Festival of Archaeology: Talk
The Ridgeway Vikings: New research and findings | Dr Heather Tamminen
21 July 2022, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
In 2009, a mass burial of archaeological human remains was discovered on the South Dorset Ridgeway, during the construction of the Weymouth Relief Road. Through a study by Oxford Archaeology, these individuals were found to have lived and died around the year 1000 and originated from Scandinavia and northern Europe, leading to the conclusion that the approximately 52 men were Vikings. They had been decapitated in what appeared to be a systematic mass execution, whilst repeated examples of injuries caused by bladed weapons (sharp force trauma) were found on their skeletons.
Using modern digital technology, the sharp force of trauma on these individuals has been reappraised to see what new information can be learned. Bournemouth University’s Heather Tamminen will show how this technology has been able to refine the interpretations of the events that occurred and have added to the narrative of dramatic events that took place on the Ridgeway ten centuries ago.
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Opening hours:
Daily: 9.00am - 4.30pm
Sunday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Bank Holidays: 10.00am - 4.00pm -
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Dr Heather M. Tamminen BHK, MSc
Heather is a human osteologist currently specialising in conflict trauma. Originally from Canada, she has been studying musculoskeletal anatomy for the past decade and human osteoarchaeology since she moved to the UK in 2015. Having previously worked in the UK commercial archaeological sector, Heather is currently working on a PhD at Bournemouth University (in collaboration with the Dorset Museum) looking at the use of digital technology in the analysis and preservation of sharp force trauma on human remains.
Banner image: © Sam North
The Arts Society
The Arts Society is a national organisation in the United Kingdom promoting education in the arts and the preservation of artistic heritage.
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Home of Hillforts & Henges is an exciting new event from 21st to 31st July that will celebrate Dorchester’s neolithic and iron age landscape, rich in earthworks and the people that have lived here for over 6,000 years.
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Co-ordinated by the Council for British Archaeology, the Festival offers hundreds of events nationwide, organised by museums, heritage organisations, national and country parks, universities, local societies, and community archaeologists.
The Festival of Archaeology will take place between 16 – 31 July 2022.
Find out moreWhat's On
18 February - 22 June 2023
The Art of Seeing: An exhibition of photographs by Dorchester Camera Club
The Club is delighted to have this opportunity to exhibit some of their members’ prints in the Dorset Museum together with an audio-visual presentation.
Find out more22 March - 25 June 2023
ARTIST ROOMS Louise Bourgeois
Explore the work of Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010), one of the most important figures of modern and contemporary art. This spring Dorset Museum will show a major presentation of her work in this ARTIST ROOMS touring exhibition featuring works jointly owned by Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland.
Find out more29 March - 9 July 2023
PJ Harvey – Orlam
Dorset Museum is now displaying an archive of material relating to PJ Harvey’s verse novel Orlam.
Find out more10 June 2023, 10:00am - 12:00noon
Roman Town House Tours
A guided tour of one of the best examples of a Roman Town House in England.
Find out more17 June 2023, 10:00am - 12:00noon
Roman Town House Tours
A guided tour of one of the best examples of a Roman Town House in England.
Find out more21 June 2023, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Collections Discovery Centre Tour
Join our Collections Team for an opportunity to explore behind the scenes in the Museum’s Collections Discovery Centre.
Find out more22 June 2023, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
FREE | Museum After Hours
Join us for an opportunity to explore the Museum at this FREE late opening.
Find out more22 June 2023, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
ORIGINS: How the Earth Shaped Human History | Professor Lewis Dartnell
By taking us through millennia of human history, and billions of years into our planet’s past, Professor Lewis Dartnell tells us the ultimate origin story.
Find out more24 June 2023, 10:00am - 12:00noon
Roman Town House Tours
A guided tour of one of the best examples of a Roman Town House in England.
Find out more