Current Archaeology’s January Listings: exhibitions, events, and heritage from home

This article is from Current Archaeology issue 419

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EXHIBITIONS

Sun & Fire – life and death at the dawn of history  

Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, Until 30 April 2025
http://www.shropshiremuseums.org.uk/event/sun-fire-life-and-death-at-the-dawn-of-history

Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery presents a new exhibition exploring Shropshire’s deep past, focusing on 2,500 years of prehistory before the Romans arrived in Britain. Its displays tell the story of the people of this period and the objects they made, bringing together an assemblage of Shropshire finds, as well as loans from National Museums Wales, including pieces of intricately decorated gold jewellery and patterned cremation urns, alongside day-to-day objects like cooking equipment. Tickets cost £4.50, with members’ discounts available; children go free. 

Ancient Sudan: enduring heritage  

Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery, 1 February-19 April 2025
http://www.britishmuseum.org/ancientsudan

This new touring exhibition from the British Museum will explore the Kingdom of Kush, one of the largest empires in the ancient world, which flourished in Sudan nearly 3,000 years ago. A British Museum Spotlight Loan, Ancient Sudan: enduring heritage will examine this ancient culture’s skilled craftsmanship, distinct religious beliefs, and the important role of women, as well as exploring the rich culture of modern Sudan. The exhibition will travel across the UK in 2025, starting at Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery. 

EVENT

Derbyshire Archaeology Day 2025

Winding Wheel Theatre, Chesterfield, 25 January 2025
http://www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/shows/derbyshire-archaeology-day-2025

Derbyshire Archaeology Day is an annual event celebrating the most recent and exciting archaeological discoveries, research, and conservation projects in Derbyshire and the Peak District. This year, archaeologists, historians, and community groups will give presentations on a wide range of topics exploring the latest scientific techniques and interesting stories from the region. The Day is hosted by the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire County Council, and Chesterfield Borough Council, and is open to all. Tickets cost £12.20, concessions £9.20, under-16s go free. 

LECTURE

Lost and Found – uncovering a major Bronze Age funerary landscape near Netherhampton, Salisbury

Salisbury Museum, 20 February 2025 
http://www.salisburymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/lost-and-found-uncovering-a-major-bronze-age-funerary-landscape-near-netherhampton-salisbury

In 2023, excavations carried out by Cotswold Archaeology at Netherhampton, near Salisbury, uncovered a dozen round barrows of probable Beaker and Early Bronze Age date, nearly all of which had been ploughed flat. Alistair Barclay, Principal Post-Excavation Manager at Cotswold Archaeology, will discuss the recent discoveries at this prehistoric cemetery in a talk at Salisbury Museum. Tickets cost £15, or £12 for members; pre-booking is essential.

CONFERENCE

Prehistoric Cumbria and Cumbrians, from Hunter-gathering to Monument-building: new research

Tullie House Museum, Carlisle, 8 February 2025
http://www.prehistoricsociety.org/events/2025-02-08

The Prehistoric Society and the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society present a joint one-day conference exploring recent research on prehistoric Cumbria and Cumbrians. The conference will discuss new insights into the area’s prehistoric inhabitants and how they interacted with their neighbours and pre-existing groups. See the website for the full programme. Tickets cost £25 and include refreshments and lunch. Numbers are limited, so early booking is recommended. 

HERITAGE FROM HOME

VIRTUAL VISITS

• Rijksmuseum, the Netherlands

http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/art-explorer

The Rijksmuseum’s new AI-powered tool ‘Art Explorer’ allows users to explore the museum’s collections and make connections between artworks and objects spanning 800 years. 

• Culture Perth & Kinross, UK

https://mymuseum.culturepk.org.uk

Explore objects, artworks, and stories in the collections cared for by Culture Perth and Kinross. Relating to the culture, identity, and history of the region, they are available online through the MyMuseum project. 

• The Tomb of Nefertari, Egypt 

https://mused.com/guided/923/the-tomb-of-nefertari-valley-of-the-queens

Take a guided tour of the tomb of Pharaoh Ramesses II’s wife, Nefertari, in the Valley of the Queens, and discover its beautiful wall paintings, which tell the story of her journey to the afterlife. 

• Chan Chan, Peru

https://tapestry.cyark.org/content/chan-chan

Discover the archaeological site of Chan Chan, which was once the capital of the Chimú civilisation and the largest inhabited city in pre-Columbian South America.  

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Talking Tours

https://g.co/arts/LUVCFRsRkwCjadzZA

Enjoy guided tours of cultural landmarks around the world with this AI audio experiment from Google Arts & Culture. 

• British Library 

http://www.bl.uk/research/digitised-manuscripts

Explore more than 1,000 of the British Library’s digitised manuscripts, available again for the first time since a cyber-attack in October 2023, and discover more as they are added.  

• Tides of History

http://www.wondery.com/shows/tides-of-history

Delve into a wide range of subjects related to history and prehistory with this podcast, which explores how the echoes of the past have shaped the modern world. 

• Victoria & Albert Museum Blog

http://www.vam.ac.uk/blog

Go behind the scenes at the V&A with a series of blog posts exploring objects in the collections, news from the museum, ongoing projects and conservation work, and more. 

FAMILY FUN

• Nile File

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/learn/topics/schools-and-groups-resources-ancient-egypt/nile-file

Test your historical knowledge and help a young ancient Egyptian on their journey to become a scribe in this game from National Museums Liverpool. 

• Art Selfie 2

https://artsandculture.google.com/camera/gen-selfie

Try out the new version of this Google Arts & Culture feature, which allows users to take a selfie by themselves or with friends and blend it with famous scenes from art history. 

• Inside the Tower of London

http://www.channel5.com/inside-the-tower-of-london

Inside the Tower of London returns for another season. Go behind the scenes at the fortress as it prepares for a 700-year-old ceremony, follow in the footsteps of famous historical prisoners, and much more. 

• A Scottish Massacre – unearthing the secrets of Glencoe

https://access.historyhit.com/videos/glencoe-secrets

Find out about an exceptional archaeological discovery that offers new insights into one of the Scottish Highlands’ most notorious events, the Glencoe Massacre of 1692, in this new History Hit documentary. 

• Castle Secrets

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/castle-secrets

Discover the secrets hidden behind the ramparts of some of the world’s most incredible fortifications, from a castle in Transylvania to a Scottish clifftop bastion with a history of criminal activity.