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EVENT
Staffordshire Archaeology Day 2025
Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, 29 March
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/staffordshire-archaeology-day-2025-tickets-1114153506129
Stoke-on-Trent Museum Archaeological Society and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery present a day of talks discussing recent archaeological research in the Staffordshire area. The event will feature six expert speakers, including Dr Roger White, who will explore the latest excavations at Roman Wroxeter, and David Barker, who will talk about the colourful array of industrial slipware found at the SOTMAS dig at Hilderstone. Places can be booked online, and additional tickets will be available at the door. This is a free event, but attendees are encouraged to donate to the museum.
Sun and Fire: celebrating prehistoric Shropshire
The Cut Conference Centre, Shrewsbury, 8 March
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sun-and-fire-celebrating-prehistoric-shropshire-tickets-1126679672229
The Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society presents a one-day event in association with the Sun and Fire exhibition at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (see CA 419). The day will consist of a morning of talks on prehistoric Shropshire, exploring topics such as the interactions between people and places in Bronze Age Shropshire, the Iron Age People of the Welsh Borderlands, and the remarkable Late Bronze Age Shropshire Marches gold bulla (CA 349). In the afternoon, attendees will have a chance to explore the exhibition, followed by a wine reception in the evening. Tickets cost £16.96.
CONFERENCE
Exploring Archaeological Landscapes: celebrating the legacy of Derrick Riley and William Arnold Baker
The Creative Lounge, Sheffield, 29 March, https://sites.google.com/site/hunterarchaeologicalsociety/news
This event will focus on the work of two significant aerial photographers, and explore the evolving aerial archaeology techniques and research that they inspired. The programme is intended to provide a sense of the importance of the aerial photographic collections being catalogued in Sheffield, and those in a number of archives. Posters and demonstrations from local societies and experts will accompany the talks. Tickets cost £25 including lunch, or £12 without lunch.
EXHIBITION
Sirens, Women and the Sea
Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, 14 February-5 May
http://www.hullmuseums.co.uk/museum-events/sirens-women-and-the-sea
This new exhibition, opening soon at Ferens Art Gallery, explores the story behind the sirens, mythological female creatures whose song lured sailors to their deaths. From ancient cultures and mythology to contemporary activist responses, the exhibition will present an array of works from the Ferens’ own collections as well as pieces on loan from other institutes, including a 5th-century BC Greek vase from the British Museum, the first known artwork showing the sirens and Ulysses, which opens the show. Entry is free, and booking is not required.
Making Egypt
Young V&A, London, 15 February-2 November
http://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/making-egypt
Young V&A’s upcoming exhibition Making Egypt will explore creativity in ancient Egypt and its enduring influence on contemporary society. The show will feature more than 200 items from the V&A collection, many of which have never been displayed before, as well as new films exploring ancient Egyptian art techniques. The exhibition is suitable for all, but is particularly aimed at visitors aged 8-12, with child-friendly activities on offer. Tickets cost £10 and will grant unlimited access to the show throughout its run.
HERITAGE FROM HOME
VIRTUAL VISITS
• Orkhon Valley, Mongolia
This virtual museum explores the rich archaeology of the Mongolian Orkhon Valley, including the capital of the Mongol Empire, Karabalgasun, founded by Genghis Khan, and the Uyghur metropolis of Karakorum.
• Rijksmuseum, Netherlands
http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection
Discover hundreds of thousands of objects, artworks, and documentation in one place with the Rijksmuseum’s new Collection online platform.
• St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
https://virtual.basilicasanpietro.va/en
Explore the Renaissance and Baroque architecture of the Vatican’s most famous church, and find out more about its history with this new interactive website and immersive exhibits, made possible by AI.
• Hall’s Croft, UK
http://www.hallscroft-spatialarchive.co.uk
Find out about the rich, multi-faceted lives of 17th-century women with this new online archive exploring the home of Susanna, eldest daughter of Anne and William Shakespeare.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
• Medieval Liverpool
Take a walk into Liverpool’s past with this interactive map, and explore the city’s originary seven streets, which were laid out in the medieval period.
• WallCAP Map
http://www.archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/collections/view/1004972/map.cfm
Explore Hadrian’s Wall with this searchable online map containing detailed information and spatial data for every feature along the Wall, bringing together more than 150 years of research.
• Vikingology Podcast
https://vikingology.substack.com/podcast
Delve into the art, science, and history of the Viking Age with the Vikingology Podcast, featuring interviews with experts and archaeologists on a variety of subjects.
• Royal Armouries Museum TikTok
http://www.tiktok.com/@royalarmouriesmuseum
Go behind the scenes at the UK National Museum of Arms and Armour in Leeds with a selection of fun and informative videos showcasing objects from the collections.
FAMILY FUN
• Mice in the Museum
https://artsandculture.google.com/experiment/mice-in-the-museum/cgFauCYvmS5XGQ
Try out this new AI audio experiment from Google Arts & Culture, following two curious mice exploring museums and discussing art.
• Florence Nightingale Museum
http://www.florence-nightingale.co.uk/free-learning-resources
Discover a range of fun, free Key Stage 1 and 2 learning resources and activities related to Florence Nightingale and other key figures in the Crimean War.
• Digging for Britain
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b014hl0d
Follow Alice Roberts as she explores some of the most exciting archaeological discoveries of the last year around the UK in a new season of Digging for Britain.
• Lucy Worsley Investigates
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0bvhjgp
Lucy Worsley returns for a second season of this documentary series, in which she investigates some of the most infamous chapters in British history. This time she re-examines the stories of Bloody Mary, Jack the Ripper, the Gunpowder Plot, and the events of 1066.
Go digging!
In late spring and summer, we are planning to run some special spreads featuring projects that offer digging opportunities to the public. If you would like to highlight an excavation to our readers in one of our upcoming ‘Digs’ sections, please get in touch by emailing cp@currentpublishing.com.
