| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Coordinator: |
Keith Mason
|
| Group email: | Archaeology group |
| When: | Monthly |
| Venue: | Various venues |
Thanks to recent technological advances, archaeology is in a new golden age: new techniques are overturning long-held beliefs and making unimagined discoveries. This new group looks at latest research through members' presentations, outside speakers, discussion and visits to archaeological sites and museums in London and beyond. This is for all members, whether you have a specific interest or just want to find out more about our rich history.
Photos: Keith Mason
Future meetings
Meetings are held monthly around the middle of the month on varying days. Subjects provisionally below.
Wed 19th August, 10am: Walking tour: City of London archaeological sites, including the Mithraeum, Roman amphitheatre and walls, Roman bath, and remains at St Bride's and All Hallows by the Tower.
Fri 18th September (revised date): Visit to and expert led tour of the replica Bayeux Tapestry at Reading Museum, plus a visit and introductory talk about the museum's archaeological collection.
Wed 14th October: Talk TBC. Discussion on next year's programme.
Thu 19th November: Visit to the Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology, Bloomsbury.
Wed 9th December: Excavations at early medieval monastery at Lindisfarne, by Jill Sluman. Followed by group lunch.
Have you visited archaeological sites or have an interest in a particular area of research? Whether or not you're already a member, could you consider giving a talk to our small, friendly group? Contact us using the link above.
Other events
Extended to 1st January 2027: Neon, Battersea Power Station: Ramses and the Pharaohs' Gold: The Exhibition. 180 3000 year old objects loaned by the Cairo Museum, with a virtual reality presentation.
23rd July 2026: Festival of Essex Archaeology and Heritage: Learn about some of the most exciting recent discoveries in the county. Leading experts, talks, tours, stalls, re-enactments. Free but some events need to be pre booked.: click the title for details.
July and August 2026: National Festival of Archaeology has events all over the country, many in or near London. Full details on the Council for British Archaeology website: [click this link]
From July 16th: We go way back: Exhibition at the Crick Institute [click this link] looks at how DNA analysis is giving new insights into the movements of ancient people and their lives. For example, a shaman's elaborate Bronze Age grave in Wiltshire, previously believed to be a man's, is now shown to have been a woman's. [more here]
September to July 2027: British Museum: Bayeux Tapestry. Unique opportunity to see this in London. Tickets are likely to go fast so sign up to the news letter for details of releases. More tickets will be released in October.
28th November 2026: The London Museum opens at its new site in Smithfield.
Past meetings
Thu 16th July (revised date): Visit and talk: to the Ashmolean Museum prehistory in Europe and Egyptian archaeological collections with talk by one of the Guides and to In Bloom: how plants changed our world.
Tue 16th June: Visit and talk: the Saxons exhibition at the Aylesbury Discover Bucks museum with talk by the Head of Archaeology, Brett Thorn. This includes artefacts similar to the Sutton Hoo horde. Details have been circulated to attendees. NB this exhibition continues until November 2026.
Wed 20th May: Presentations: the archaeology of Orkney; the British Museum Sutton Hoo collection
Venue has been circulated to members by email
Tuesday April 14th 2026: Initial planning meeting. Presentation on the neolithic routes to Stonehenge. Report here.