.bsky.social @blacktrowel.bsky.social
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Dr Aris Politopoulos @apolitopoulos.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
I am very excited to share our (the amazing @cjfrieman.bsky.social, @leilaar.bsky.social, Nika, James, and myself) new publication for the annual review of anthropology on Anarchist Theory and Inequality in Archaeology!
annualreviews.org
Anarchist Theory and Inequality in Archaeology
This article considers anarchist archaeologies and how an approach to inequality shaped by anarchist values and modes of analysis can help us narrate more complex pasts and build more equal futures. T...
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Zena Kamash @zenakamash.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
It is with deep sadness that Dr Marianne Moen and I resigned our positions as Editor-in-Chief and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Archaeology this morning. What follows is the letter we sent to the EAA's executive board, outlining the reasons for our resignation 1/n
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Dr Aris Politopoulos @apolitopoulos.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Hey look, we have a new piece out for @theconversation.com! Check out our thoughts on these 12.000 year old dice and play in general!
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
Despoina V. Sampatakou @archaeobruja.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
@clmorgan.bsky.social and @apolitopoulos.bsky.social on Worldbuilding 🗺️ in the #CAA2026 I’ve played the game #AndWhatRemains and I loved it so much! Amazing tool for teaching and public engagement :) 👾
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Yannis Hamilakis 🍉 @yannisham.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
If you care about democracy and the ethics of archaeology, and believe that scholars should take a stance on the on-going genocide, please sign and circulate.
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
Umberto Albarella STOP THE GENOCIDE! @umbertoalbarella.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
If you are an archaeologist, please consider signing this letter, to ask for democracy, transparency, and accountability in the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/xZZjy6le #archaeology
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Dr Aris Politopoulos @apolitopoulos.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Today we are starting our Play in Crisis @lorentzcenter.bsky.social workshop! Very excited for a full week of discussing play and crisis and designing playful interventions!
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
Stefan Schreiber @stefanschreiber.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
+++New Theme Issue "West Asia in the Center" +++ We have published a new theme issue in our journal Forum Kritische Archäologie. You can find the individual contributions and the full theme issue here: www.kritischearchaeologie.de/en/current_i....
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Dr Aris Politopoulos @apolitopoulos.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
EAA votes are out. Despite a (yet another) clear democratic message by the community, the executive board is still refusing to respect the vote. We will say it loudly, the archaeological community stands firmly against genocide and demands a respectful and democratic organization.
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The Black Trowel Collective @blacktrowel.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
The EAA votes are out The great majority of our archaeological community has voted in favour of the petitions raised by #concernedEAA. We asked for a democratic process, we asked for accountability, and for the need to acknowledge the horrific genocidal policy of Israel against Gaza.
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Gerrit Dusseldorp 🟥 @dussel.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
With the extension of the EAA 2026 deadline, it may be good to reiterate the need for a boycott of the event until the EAA executive steps down.
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Dr Aris Politopoulos @apolitopoulos.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
This is not an attack on the local organizing committee, this is a boycott against the malicious tactics of the executive board of the EAA. This is to save the EAA. If you have a session or paper, withdraw, if you were planning to attend, hold off, if you are a member vote! #boycottEAA
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
Jaime Almansa @jaimealmansa.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
So, if you are an @archaeologyeaa.bsky.social (EAA) member from 2025-2026, you received yesterday your email for the per-rollam vote of the past Special Meeting and the documentation attached to it… if you still doubt what to vote, please read all the documents. My short digest:
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The Black Trowel Collective @blacktrowel.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
🚨Urgent‼️ The EAA has doxxed members who have been working to reestablish justice, democracy and accountability in the association. This is a chilling move. We must take action. ALL EAA MEMBERS OUT FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING THIS FRIDAY JAN 9TH! #EAAforDemocracy
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Killackey Illustration @kjkillackey.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
This was tons of fun and great to meet @apolitopoulos.bsky.social and Stu Eve after months of zoom meetings (@clmorgan.bsky.social and I go waaaaay back but seeing her in person is wonderful too).
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Dr Aris Politopoulos @apolitopoulos.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
After a short presentation by @clmorgan.bsky.social, our Worldbuilding session at @tag2025york.bsky.social is in full swing! Many many archaeological worlds are being built!
