Owen (They/Them) is an AHRC (WRoCAH) funded PhD researcher who completed their undergraduate degree at Prifysgol Bangor University in 2019 in Archaeology and continued their studies at Bangor graduating with an MA in Celtic Archaeology in 2022. Their MA thesis studied the development of Queer Archaeology as a framework for archaeological analysis from its origins in the late 1990’s/early 2000’s towards the present day. Owen’s PhD builds upon this research with a focus specifically in ‘Transgender Archaeology’. The study will look at the impact of archaeological research on the transgender community, how archaeology is being (ab)used in discussions around rights and equalities for transgender individuals as well as investigating identities in the past that do not fall within the modern West’s notion of cisgender men and women.
Owen has been an outspoken trans activist using their platform as the former Mayor of Bangor, and the UK’s first openly non-binary city Mayor, to campaign for transgender equality and dignities. They have published an introductory book on the topic of transgender equality, entitled Don’t Ask About My Genitals, and continue to be an outspoken advocate within the transgender community. This activism, and their own experiences as a Non-Binary individual, drive their research and feed into their PhD project.
Owen can be contacted on owen.hurcum@york.ac.uk
Owen Exie Hurcum 