I hope you’re all well! It has been lovely hearing from so many of you over the past few weeks – what is clear during these ‘interesting times’ is that, although we’re currently apart, the archaeological world is still very much a community. Hopefully we will be together again soon – and while many heritage opportunities remain limited, we have selected a second smorgasbord of online activities, educational resources, and ‘virtual visits’ for you to enjoy.

Our cover story explores the world of the intriguing but archaeologically elusive Picts. Their powerbases were traditionally thought to lie in central Scotland, but intrepid excavations at picturesque – and occasionally precarious – locations have uncovered promising sites further north.

A high-status centre has also been identified at Llangorse Crannog, near Brecon: an artificial island settlement that has yielded a wealth of clues about life c.1,100 years ago.

From these enigmatic sites, we leap forward almost to the present day, exploring the legacy of the Cold War. What can archaeology add to our understanding of this extraordinary period?

More removed from living memory is the trio of anniversaries being marked by Canterbury Cathedral: 2020 is c.900 years since the birth of Thomas Becket, 850 since the archbishop’s murder, and 800 since his reinterment in an ornate shrine that became a major pilgrimage destination. Over the last few years, major works have revealed centuries of secrets from this sacred space.

Finally, we consider medieval religious life on a much more intimate scale, exploring traces of the hermits who, rather topically, truly embraced social isolation.