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
CrimethInc. Ex-Workers' Collective @crimethinc.com · 06/12/2025
On this day in December 2008, in the Exarchia district of Athens, a Greek police officer murdered Alexandros Grigoropoulos, a 15-year-old Greek anarchist. In response, the whole country rose in revolt. This interview describes how to organize an insurrection. crimethinc.com/organizeanin...
crimethinc.com
How to Organize an Insurrection
One of the first reports from participants in the upheaval that shook Greece after police murdered 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos on December 6.
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Dr Aris Politopoulos @apolitopoulos.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
If you can follow Dutch, you can learn everything about our new board game discovery in the podcast of the National Museum of Antiquities! A Mancala game on the roof of an Egyptian temple!
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
Catherine Frieman @cjfrieman.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
I talk about this sometimes to folks not in academic or archival spaces and they scoff, then they get 👀👀, then they drink
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Owen Exie Hurcum 💜🤍💙🍉 @owenexiehurcum.com · 01/12/2025
Remmeber folks; the only 'victims' of Trans Liberation are supporters of the Patriarchy. So called 'Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminism' is just the Patriarchy repackaging oppressive and hegemonic gender in a bid to keep the system of Patriarchy alive and well. Don't fall for their lies. ✊️🩵🩷🤍
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VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Adventurers assemble! We are stepping into Middle-earth once again, but this time the orcs are in our way. Pick up your weapons and fight to figure out the truth behind the villains of #ShadowofMordor! interactivepasts.com/shadows-of-t... #Orcs #Tolkien #HistoricalGames #ArchaeoGaming
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
Catherine Frieman @cjfrieman.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
It's public now so I'm really thrilled to share I've been promoted to full professor 🥳🥳🥳
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Dr Florence Smith Nicholls @florencesn.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Come to ITU tomorrow at 4pm to see me give a talk on "How to be a Video Game Archaeologist"! digitalplay.itu.dk/event/floren...
Slide How To be a Video Game Archaeologist
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Colleen Morgan @clmorgan.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
This morning I lectured on AI & Digital Heritage and UID/UXD, went to a reading group discussing data and more-than-human research, then gave a talk to the wonderful CIfA Information Management SIG. Now I'm marking until @adamsgreen.bsky.social's research forum this evening. whew!
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
Kübra @mostlyindie.com · 12/11/2025
This evening! Talk by @apolitopoulos.bsky.social on the past of play and playing with the past in videogames @uni-freiburg.de
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Dr Aris Politopoulos @apolitopoulos.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Today in the Histories We Play course we are playing Solarpunk Futures and talk about future-past storytelling!
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
Colleen Morgan @clmorgan.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Just filled out my ethics application for our (me, @kjkillackey.bsky.social, @apolitopoulos.bsky.social & Stu Eve) play session on Worldbuilding at @tag2025york.bsky.social. Not particularly exciting in itself, but I love taking the little steps that make research a bit more real.
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VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Tonight at 20:00, join @times-new-roman.bsky.social, @barborabachanova.bsky.social, and Sophie for another co-op #BG3 stream! Absolutely everything shall be looted, awkward conversations will be had, and shenanigans ought to take place. As always on: www.twitch.tv/streamingthe...
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
Sebastian Hageneuer @archaeobasti.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Short reminder that we have an #Archaeogaming session at the next #CAA2026 in Vienna! Please join us with a paper, the submission deadline is this Sunday! For more info have a look here: itsmoreofacomment.com/2025/09/26/b... #conference #gaming #archaeology
itsmoreofacomment.com
Beyond Fun and Games? Rethinking Archaeogaming, Play, and DigitalHeritage - It's more of a comment...
At #CAA2026, Aris Politopoulos & I are hosting a session on #archaeogaming! We’ll explore inclusivity, ethics, critical limits and much more!
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
If you are planning to attend CAA in Vienna and you have an #archaeogaming paper to present consider submitting in our #archaeogaming session! Deadline has been extended to November 9 so there are a few more days left!
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VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
🚨Research alert! 🚨The incredible @copperkeerthi.bsky.social is looking for people playing videogames about the past to help with their research! If you are such a gamer, please go fill in the survey!
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Dr Aris Politopoulos @apolitopoulos.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
You are a gamer AND you want to help with research? Then fill in the questionnaire of the amazing @copperkeerthi.bsky.social to help them with their research on video games about the past!
