You are currently browsing the daily archive for 08/11/2013.
Our monthly listing of events, lectures, and things to do and see, compiled as always by Sue Brooke.
KENT:
Dover Museum and Bronze Age Boat Gallery
‘In September 1992, archaeologists from the Canterbury Archaeological Trust working alongside contractors on a new road link between Dover and Folkestone discovered the remains of a large wooden prehistoric boat thought to be some 3,000 years old, belonging to a period known to archaeologists as the Bronze Age. It was a find of both national and international significance which will shed new light on early seafaring and woodworking skills in Northern Europe. The boat is now displayed in a glass case as the centrepiece of a whole floor in the museum devoted to archeology.’
A public lecture is being held as part of the ‘Beyond the Horizon’ exhibition in the museum. The lecture is free, open to all with no need to book.
LECTURE: Transmanche prehistory from the air – Paul Bennett
VENUE: 7pm in the Theatre, Dover Discovery Centre, Dover, Kent, CT16 1PB.
DATE: 12th December 2013
Please note: the museum will be closed on Sunday’s from 1st. October 2013.
DEVON:
Plymouth and District Archaeological Society
LECTURE: RECONSTRUCTING THE TIDES OF THE PAST: ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
Professor James Scourse
DATE: 2nd December 2013
VENUE: Winter lectures are held on Monday evenings at 7:00 pm in the Devonport Lecture Theatre of the Portland Square Building, Plymouth University.
‘James Scourse is Professor of Marine Geology at Bangor University. His main research interests lie in the Quaternary and include hydrodynamic modelling of shelf seas and ocean-ice-climate interactions. The Irish Sea Ice-Sheet of the last glacial maximum and its contact with the Scillies is a particular interest. Professor Scourse will explain how paleotopographies can be derived from evidence of past sea-levels and models of glacial isostatic adjustment. He will present a model of changing tides over the past 21,000 years and will consider the implications for the foraging strategies and diet across the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition’
Non-members are welcome to attend all lectures but are asked to contribute £4 towards expenses. No need to book, just turn up.
CORNWALL:
Cornish Ancient Sites Protection Network
‘A charitable partnership formed to look after the ancient sites and monuments of Cornwall. Currently working closely with local communities and official organisations to protect and promote our ancient heritage landscape through research, education and outreach activities’.
Volunteers are always very welcome at the monthly clear-ups. These events are always a really good opportunity to get a bit more hands-on, whilst helping to clear an ancient site in the landscape. This not only allows for physical preservation of the site itself but helps it to be kept safe for others to enjoy in the future
DECEMBER CLEAN-UP:
DATE: Tuesday December 10th 11.00am
VENUE: Kynance Gate Settlement (SW 687 139). Meet at Kynance Cove car park (off A3083)
*Please note that suitable footwear and clothing is needed although tools or any necessary equipment will be provided*
Cornwal Archaeological Society
The Winter lecture season is now under way. Truro Lectures are held on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm Truro Baptist Church, Chapel Hill. Truro. TR1 3BD
DATE: 5 December 2013
LECTURE: The Corfield Nankivel Memorial Lecture: Professor Tim Darvill, OBE – “Stonehenge Rocks”
LONDON:
Royal Archaeological Institution
The Royal Archaeological Institute (RAI) is a leading national archaeology society, with a history dating back to 1844. Its interests span all aspects of the archaeological, architectural and landscape history of the British Isles. Monthly Lectures take place from October to May and are held at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London. These are given by visiting speakers on recent research, current archaeological projects and new discoveries.
DATE: 11th December 2013
LECTURE: Archaeology within the National Trust – Ian Barnes, Head of Archaeology, National Trust
VENUE: Lectures are held in the rooms of the Society of Antiquaries of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London at 5 p.m. preceded by tea at 4.30 p.m.
