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MUSEUM
Perth Museum
St John’s Place, Perth PH1 5SZ, Opens 30 March https://perthmuseum.co.uk
The new Perth Museum will open its doors at the end of March, following a £27 million redevelopment project. Housed in a historic Edwardian building, the new displays will showcase Perth and Kinross’ Recognised Collections of National Significance, as well as loans and exhibitions from the UK and abroad. At the heart of the museum, returning to Perthshire for the first time in more than 700 years, is the Stone of Destiny (also known as the Stone of Scone), one of the UK’s most resonant historical objects.
EXHIBITION
Becoming Roman – Silchester a changing town
Willis Museum & Sainsbury Gallery, Basingstoke RG21 7QD, Until 28 April http://www.hampshireculture.org.uk/event/becoming-roman-silchester-town-change
Two thousand years ago, Silchester – just north of Basingstoke, near the Hampshire/Berkshire border – was a hub of trade to the Roman world, as well as being the capital for the Atrebates tribe who controlled the area. In this interactive exhibition, explore the streets of ancient Silchester as it changed from an Iron Age to a Roman town, find out what life was like for people living here, and see behind the scenes of the excavations that have been uncovering the site for 50 years. Entry is free, donations welcome.
Rediscovering Gems
British Museum, London WC1B 3DG, Until 2 June http://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/rediscovering-gems
This new display at the British Museum explores the significance of Classical gems, and the fascination that they have inspired over the centuries. Depicting deities, famous individuals, animals, objects, and scenes from myth or daily life, the designs of these tiny works of art serve as a record of personal tastes throughout history. Seen as a window on to the ancient Mediterranean, these gems were hugely popular during the 18th century; visitors will be able to see them displayed in a typical gem cabinet reflective of that period, alongside other equipment used by collectors.
LECTURE
25 Years of Treasures: the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales
Tenby Museum & Art Gallery, Castle Hill, Tenby, Pembrokeshire SA70 7BP , 21st March
http://www.tenbymuseum.org.uk/25-years-of-treasures-the-portable-antiquities-scheme-in-wales
David Howell, Engagement Officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme Cymru, presents a talk exploring the Scheme’s work in safeguarding Welsh heritage, considering the relationships between archaeology and the metal-detecting community, and celebrating the quality of archaeological materials that have been identified through the PAS. Tickets cost £6, or £5 for Friends. Book online or by telephone.
CONFERENCE
The Disposal of the Dead in Iron Age, Roman, and Early Saxon South-east England
King’s Church, Brooks Road, Lewes, Sussex BN7 2BY, 23rd March
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/781428502687
The Sussex School of Archaeology & History, in association with the Roman Studies Group ofthe Surrey Archaeological Society, presents a one-day in-person and online conference. In addition to reviewing the evidence for burial practices in Iron Age, Roman, and early Saxon south-east England (and beyond), speakers will consider the fate of the ‘missing millions’. How were these people ‘disposed of’? Why were there apparently so few formal burials in the Iron Age generally, and in the Romano-British countryside? Tickets cost £25, £20 concessions, or £12 online.
HERITAGE FROM HOME
VIRTUAL VISITS
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Denmark
http://www.glyptoteket.com/app
Download the Glyptotek’s app to explore the museum’s architecture and history, as well as special exhibitions and its vast collection of art and sculpture, which spans more than 6,000 years.
Centrale Montemartini, Italy
http://www.centralemontemartini.org/en/node/1008556
Take a virtual tour of this museum of ancient sculpture, housed in an old power plant in Rome, with 360° views of each room, as well as additional information and photographs.
Lalibela, Ethiopia
http://www.zamaniproject.org/site-ethiopia-lalibela-rock-hewn-churches.html
Discover the ancient city of Lalibela and its 11 rock-cut churches dating to the 12th and 13th centuries through 3D models, videos, plans and maps, and a panoramic tour.
The White House, USA
http://www.whitehouse.gov/virtualtour
Explore the official residence and workplace of the US President with this new virtual tour, complete with audio captions, to find out more about the past of this historic building.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Museum of Ceramic Arts
Explore the world of ceramics with this virtual museum from the Museum of Ceramic Arts, New York, and use the ‘Ceramic World Destinations’ map to discover the universal appeal of clay.
Times Unforgotten: Dialogues from the Pre-Hispanic World
https://artsandculture.google.com/pocketgallery/LAWh-4L0y8H_1w
This ‘pocket gallery’ created by Google Arts & Culture offers an opportunity to examine the dialogue between the past and the present through artefacts and artworks from Colombia.
Tea-break Time Travel
http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/teabreak
Travel back in time with this podcast, which features interviews with expert guests discussing historical subjects ranging from Edo-period Japan to ancient tattooing.
Digital Lab Blog
http://www.maadigitallab.org/blog
Discover artefacts, stories, histories, and relationships from the collections of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge on the MAA Digital Lab Blog.
FAMILY FUN
The Forever Labyrinth
https://artsandculture.google.com/experiment/the-forever-labyrinth/WAG_QoNY4_4vOQ
Embark on an art-filled quest through time and space with this new game that requires you to solve puzzles and decipher clues while also learning about art history.
Father and Son
http://www.fatherandsongame.com
Download this game developed by the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli to delve into the history of Naples, as the main character’s story intertwines with the museum’s collections.
The Cambridgeshire Crucifixion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001v60k
Follow a team of experts as they analyse an unusual human skeleton found during excavations in Cambridgeshire and build up a compelling picture of life in Roman Britain in the 1st century AD (see also here).
The Great American Buffalo
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001vdyh
Discover the story of the most magnificent species from the Americas in this documentary exploring the events that drove the buffalo to near-extinction, and the efforts that saved them.
Go digging
With the summer digging season rapidly approaching, we would love to hear from projects offering opportunities to the public over the coming months. If you would like to highlight your excavation to our readers, please get in touch at cp@currentpublishing.com.
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