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Tomorrow @apolitopoulos.bsky.social and @docrandom.bsky.social are back behind the streaming wheel with Europa Universalis V! Aris' brain will break, Angus will crunch, and history will be (re)played! Join us around 15:00 CET always on www.twitch.tv/streamingthepast
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Reposted by Dr Aris Politopoulos
The Black Trowel Collective @blacktrowel.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
BOYCOTT EAA-ATHENS 2026 🏺 This is not a BTC action but we are helping to disseminate this call, as the president of the EAA has shown great willingness for reprisals. Please distribute widely, particularly to offline colleagues.
Poster titled BOYCOTT EAA-ATHENS, with a circle/slash crossing out the EAA 2026 Athens logo.

This is an urgent call for all members of the archaeological community to join this boycott.

Do not submit a session to the EAA until Eszter Banffy steps down as president of the EAA after her anti-democratic actions. There has been a concerted campaign of intimidation against individual members of the board, including large numbers of threatening and defamatory emails and individual participants, groups, and student volunteers have been intimidated. Even after close documentation of her shameful autocratic actions in the press and on social media, she refuses to step down. We cannot let this happen, this is not what we stand for as a community.

Many departments and institutions already decided not to participate and submit sessions after it has become clear that the EAA has not resolved its issues. Do not submit a session until Banffy steps down. If you have already submitted a session, retract it.
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VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Everyone knows the Bogeyman, but are you familiar with the Nordic and Celtic monsters that might roam the streets this Halloween? Check out our latest blog post to make sure you're ready for a frightful night! interactivepasts.com/the-tragedy-... #BrambleTheMountainKing #Halloween
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Killackey Illustration @kjkillackey.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Look @clmorgan.bsky.social and @apolitopoulos.bsky.social, Brenna Hassett is coming prepared for our #TAG2025 session on worldbuilding in Archaeology!
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Dr Aris Politopoulos @apolitopoulos.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
We (me and @docrandom.bsky.social) are back from Spiel 2025 and added A LOT of new games to the Ludic Lab of the @lucdh.bsky.social! Video soon to follow with all the games that are now available for research (and playing!) at our lab! #archaeogaming
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VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
This week's bulletin is especially bloody, so get ready to sink your teeth into the biggest historical gaming news of the week! interactivepasts.com/bulletin-new... #TotalWarWarhammer3 #GhostofYotei #ACValleyofMemory #VampiretheMasqueradeBloodlines2 #GamingNews #History
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VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
Do you see yourself as a Nancy Drew, a Sherlock Holmes, or a Hercule Poirot? Why not check out our latest blogpost and solve the case of #RhiannonCurseoftheFourBranches? interactivepasts.com/a-murder-of-... #MurderMystery #Mythology #Wales
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PCI Archaeology @pciarchaeology.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
1/4 New recommendation: @ehmalatesta.bsky.social et al. (2025) Rethinking Caribbean Archaeology: Towards an ethical position for a truly decolonial practice. ver.3 recommended by @pciarchaeology.bsky.social osf.io/4ge5j
Figure 2 from the recommended article: Topics generated in the OST session on 14th November 2023 and their assignment to six umbrella topics for further discussion by the workshop participants (Figure by Kathrin Nägele).
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VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
First up our own @docrandom.bsky.social, Csilla Ariese, and @apolitopoulos.bsky.social talk about their Past❤️Play project!
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VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
We are SO back! Game developer panel for #TIPC4 with Leyla, @wisproy.bsky.social, and @colewehrle.bsky.social to talk about the development of historical video games! Tune in over at www.twitch.tv/streamingthepast
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VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
6 years ago, on this day, we were preparing for #TIPC2, which took place at the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision in Hilversum! Today we are preparing for #TIPC4! If you want to remember the awesomeness that was #TIPC2 you can rewatch it here www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvj1...
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VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Whether you want to build an otherworldly empire, fight bandits in historic Japan, or mess around with occult artefacts, we've got the news bulletin for you! interactivepasts.com/bulletin-new... #GhostofYōtei #EndlessLegend2 #StrangeAntiquities #GamingNews
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VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
On this day, 10 years ago, VALUE hosted its first ever event at the Faculty of Archaeology at Leiden. Together with students and staff we reconstructed the (then recently) destroyed Temple of Bel in Palmyra. You can see the complete build here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW_R...
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VALUE Foundation @valuefnd.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Time flies! Today is the LAST day you can register for #TIPC4! There are limited spots available so make sure you register over at www.eventbrite.nl/e/the-intera...! Be there or be a Tetris block, or a floppy disk, or something else square!
eventbrite.nl
The Interactive Pasts Conference 4
The Interactive Past Conference is an event where we get together to celebrate our joint love for video games and the past.
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