Chiara Calzana and Valentina Gamberi, "Haunting Ruins: Ethnographies of Ruination and Decay" (Berghahn Books, 2025)

In this episode of the New Books Network's Anthropology channel, host Yadong Li interviews Dr. Valentina Gamberi and Dr. Chiara Calzana, the editors of "Haunting Ruins, Ethnographies of Ruins and Decay." The discussion explores the book's central themes, including how ruins serve as dynamic spaces where history, memory, and human experience intersect. The editors discuss the concept of "haunting" in relation to ruins, the ethnographic approach used in the book, and the importance of scale in understanding the significance of ruins in the contemporary world. They share insights from their own research and the contributions of other scholars, highlighting the diverse ways people interact with ruins and how these interactions shape their understanding of time, memory, and change. The editors also touch on their upcoming projects, which further explore the afterlife of artifacts and the intersection of memory, trauma, and history.