EXHIBITIONS
Japan: Courts and Culture
The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London
Until 26 February 2023
www.rct.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/japan-courts-and-culture/the-queens-gallery-buckingham-palace
This new exhibition at the Queen’s Gallery brings together for the first time a stunning selection of Japanese art and design from the Royal Collection. It tells the story of the relationship between the British and Japanese royal and imperial families over 350 years, through the diplomatic, artistic, and cultural exchanges that have taken place. Artefacts on display range from the samurai armour bestowed during their first interactions in the 1600s right up to the magnificent coronation gift presented to Elizabeth II in 1953. Tickets cost £17 for adults, with concession prices available.
Tutankhamun: Excavating the Archive
Bodleian Library, Oxford
Until 5 February 2023
https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/tutankhamun-excavating-the-archive
This new exhibition at the Bodleian tells the story of the excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb through the eyes of the archaeologists who were there. Marking the 100th anniversary of the tomb’s discovery by Howard Carter and his team, the exhibition will draw from Carter’s archive of photographs, letters, plans, drawings, and diaries to bring to life the events of the discovery, excavation, documentation, and conservation of the rich royal burial. Admission is free.
EVENTS
Battle for Britannia – Saxons invade Butser Ancient Farm
Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton
21-22 May 2022
www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/whats-on/2022/5/21/battle-for-britannia
This May, invading Saxons will clash with resident Romans and Celts in an attempt to conquer Butser Ancient Farm. A weekend of re-enactments will bring to life the events of the end of 4th century AD, with music and storytelling, live history talks from re-enactors, and combat and archery demonstrations throughout the weekend, culminating in a dramatic final battle at 2pm each day. Normal admission prices apply.
King’s Park Excavations
Stirling
14-19 August 2022
www.rampartscotland.co.uk/index.php/join-the-team/kings-park-fort-2022
Sign-up for Rampart Scotland’s 2022 excavations at King’s Park is now open. The investigations in the Royal Park surrounding Stirling Castle are part of a series of projects exploring late prehistoric settlement patterns in the Forth Valley. Training is relaxed, and the excavations are open to everyone, regardless of experience, but those aged under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Training and participation costs £300 for the whole excavation, or £50 for a day, with no minimum attendance.
LECTURES
Rhind Lectures 2022: Unearthing the African Diaspora
Augustine United Church, Edinburgh, and online
10-12 June 2022
www.socantscot.org/event/rhind-lectures-2022
This year, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland’s Rhind Lectures will explore one of the fastest-growing study areas in the archaeology of the modern world: African Diaspora Archaeology. Professor Theresa Singleton will present six lectures discussing this developing archaeological discipline, using her own projects as case studies. This will be a hybrid event taking place both in person and online. The lectures are open and free to all, but registration is required.
VIRTUAL VISITS
• J Paul Getty Museum, USA
Enjoy digital offerings from the Getty, including online exhibitions, talks from curators, and thousands of works of art – from ancient Greece right up to the modern day.
• Museum of London, UK
www.museumoflondon.org.uk/discover
Discover more about London’s history with a huge array of online posts from curators at the Museum of London, covering topics ranging from luxury headwear in the 1930s-1970s to the first British wine, made in the 1st century AD.
• Tomb of Mehu, Egypt
https://egymonuments.gov.eg/en/news/a-virtual-tour-through-the-tomb-of-mehu
Explore one of the finest and best-preserved Old Kingdom tombs in the ancient Egyptian burial ground at Saqqara: the tomb of the Chief Justice and Vizier Mehum. His tomb was rediscovered in the 1940s.
• St Magnus the Martyr, UK
www.eyerevolution.co.uk/virtual-tours/st-magnus-the-martyr
Take a virtual tour of St Magnus, the church that stood at the head of the medieval London Bridge and welcomed visitors to the City of London, and find out more about its history through videos, audio recordings, 3D models, and more.
FAMILY FUN
• Undercover Time Explorer: Tudor Kitchens
www.hrp.org.uk/schools/learning-resources/undercover-time-explorer-tudor-kitchens-game
Try your hand at being a Tudor servant in this game from Historic Royal Palaces. Go back in time and help to prepare a feast for Henry VIII in the Tudor kitchens at Hampton Court Palace.
• Speed Art Museum
www.speedmuseum.org/learn/education-at-home-resources/museum-games
Enjoy games, puzzles, and challenges related to the collection of the Speed Art Museum in Kentucky, from art-themed bingo and word searches to an art-around-the-world scavenger hunt.
• Curse of the Ancients with Alice Roberts
www.history.co.uk/shows/curse-of-the-ancients-with-alice-roberts
Discover how people across Europe and North Africa were affected by catastrophic events in the past, from wars and famines to floods and earthquakes, in this five-part series.
• Tutankhamun: Waking the Dead
www.channel5.com/show/tutankhamun-waking-the-dead
Join Bettany Hughes as she uses forensic evidence to examine Tutankhamun’s body and assemble a portrait of the young king and his family, and the world in which they lived.
• Neanderthals – Meet Your Ancestors
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b0b3ljc3/neanderthals-meet-your-ancestors
Find out more about Neanderthals in this series, as Ella Al-Shamahi investigates what they looked like and how they lived. This programme from 2018 is now available again on BBC iPlayer.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
• British Library Treasures
www.bl.uk/british-library-treasures
Discover some of the world’s most exciting books, maps, manuscripts, and more with this digitised selection from the British Library’s huge collection of 150 million items, which spans 3,000 years.
• Mali Magic
https://artsandculture.google.com/project/mali-heritage
Explore the culture and history of Mali with this Google Arts & Culture project, which brings together digitised ancient manuscripts, a 3D tour of the world’s largest mud-brick mosque, videos of at-risk musical traditions, and much more.
• The PastCast
https://the-past.com/podcasts/
Enjoy more episodes of the podcast from The Past, the website from the team behind CA and its sister-magazines. Look out for episodes on the return of Time Team, Maryport’s Roman temples, and the Waterloo Uncovered project.
• The Prehistory Guys
www.youtube.com/c/ThePrehistoryGuys
Delve into the latest news, views, podcasts, and films connected with prehistoric archaeology with videos on The Prehistory Guys YouTube channel, run by Rupert Soskin and Michael Bott.
