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

This article is from Current Archaeology issue 415

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CONFERENCE

The End of Hadrian’s Wall and the End of the Roman Empire in Britain

Customs House, South Shields, 9 November 2024, http://www.arbsoc.org.uk/Conference

This year at the Arbeia Society’s annual conference, experts will describe the latest scientific evidence, discoveries, and ideas about the ending of Hadrian’s Wall, Roman Britain, and the Roman frontier on the Continent. The event will highlight the forthcoming publication of the long-running South Shields Roman Fort excavations, covering the late Roman and post-Roman phases of the fort, and set these results in the context of recent findings about the end of the Roman period elsewhere in the region and beyond. Tickets cost £15 for society members and concessions, or £20 for non-members.

EXHIBITION

Silk Roads

British Museum, London, 26 September 2024-23 February 2025, http://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/silk-roads

The British Museum presents an exploration of the Silk Roads: the overlapping networks of trade routes that linked communities across Asia, Africa, and Europe, from Japan to Britain, Scandinavia to Madagascar. Showcasing more than 300 objects, some of which are on display in this country for the first time, this major new exhibition will be the first to look at how the epic journeys of people, objects, and ideas along the Silk Roads shaped cultures and histories. Adult tickets start at £17 with an early bird offer; concession prices are available.

EVENTS

• Cambois Hidden Depths 

The Tute, Cambois, Northumberland, 27-28 September 2024, http://www.novemberclub.org.uk/whatson/cambois-hidden-depths-1

An innovative heritage and arts project aiming to uncover the fascinating history of a Northumberland coastal village is set to delight visitors and locals this September. Over two days, the village’s history will be brought to life through exhibitions and installations at multiple venues across Cambois, including dance performances, film screenings, photography exhibitions, and an immersive audio experience. Cambois Primary School and the local community have worked with professional artists and heritage experts to create an unforgettable experience celebrating the rich heritage of Cambois.

•  Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism

Paestum, Salerno, Italy, 31 October-3 November 2024, http://www.borsaturismoarcheologico.it/en 

The Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism, with the patronage of UNESCO and UN Tourism, brings together heritage and tourism professionals and businesses, schools, travellers, and enthusiasts to encourage intercultural dialogue across the heritage world and promote sites and destinations of great archaeological value. The event will also feature the 10th International Archaeological Discovery Award ‘Khaled al-Asaad’, presented in collaboration with international magazines – including CA – to the first classified archaeological discovery selected from among five finalists.

FESTIVAL

Scottish Archaeology Month 2024  

Across the whole of Scotland and online, 1-30 September 2024, http://www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk/scottish-archaeology-month

Taking place every September and building on more than 25 years of success, Scottish Archaeology Month (SAM) is the biggest annual celebration of Scottish heritage, history, and archaeology. The national festival is part of European Heritage Days, whose theme for 2024 is ‘Routes, Networks, and Connections’. This year SAM’s events programme includes in-person and online activities all across Scotland, from re-enactments, fairs, and guided tours to lectures, archaeological digs, and exhibitions; there is something for everyone. SAM is funded by Historic Environment Scotland.

HERITAGE FROM HOME

VIRTUAL VISITS

• London Museum, UK 

http://www.londonmuseum.org.uk

The London Museum is still under construction, but you can explore their new website, featuring an array of stories, blog posts, online collections, and resources relating to the city’s history. 

• Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, USA

https://mused.com/en/tours/964/art-of-intimidation-harvard-museum-of-the-ancient-near-east

Take a guided virtual tour of the museum’s Art of Intimidation exhibition and find out more about the ancient Assyrian palace of Nineveh and the magnificent reliefs and sculptures that adorned it.

• Chumash Painted Cave, USA

https://tapestry.cyark.org/content/chumash

Discover some of the only surviving wall art created by the Chumash people, who have lived in parts of California for more than 13,000 years, as well as learning about the site’s history with this guided tour.

• Mount Nemrut, Turkey

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/qAXhBnA8A6xqyg

Find out more about this remarkable mountaintop monument and temple – and the history of its discovery – with this resource from Google Arts & Culture. 

FAMILY FUN

• Do I Have to Know the Date? 

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/do-i-have-to-know-the-date

Try your hand at this free online history game that tests your knowledge of important dates in American or World History. 

• Cymru Wales Metaverse 

http://www.visitwales.com/metaverse

Explore virtual versions of Welsh landmarks including a historic castle and an amphitheatre like the one that once stood in Roman-era Caerleon, and find out more about the country’s heritage with this new immersive experience. 

• Inside Windsor Castle: A Royal Residence

http://www.channel5.com/show/the-castle  

Join a team of experts as they investigate hundreds of years of history at Windsor Castle, from Henry VIII’s diet and Charles III’s unusual fitness regime to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s transformation of the castle. 

• Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors 

http://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81457004 

Find out more about the vast terracotta army that guards the first Chinese emperor’s tomb, and the latest archaeological work at the site, in this Netflix documentary.

• Hidden Treasures of the National Trust 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001lttx 

Go behind the scenes at a new selection of National Trust properties with the second season of this show, which follows staff and conservators as they care for Britain’s heritage. 

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Digital Image Archive of Medieval Music 

http://www.diamm.ac.uk 

Delve into digital images and data covering thousands of manuscripts with this leading collection of online resources for the study of medieval polyphonic music.

• Share Your View: ArtLens AI

http://www.clevelandart.org/digital-innovations/share-your-view

Try out this online tool from the Cleveland Museum of Art, which invites people to upload an image from their device and see if it matches pictures from the museum’s collection. 

• Historic Royal Palaces Podcast

https://historicroyalpalaces.libsyn.com

Enjoy a new series about the Wars of the Roses, learn about recent research at the Tower of London, or explore an array of episodes delving into other elements of the history of the Royal Palaces.

• The Getty YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYxqqsGNMkiNZIdYyiC5sg

Discover a wealth of fun and informative videos about art, history, and culture on the YouTube channel for the Getty museums, covering everything from Mesoamerican music to Roman togas.