Archaeology has the power to ground us in our crazy, modern world

We cannot have a future thought unless we access the memory of our past. Denying history and archaeology does not just diminish our past, or etiolate our present: it stunts the future, writes Bettany Hughes

While dust-filled museums have found themselves at the sharp end of the culture wars, dusty archaeology is enjoying a gleaming revival (Getty Images)

I’ve noticed a strange thing happening. While dust-filled museums have found themselves at the sharp end of the culture wars, dusty archaeology is enjoying a gleaming revival.

At a time when we are continuously offered the newest, the freshest and then refreshed versions of our phones, tablets and laptops, it seems the ancient, the old and the static are now sought-after novelties.

In a digital, often virtual world, the real has absolute and exotic value. Ancient artefacts are the ultimate non-fungible tokens. Archaeology is the perfect haptic experience. I can testify: touching a sliver of gold or a sherd of pottery as it comes out of the earth is unforgettably thrilling.