Archaeology Archives - Page 2 of 10

Cerne Abbas Giant from the air (c) National Trust Images Mike Calnan James Dobson

February 4, 2024

Cerne Giant and other Wessex Hill Figures

The Cerne Abbas Giant is one of the most recognisable and talked about hill figures in the UK. This special conference draws upon recent excavations and new research by the National Trust, led by Martin Papworth, and offers the opportunity to explore the giant in relationship to other significant hill figures in the region.

November 3, 2023

Revealing the Hidden Heritage of West Dorset | Dr Anne Teather

In July 2023, Anne Teather and the organisation she runs, Past Participate, made national headlines when their discovery of a rare “polissoir”, or polishing stone in the Valley of the Stones, west Dorset, was announced. The stone was used 5,000 years ago by Neolithic people to hone tools such as axes. In this afternoon's talk, Anne reveals the story of this major find, as well as the work Past Participate do to connect local people with the archaeology of the region.

September 14, 2023

John Brown in Dorchester

Discover the story of John Brown in this special talk for Black History Month.

Dorset-Museum-Objects-The-Newton-Peverill-Jadeite-Axe

September 6, 2023

What’s new in the British and Irish Neolithic? | Dr Alison Sheridan

While the past doesn’t change, our knowledge and understanding of it are being transformed by new discoveries and new research – and this is especially the case with the Neolithic period, the time of the first farming communities from the late 5th millennium to around 2500 BCE. This lecture offers some highlights from the past decade or so.

August 19, 2023

‘Rewilding’ later prehistory: Archaeological wildlife and its role in contemporary nature recovery | Anwen Cooper

Climate change and biodiversity loss are, understandably, of growing interest to a wide cross-section of people. David Attenborough’s recent ‘Wild Isles’ series both awakened us to the magical wildlife of the British Isles and warned us of its extreme fragility.

Part of the Chettle Grave Group ready for display. Copyright Trustees of the British Museum.

August 19, 2023

Traditions and Transitions: The Story of the Chettle Grave Group | Sophia Adams

A locally made wine strainer, an old mirror and a blue glass jar perhaps from Cologne. These are just three of the eight artefacts found in 2003, buried together on land within Chettle Park, Dorset.