Current Archaeology 436
The comprehensive website for archaeology, history, heritage and the ancient world. Find out more about us here
Current Archaeology’s June Listings: exhibitions, events, and heritage from home
There are lots of great ways to get involved with history and archaeology over the next few months, including exhibitions, lectures, and conferences exploring a wide range of subjects. If you would prefer to get your heritage fix from the comfort of your sofa, though, there is a variety of resources on offer online, too, from virtual site tours and digital offerings by museums to podcasts, TV shows, and more. Kathryn Krakowka has put together a selection of some of the options available.
Understanding Scottish Graveyards
This is the fourth edition of a book that was first published by Betty Willsher (1915-2012) in 1985, with subsequent updates in 1995 and 2005. The original publication came about due to
Things We Found in the Ground
Cousins Ellie and Lucie were reunited – and introduced to metal-detecting – during the COVID-19 lockdown. The result is this absorbing account, tracing their adventures in the past, from their first back-garden
The Bamburgh Bowl Hole Anglian-period Cemetery: a bioarchaeological study ofa Northumbrian royal site
In 1815, Mount Tambora erupted, producing one of the largest volcanic eruptions in modern history, and causing extreme weather events for several years. Violent storms in winter 1816-1817 eroded a series of
Relativism and the Frontiers of Empire: critical perspectives on Roman soldiers, communities, and military landscapes
This volume celebrates the career of Professor Simon James and his contributions to archaeological scholarship. Following Simon’s lead for innovative approaches to the study of Rome’s armies and their indigenous adversaries, Anna
Pioneers, Settlers, Villagers, and Warriors: excavations at Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man
This comprehensive site report details the excavation that was carried out by Oxford Archaeology, on behalf of the Isle of Man Airport division (part of the Isle of Man government’s Department of
Excavating the CA archive: Major church buildings
In last month’s column, I examined a series of sites associated with William the Conqueror and the legacy of the Norman Conquest. One of these was Westminster Abbey, which I will now cover in more detail, alongside two other major church buildings
that regularly feature in Current Archaeology: St Paul’s Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral.
The Berlanga Cup: Examining a new addition to the Hadrian’s Wall ‘souvenir’ vessels
Over the last 300 years, a handful of enamelled bronze vessels, most of which are thought to depict Hadrian’s Wall and in some cases are inscribed with the names of forts along its line, have been discovered in Britain and on the Continent. With a sixth example newly unearthed in Spain, Carly Hilts explores what these 2nd-century ‘souvenirs’ can tell us about Roman responses to their northern frontier.
Seeing the dead: Encountering individuals through Roman gypsum burials
Why were dozens of people from Roman York coated with liquid gypsum as part of their funerary rites? An ongoing interdisciplinary project at the University of York is exploring this enigmatic practice and the wealth of evidence that it preserves about the individuals who were buried in this way. Carly Hilts spoke to the initiative’s Principal Investigator Professor Maureen Carroll to learn more.
Finds Tray: Cosmetic container
This appears to be a relatively ordinary cosmetic container, probably dating to sometime between the end of the 19th century and early 20th century. Inside, however, is a sinister note that may
Forging Scotland’s story: Why a 245-year-old society is racing against time to raise £1.5 million
As the oldest antiquarian organisation in Scotland, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland has been deeply involved in documenting the nation’s past for almost 250 years. Deborah Roe is our guide to this rich history, and to ambitious plans for the Society’s future.
Science Notes: Using modern economics to understand the past
The ways in which archaeologists and historians analyse economies in the past often do not align with how economies are assessed today. Modern economics is primarily based on GDP, which is inherently
Explosive discovery at Culloden Battlefield
Last autumn’s excavations at Culloden Battlefield, near Inverness, had already rewritten our knowledge of how the engagement unfolded (see CA 430), but further insights continue to emerge, including the discovery of an
World news
Iron age mining rituals in Germany Evidence of Iron Age ceremonial activity associated with quartz mining has been discovered at the Bruchhauser Steine, a prominent rock formation in the Sauerland region of
Classis Britannica clues at Bodiam Castle
A second season of excavations at Bodiam Castle in Sussex has revealed extensive evidence of a Roman presence, with tiles and pottery confirming that the site was home to a port for
Norman church foundations revealed in Darlington
Excavations beneath the floor of St Cuthbert’s Church in Darlington, Co. Durham, have revealed the foundations of an 11th-century predecessor. The work, part of the ‘Opening Doors’ project, was recently carried out
Ninth-century coin hoard found in Worcestershire
Members of Go Detecting (Midlands) Ltd, carrying out a routine metal detecting survey in the parish of Bickmarsh in Worcestershire, have helped to uncover a coin hoard dating to the 9th century.
Chariots, treasure and power: Secrets of the Melsonby Hoard
Dozens of items from the largest hoard of Iron Age metalwork ever found in Britain have gone on display for the first time at the Yorkshire Museum in York. Carly Hilts visited to learn more about this unique collection.
The Archaeology of Britain: an introduction from earliest times to the twenty-first century
This is the third edition of a book which first appeared in 1999 and was first revised ten years later. Much has happened since then, and even the editors have changed. The
UK news in brief
Community Archaeology reveals 19th-century house A recent community excavation in Belfast has revealed the remains of a 19th-century house and the partial layout of the Victorian streets in the area. Run by
Ancestry and architecture in Neolithic Scotland
Since the early days of archaeology, people have been analysing the architecture of burial monuments, seeking connections between them to understand better how ancient populations were related. The advent of modern ancient
Unexpected prehistoric discoveries at Crookston Castle
A geophysical survey carried out in the grounds of Crookston Castle, with the aim of learning more about the Glasgow site’s medieval and post medieval history, has unexpectedly revealed the remains of