Associate Professor, Anthropology
The University of British Columbia, Okanagan
I am Associate Professor in Anthropology at The University of British Columbia. My research programme examines and addresses geospatial and digital methods in anti-colonial and Indigenous studies of archaeology and heritage. My research interests are geovisualization and GIS, place-based heritage, data practice, community governance of heritage, anti-racism and archaeology in India and Canada. I cultivate these interests through DARE | Digital Archaeology Research Environment, a Canada Foundation for Innovation laboratory at UBC Okanagan.
Interests
- Digital and Geospatial Methods
- Postcolonial, decolonial, anti-colonial and Indigenous studies of heritage
- Archaeology in India and Canada
Education
PhD Anthropology, 2012
McGill University
MSc GIS and Spatial Analysis in Archaeology, 2002
University College London
BSc (Hons.) Archaeological Sciences, 2001
University of Toronto
Featured Publications
In Our Voices Experiences and Perspectives of Black and Racialized Archaeologists in the Canadian Context
Black and racialized archaeologists examine the intersection of power, race, and racialization in light of transformative developments in Canadian archaeology that re-centre descendant communities and the lived experiences of archaeologists
We open conversation on an under-examined aspect of heritage research; what happens with the volumes of archaeological documentation (field notes, maps, drawings, illustrations, photos, etc.) after a field season ends, and what strategies do archaeologists employ in keeping track, managing, using, and sharing this information? We consider how digital methods are encouraging archaeologists to learn new ways of practising their craft.
A Systems-Thinking Model of Data Management and Use in US Archaeology
We apply a “systems thinking” approach to produce such a high-level model of the US digital data system. We argue that understanding and visualizing this system will help us all “think bigger” (Heilen and Manney 2023); identify sources of knowledge, opportunities for critical analysis, collaboration, and capacity building; and increase much-needed archaeological digital literacy (Kansa and Kansa 2022).
Gamification of Digital Heritage as an Approach to Improving Museum and Art Gallery Engagement for Blind and Partially Sighted Visitors
Digitization of heritage in art gallery and museum contexts raises ethical concerns around ownership, consent, and use. It also highlights fundamental issues of access and engagement for blind and partially sighted (BPS) visitors, especially elders.
We describe and discuss systemic barriers for Indigenous, Black and racialized archaeologists in securing employment and leadership positions in Canadian archaeology and ways to begin addressing these problematic practices.
Recent Publications
Quickly discover relevant content by filtering publications.
(2025).
Reconceptualizing Repatriation as the Power to Decide.
Museum Anthropology.
(2024).
In Our Voices Experiences and Perspectives of Black and Racialized Archaeologists in the Canadian Context.
Canadian Journal of Archaeology.
(2024).
Digital Methods in the Collection, Management, Reuse, Sharing, and Circulation of Indian Heritage Data.
Practices of Digital Humanities in India: Learning by Doing.
(2024).
A Systems-Thinking Model of Data Management and Use in US Archaeology.
Advances in Archaeological Practice.
(2023).
The CARE Principles and the Reuse, Sharing, and Curation of Indigenous Data in Canadian Archaeology.
Advances in Archaeological Practice.
Teaching
Course syllabi available
- Digital Arts and Humanities Seminar (Graduate level)
- Introduction to World Archaeology (100-level)
- Archaeological Inquiry & Practice (200-level)
- Digital Methods in Archaeology & Heritage (300-level)
- Settling Down: Archaeology of Complex Societies (300-level)
- Applied Anthropology (digital anthropology; reclaiming; AI and heritage) (400-level)
- Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (200-level)
- Scientific Applications in Archaeology (400-level)
Projects
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The project will support a network of participants who will investigate, develop, demonstrate, and promote more equitable cultural heritage data curation practices, with the aim to reconcile the CARE and FAIR data governance principles.
Collaborations make visible racism and race-based discrimination in the Canadian context. The first project focuses on the heritage sector, and the second project aims to make visible every day experiences of racial discrimination.
A collaborative project between Westbank First Nation Archaeology and UBC Okanagan that focuses on enacting Indigenous data governance principles such as OCAP® (ownership, control, access and possession) in digital heritage. The principles can help guide appropriate ways to share digital heritage within and beyond Westbank First Nation, while simultaneously supporting community caretaking of its digital heritage.
Indigenous data governance draws from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) to re-center Indigenous rights and aspirations in research, policy and practice. In a digital environment, greater attention and deliberate efforts are needed in the governance of data, specifically heritage data that relate to and represent Indigenous communities.
The project connects four Indigenous partners (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm [Musqueam], Metlakatla, Sts’ailes, Métis Nation of Alberta) with materials analysis researchers from UBC and the University of Alberta to address Indigenous-led research questions through the exploration of materials held in repositories.
Visualizations summarize large amounts of digital information and allow the grouping and filtering of data. With visualization tools, archaeologists and community members can interact with digital archaeological information to see patterns and gain insight into data collection and curation practices.
ODATE is an e-textbook project funded by the Province of Ontario’s eCampus Ontario Open Content Initiative. Digital archaeology encourages innovative and critical use of open access data and the development of digital tools that facilitate linkages and analysis across varied digital sources.
Northern Kerala Archaeology Project, NorKAP for short, is a collaboration with the University of Kerala. The project, led by Dr Neha Gupta and Dr Rajesh SV (Kerala) examines long-term change in the social and political organization of past societies in the Bharathapuzha River Valley in northern Kerala. Preliminary results were presented at the Society for American Archaeology meetings in April 2017.
MINA is a public digital Web-based platform that maps Indian archaeology through time and that can enable linking with other dynamic and static geographically-referenced sources of information such as newspapers, journal articles and archaeological reports.
Circles of Interaction aimed to enhance collaboration between archaeologists and the Huron-Wendat Nation and to facilitate discussion between them regarding the collection and interpretation of archaeological data and the preservation of cultural heritage.
A study of archaeology in Sanghol, Punjab, as part of my doctoral research. The study highlights the influence of social and political factors on the interpretation of archaeological data and the preservation of cultural heritage in post-1947 Independent India.
A study of the practice of Indian archaeology as part of my doctoral research. Indian archaeology is neither evenly distributed nor uniformly practiced over time.
The Training and Human Resources Development Project at McGill University aimed to address inequalities in the availability of health and social services for linguistic minorities in Quebec, Canada. Availability was visualized and assessed using maps.
The project aimed to develop tools and technologies in the detection of clandestine graves at the Parc Safari animal cemetery, and 3-dimensional documentation of graves and occupants.
Recent Talks & Workshops
Anita Lal (Poetic Justice Foundation), Dr Neha Gupta (UBC Okanagan) and Dr Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra (Belonging Matters) are continuing the conversation on caste in Canada in the second event of the Community-University Engagement Support project at the UBC Okanagan campus.
Contact
Email me: neha(dot)gupta(at)ubc(dot)ca