Don’t underestimate Archaeology
Too often, we are seen as ‘people who play in the dirt’ or very occasionally ‘finders of secrets’ rather than serious academics. – Dr Hugh Willmott
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Why studying the past matters
The eerie experience of writing about quarantine whilst in quarantine truly highlighted the relevance of archaeology in the modern world.
Shrines to saints and Pink Floyd
Museums and sculptors should work more closely with archaeologists and palaeontologists to recreate the appearance of our extinct ancestors.
Excavating Surrey
The county is one that historically suffers from being overlooked: its proximity, and partial absorption, into Greater London risks obscuring its significance.
Thomas Becket: troublesome or over-promoted?
In a way, I began to feel slightly more sympathetic to Henry VIII; the church was extremely powerful and if you are to oppose it, I suppose you must be ruthless.
A new world of communication
One of the most breathtaking experiences in my archaeological life was to mount the steps and look out over the assembled ranks of the terracotta army.
Protected places and prehistoric pints
Abydos was not only the earliest brewery and the forerunner of the great royal cemeteries… it was also the birthplace of the funeral wake and possibly too of the mass hangover.
Excavating Glamorgan and Monmouthsire
This publication features, among other highlights, the extraordinary, emotive survival of a series of footprints made by a Mesolithic child.
History hidden in plain sight
Banksy has made himself very rich with witty examples of the genre, and both Historic England and the National Trust now conserve and celebrate historic graffiti.
The value of culture
Economics cannot be used to measure the emotional, educational, psychological, spiritual, health, and social benefits of heritage – all the things that make life worth living.
Excavating the past of south Wales
This revealed much about life in ‘Roman’ Wales, in both its modest urbanised centres and its wider hinterlands.
Sailing to Ithaca?
Is Ithaca, in fact, Odysseus’ island, where Penelope faithfully weaved, steadfastly waiting for her mischievous prince in their well-appointed palace?
Food fads and fashions
At a time of food scarcity, obesity became a desirable condition… the Venus figurines represented an ideal body type.
Archaeology and the silver screen
As far as I am aware, The Dig is a first. I mean a film where the whole thing revolves around an archaeological dig that really happened? This is the only one, right?
Save Burlington House!
Rising rent may force the Antiquaries to leave Burlington House, potentially endangering its extensive collection, which includes many historically significant objects.
Excavating the CA Archive: North Wales
From prehistoric Anglesey to Snowdonia’s slate industry: Joe Flatman explores half a century of reports from the past
The truth about Britain’s parakeets
To gasps of genuine astonishment from the audience, he showed slides of objects so pristine in their gold and garnet glory…
The future of planning
As every archaeologist knows, listed buildings and scheduled monuments represent the tip of the heritage iceberg.
Excavating the CA Archive: Black Country
From Birmingham’s industrial heritage to a Roman riding school: Joe Flatman explores half a century of reports from the West Midlands
In praise of volunteers
My excavations, including Khok Phanom Di, have yielded well over 1,000 human graves, and often the dead were interred with multiple mortuary offerings from fine pottery vessels to thousands of ornaments in gold, silver, bronze, iron, carnelian, glass, shell, and agate.