‘The National Trust manages approximately 255,000 ha of land across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, over which 73,000 archaeological sites are recorded. As such, the Trust is one of the United Kingdom’s largest landowners and steward of some of the countries’ most significant archaeological monuments. The lecture will outline where archaeology sits as a discipline within the National Trust’s aims and objectives. The framework for managing the Trust’s archaeological monuments will be outlined, from a strategic policy perspective through to physical management. A brief overview of national projects will be given as well as a summary of the work of the internal Archaeological Consultants based around the Countries and Regions.
Note: Members are welcome to bring a guest to lectures. Non-members are welcome to attend lectures but should contact the Administrator in advance.
‘Step into Christmas Past’ – Events over Christmas:
‘Prepare to celebrate the season to be merry as you get hands on with crafts, listen to carollers carouse, get some dinner tips from a Victorian Cook or immerse yourself in a Blitz Christmas. Mix in the range of gifts available in our shops – why not buy someone special the Gift of Membership? – and you have the perfect recipe for a memorable Christmas’
For an event near you please check out the English Heritage web site
WILTSHIRE:
Revealing the Golden Treasures of the Age of Stonehenge
Opens: Sunday, 13th October, 2013
‘Britain’s greatest treasures from the mysterious golden Age of Stonehenge are to go on permanent display for the first time ever. This will be the largest collection of Early Bronze Age gold ever put on public display in England. In a move that will transform public understanding of the Stonehenge era, the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes, 15 miles north of Stonehenge, is exhibiting 500 Stonehenge period objects, including 30 pieces of gold treasure which have rarely been seen by the public before.
Amongst the ancient Stonehenge era treasures placed on permanent display for the first time, are a beautifully decorated gold lozenge, a magnificent bronze dagger with a gold- covered hilt, a golden fitting from a dagger sheath, a ceremonial axe, gold beads, necklaces, ear-rings, pendants and other items of gold jewellery, a unique jet disc (used to fasten a luxury garment), rare traces of ancient textiles and two of the finest prehistoric flint arrow head ever found’
Museum opening times:
Monday – Saturday -10am to 17:00
Sunday – 12 noon to 16:00
Open throughout the year.
Closed: Mondays from January to March (except half term)
READING:
Berkshire Archaeological Society
LECTURE: Mesolithic Archaeology in the Severn Estuary – Professor Martin Bell
DATE: 14 December 2013, starting at 14:00
VENUE: Conference Hall, R.I.S.C, 35 – 39 London Street, Reading RG1 4PS
GLOUCESTER:
Gloucester and District Archaeological Research Group
LECTURE: The Long Dig: Monmouth – 1956 to date, telling the story of Monmouth, from the Ice Age to the late medieval principally via ‘amateur’ archaeology – Stephen Clarke
DATE: December 5th. 2013 at 19:30
VENUE: The Library of Ribston Hall High School, Stroud Road, Gloucester GL1 5LE
Non-members £3.00
WALES:
National Museum of Wales – Cardiff
Lecture: Archaeology Lunchtime Talk – ‘How do we understand Hillforts: Recent work at Ham Hill, Somerset and Caerau, Ely, Cardiff’ – Professor Niall Sharples, Cardiff University School of History, Archaeology and Religion
Date: 11th. December 2013 – 13:05
Venue: National Museum of Wales
‘Hillforts are one of the most common monuments to be found in Britain and they have been subjected to a considerable amount of archaeological research over the years. Despite this research there is still much to learn about these controversial monuments. The variety and longevity of the hillfort phenomena means that a single simple explanation for these monuments is problematic. This lecture will focus on two current excavations at Ham Hill in Somerset and Caerau in Cardiff. The excavations at Ham Hill occur in an area where many hillforts have been explored and on a hillfort which has been fairly intensively studied. Nevertheless it is still very difficult to explain why this is the largest hillfort in Britain and it is only our recent work that is beginning to understand how the hillfort developed. Caerau in contrast has never been explored before and is situated in a region, south Wales where practically no work has been done. Nevertheless, some of our discoveries can be compared to other hillforts and provide a context that helps to explain the development of the site’
Free entry – please book on arrival
If your local society or museum has an event that you’d like included in our listings, please contact us with the details, at least one calendar month in advance and we’d be pleased to include them.
The Heritage Journal 