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CONFERENCES
Society for Church Archaeology Annual Conference
Barbican Creative Hub, Lincoln
11-12 October
http://www.churcharchaeology.org/current-conference
The Society for Church Archaeology is hosting its annual conference on the theme of ‘Church Archaeology in 2025’. Church archaeology is an increasingly broad field of study, with traditional methods being complemented by new approaches and audiences. Advances in archaeological techniques present new opportunities for studying both upstanding and buried remains, whilst the transformation of ecclesiastical buildings in the 21st century is supported by a wealth of methodologies. A keynote lecture will be given by Professor David Stocker, who will also lead a walking tour of Lincoln churches on 12 October. Tickets cost £30 for members or £55 for non-members.
Roman Baths and Bathing in Northern Britain: recent discoveries
Customs House, South Shields
8 November
https://www.arbsoc.org.uk/Conference
Recent years have seen several major excavations of Roman baths in the north of Britain, with more buildings of this type being uncovered than at any time since the 19th century. At the Arbeia Society’s annual conference, experts will describe the recent discovery of baths and aqueducts at Wallsend and Birdoswald on Hadrian’s Wall; the project to understand the recently excavated baths at Binchester, County Durham; and progress on the excavation of the bathing complex at Carlisle. Tickets cost £15 for Arbeia members or £20 for non-members.
EVENT
Bronze Axe Casting
Avalon Archaeology, Glastonbury
18 October
https://swheritage.org.uk/events/bronze-axe-casting
Spend the day at Avalon Archaeology huddled around a furnace crafting and casting your own bronze artefacts – based on those made in Somerset over 4,000 years ago. This is a rare opportunity to learn ancient metalworking techniques with an expert bronze caster, Jonny Cope. You can immerse yourself in the ancient art of bronze casting in this hands-on workshop where you will craft your very own Bronze Age axe head using traditional techniques, and experience metalworking as our ancestors did thousands of years ago. Tickets cost £80.
FESTIVALS
Scottish Archaeology Month 2024
Across Scotland
1-30 September
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 2025 is ‘Heritage and Architecture: windows to the past, doors to the future’. 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.
Orkney Archaeology Festival
Across Orkney
10-14 September
https://orkneyarchaeologysociety.org.uk/oas-festival-of-archaeology
The Orkney Archaeology Society, in partnership with the UHI Archaeology Institute, Historic Environment Scotland, Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Time Travel, and Immersive Orkney, is delighted to announce the launch of the inaugural Orkney Archaeology Festival. This exciting new festival will celebrate Orkney’s world-renowned archaeological heritage with a packed five-day programme of over 37 free and ticketed events, ranging from guided walks across ancient landscapes to inspiring talks, family-friendly hands-on activities, site tours, and special behind-the-scenes experiences.
HERITAGE FROM HOME
VIRTUAL VISITS
• Museum of Natural History, London
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/galleries-and-museum-map/hintze-hall.html
Take a guided tour of the museum and its main exhibits with the help of famed naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
• From Afar: travelling materials and objects, The Louvre
http://www.louvre.fr/visites-en-ligne/petitegalerie/saison6
Through materials and objects, this exhibition at the Louvre explores international interactions in the 16th century.
• Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/masp?hl=en
A feat of modern architecture, you can now tour the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) building and many of its galleries.
• Kingston upon Hull virtual walking tour
https://historicengland.org.uk/campaigns/visit/walking-tours/hull-old-town
Historic England offers a virtual ‘walking’ tour of Kingston upon Hull’s Old Town, taking you to eight of the city’s most historic places.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
• The Discover South Kensington Podcast
http://www.discoversouthken.com/discover-more/the-discover-south-kensington-podcast
Dr Sian Williams and J P Devlin meet experts working in some of the world’s most inspiring museums and imaginative places in South Kensington.
• Open Domesday
Explore a free copy of the Domesday Book along with an interactive map that shows every place in the text that can still be located today.
• Historypin
An online repository for ‘people to share photos and stories, telling the histories of their local communities’. Search the collections to explore your local heritage or heritage abroad.
• Annelise Baer Tiktok
https://linktr.ee/annelisebaer
Follow Annelise on Tiktok (@annelisethearchaeologist) to learn more about archaeological research and excavations going on across the globe.
FAMILY FUN
• How To Do Archaeology – For Kids!
https://digventures.com/product/how-to-be-a-junior-archaeologist
This online course for kids will help inspire a new generation to want to be an archaeologist when they grow up. Free for DigVentures subscribers.
• Inca Investigation
http://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/archaeology/inca-investigation2
Examine maps and ancient artefacts in your search to collect all six Inca chronicles in this interactive game from the American Museum of Natural History.
• Megalithic Rock Art
Learn all about the different designs used by people in the Palaeolithic to decorate prehistoric tombs in Ireland with this free activity sheet from the National Museum of Ireland.
• Pompeii: life in the city with Dan Snow
http://www.channel5.com/show/pompeii-life-in-the-city-with-dan-snow/season-1/episode-1
Dan explores the everyday lives of the people of Pompeii – from the richest to the poorest – discovering how they made a living before the fateful eruption.
• The Grandeur That Was Rome
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p017gfml/the-grandeur-that-was-rome-1-the-skeleton-of-an-empire
First transmitted in 1960, in this TV programme Sir Mortimer Wheeler embarks on an epic journey from Britain to Africa to examine the legacy of the Roman Empire.
