Current Archaeology 436
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Current Archaeology’s June Listings: exhibitions, events, and heritage from home
There are lots of great ways to get involved with history and archaeology over the next few months, including exhibitions, lectures, and conferences exploring a wide range of subjects. If you would prefer to get your heritage fix from the comfort of your sofa, though, there is a variety of resources on offer online, too, from virtual site tours and digital offerings by museums to podcasts, TV shows, and more. Kathryn Krakowka has put together a selection of some of the options available.
Understanding Scottish Graveyards
This is the fourth edition of a book that was first published by Betty Willsher (1915-2012) in 1985, with subsequent updates in 1995 and 2005. The original publication came about due to
Butser Ancient Farm at 50: celebrating half a century of experimental archaeology
With Butser Ancient Farm marking its 50th birthday this year, Trevor Creighton reflects on the past and present of this pioneering experimental archaeological site, and shares the memories of some of the people who have been involved with its work.
More details on the historic royal shipwreck found off Norfolk coast
The find has been hailed as the most significant British maritime discovery since the Mary Rose.
Warrior Treasure: the Staffordshire Hoard in Anglo-Saxon England
Review by Kevin Leahy. This book joins the growing list of publications on the Staffordshire Hoard, but Warrior Treasure is published by Historic England and can be viewed as an ‘official’ popular
News in brief: Second World War graffiti and treasure found in Wales
A round of some of the latest archaeological news stories from the UK.
Lessons from Canterbury: saving heritage with new approaches to urban development
Influential figures in the heritage world are concerned about the scale and height of new buildings proposed for the centre of Canterbury, where the primacy of the cathedral as a focal point of views and the intimacy of historic streets are under threat. Chris Catling reports on a manifesto for the city produced by SAVE Britain’s Heritage, warning against the mistakes of post-war development and recommending a new approach that has lessons for many of our towns and cities.
Bronze Age spearhead found near Cirencester
Previous investigations have uncovered traces of human activity spanning the Neolithic to Roman periods.
World news in brief: early Maya calendar, Mesolithic mummies, and a sacred Phoenician pool
A round-up of the latest archaeological stories from across the globe.
Stone circle discovered inside Cornwall henge
This represents a rare find for the area: the only other known Cornish henge monument with a stone circle is Stripple Stones on Bodmin Moor.
Buried: an alternative history of the first millennium in Britain
Review by E O’Brien. In Buried, Alice Roberts, derives information relating not only to the death of individuals but to the lives lived by those individuals from examination of their bones. Topics
The Florence Nightingale Museum, London
With the Florence Nightingale Museum having recently reopened, Carly Hilts dropped by to learn more about the life, legacy, and legend of the ‘Lady with the Lamp’.
Cissbury Ring: Neolithic flint-mines in the digital age
Seventy years after John Pull’s excavations at Cissbury Ring transformed our understanding of Neolithic flint-mining, an innovative new interpretive trail has been launched at the West Sussex landmark. Carly Hilts visited the site with James Brown and James Sainsbury to find out more.
Finds tray – Victorian letterpress printing plate
This 19th-century letterpress printing plate was found by a metal-detectorist, on cultivated land in Warwickshire, last summer. It is made from copper alloy, and – measuring 6.24cm by 4cm by 0.48cm –
Food fit for a king? Reinterpreting early medieval diets with isotopic analysis
The research focused on carbon and nitrogen signatures preserved in the bone collagen of 2,023 people buried in England between the 5th and 11th centuries AD.
Travellers from an antique land: exploring the collections of the Society of Antiquaries of London
As the Society of Antiquaries of London launches a new affiliate membership, increasing access to its library and museum collections for the general public, Carly Hilts visited Burlington House to learn more about three centuries of antiquarian activity, and its very eclectic holdings.
The Romano-British Villa and Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Eccles, Kent
The site at Eccles in Kent was excavated on a shoestring from 1962 to 1976 by Alec Detsicas with the Lower Medway Archaeological Research Group and then the Eccles Excavation Committee. Lack
CAER Heritage
CAER Heritage is a model of genuine partnership between heritage professionals and community interest groups.
Glasgow’s 1988 ‘Garden Festival’ rediscovered
The festival welcomed some 4.3 million visitors over 152 days, and featured themed gardens, performances, a replica Roman bathhouse, and the much-loved ‘Coca-Cola’ roller coaster.
Territoriality and the Early Medieval Landscape: the countryside of the East Saxon kingdom
Review by Nick Higham. Stephen Rippon must be congratulated on a handsome, well-illustrated book that is a new must-read for anyone interested in the East Saxons or what the transition from Roman
On the edge of empire: exploring indigenous experiences on the Roman frontier
An investigation stretching from Durham to the southern Scottish Highlands is illuminating the lives of communities who lived under Roman occupation, and on the fringes of imperial influence. The first phase of this work has already identified more than 130 previously unknown settlements, as Carly Hilts reports.
Burials uncovered at Leicester Cathedral
All individuals will be carefully reburied following completion of the research work.