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WALK
Behind the Scenes in the Stonehenge Landscape: archaeology and nature
West Amesbury Farm, Wiltshire
22 July
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wiltshire/avebury/events
Big changes are afoot in the Stonehenge landscape. In this walk of about 4km (2.5 miles), archaeologist Dr Nick Snashall will share the secrets of some of Stonehenge’s rarely visited sites and Lead Ranger Keith Steggall will introduce you to the array of chalk grassland species, many of which would have been familiar to the prehistoric peoples who built and used the ancient monuments here. Discover the secrets of some of Stonehenge’s rarely visited sites and how one of Britain’s rarest natural habitats is being recreated and protected. Tickets cost £15.
LECTURES
A Fair City and Prosperous Burgh: the archaeology of Perth
Perth Museum
5 August
http://www.digitscotland.com/events/a-fair-city-and-prosperous-burgh-the-archaeology-of-perth
In this talk, Derek Hall and Catherine Smith will explore Perth’s past through half a century of archaeological discoveries. Drawing on excavations at sites including Meal Vennel and Perth High Street, they will piece together a vivid picture of everyday life in the medieval city. They will also highlight more recent work from Skinnergate Vennel, combining archaeological evidence with documentary research to reveal stories of the people who once lived and worked along this historic street.
The Travelling Painters of Londinium
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London
14 October
http://www.royalarchinst.org/events/2026/travelling-painters-londinium
This lecture by Han Li of MOLA will explore the diversity of styles in Roman London’s 1st-century paintings. These paintings not only offer a unique opportunity to study the stylistic nature of Roman paintings in Britain but also how they evolved from well-established Continental schemes to local styles. This event will be streamed simultaneously on YouTube, but will not be not recorded. Non-members are welcome to attend the lecture in person but should contact admin@royalarchinst.org in advance so they can be added to the guest list.
EVENT
Celts: learning from the past to build a better future
Scottish Crannog Centre, Dalerb
24-26 July
https://crannog.co.uk/events
Visit the Scottish Crannog Centre as some of the most-talented and most inspiring craftspeople from across the UK and beyond come together to share their knowledge of the traditional crafts that have been a part of life for thousands of years. There will also be talks by academics and archaeologists creating a dialogue between the past and the present. Tickets cost £16.50 with concessions for children (£11) and seniors (£13.75).
FESTIVAL
The Salisbury Museum’s Festival of Archaeology
Salisbury Museum
18-19 July
https://salisburymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/festival-of-archaeology-2/
The Salisbury Museum’s Festival of Archaeology returns this year with a weekend packed with talks and hands-on activities. Highlights include the historian, writer, and broadcaster Matthew Green speaking about his new book Shadowlands; a visit from a mid-14th-century living history group; an archaeological illustration workshop with Jemma McCardle; falconry demonstrations; and arts and crafts activities. Main entry is through donation, but some of the internal events have ticketed entry that needs to be booked in advance; see the website for details.
HERITAGE FROM HOME
VIRTUAL VISITS
• Treasures of Osterley: rise of a banking family
http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/exhibition/treasures-of-osterley
This online exhibition by the National Trust lets you tour Osterley – the former home of the Child family, who made their profits through their bank on Fleet Street – including its Neo-Classical interiors and artworks collected from across the world.
• In Pursuit of Life, Liberty, and Happiness
http://www.si.edu/exhibitions/pursuit-life-liberty-happiness:
event-exhib-6778
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History leads celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with an immersive exhibition exploring its ideals.
• Virtual Museum of Cultural Heritage
https://www.hii.institute/virtual-museum
Explore the Virtual Museum of Cultural Heritage, originally founded as part of the Heritage International Institute in Rome during the COVID-19 pandemic, but which has continued to thrive.
• Treasures of Palace Green Library
https://stories.durham.ac.uk/treasures-of-palace-green-library
Examine highlights from Durham University’s Palace Green Library, home to 100,000 books and more than 100 medieval manuscripts, as well as other important and diverse archives.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
• Artsteps
Create your own virtual archaeology exhibitions with this free online tool.
• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
https://ich.unesco.org/en/home
UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage programme protects living traditions, expressions, and knowledge systems. Explore the list here.
• Heritage Gateway
http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/default.aspx
This website allows you to cross-search more than 60 resources, offering local and national information relating to historic sites and buildings in England.
• The Archaeologist’s Teacup
http://www.thearchaeologiststeacup.com/podcast
In this podcast, Matilda Siebrecht explores archaeological evidence for the origins of the most familiar objects and crafts, sometimes enlisting the help of an expert guest speaker to really dig into the topic.
ONLINE-ONLY EVENTS
• Echoes of Coastal Community
http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/events/echoes-of-coastal-community
On 24 September, this online lecture by Kent Archaeological Society will delve into the recent excavation of 19th-century brickmakers’ cottages in the neighbourhood of Front Brents in Faversham.
• Farming Rathcroghan: where farming and archaeology meets at Connacht’s Royal Site, County Roscommon, Ireland
On 19 August, join this online lecture which examines the everyday and seasonal pressures that affect monuments, including weathering, erosion, livestock, and machinery management, and considers how conservation can be balanced.
• Historic Building Mythbusting
On 21 July, James Wright, a buildings archaeologist at Triskele Heritage, explains how myths surrounding ancient buildings are propagated and investigates the underlying truths behind these stories.
• Collecting the Pieces: medieval wall paintings
On 14 July, join this online talk by Lore & Piece’s Laura Miucci, exploring the medieval wall paintings of Cornwall’s churches (see also here) as part of the Council for British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology.
• National Hellenic Museum Online Discussion: the architecture of ancient Greece
On 18 August, discover how ancient Greek architecture shaped global ideas about beauty, politics, religion, and public life.
