Petition to save 'world leading' Sheffield University Archaeology Department racks up 8,000 signatures in a few hours
and live on Freeview channel 276
The petition, which was set up this morning, stands at around 8,450 signatures at the time of writing, with people all over the world signing.
Earlier today it was announced that the University of Sheffield's world-renowned Department of Archaeology is in danger of closure following an institutional review that could see its staff made redundant.
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Hide AdYesterday a meeting which took place at the university yesterday between key staff and the University Executive Board.
There they decided that there are three options for the future of the department.
The people behind the petition say that two of these – the two that Professor Umberto Albarella at the department says are the most likely ones to be taken – will “effectively mean the end of Archaeology at Sheffield after the last cohort has graduated”.
A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “The University of Sheffield has undertaken a review of its Department of Archaeology. Staff and student representatives participated in the review, and no decisions have been taken.”
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Hide AdThe University of Sheffield’s archaeology department has been in the city for more than 50 years.
Professor Albarella, who started at the department more than 20 years ago, said: “"The reaction has been amazing and the students are totally on our side and we are totally outraged by this because Sheffield has trained archaeologists who are now all over the world holding important positions. This is a great historic place.”