| 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 will look 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.
Group aims
Following our initial planning meeting, where members can bring forward and agree future areas to cover, we will set up a monthly programme: dates, locations and topics will be added below. Emails will also be circulated to members with reminders of upcoming meetings.
Photos: Keith Mason
Suggestions include:
- Members' presentations of archaeological sites they have visited in the UK and abroad; eg neolithic sites in Orkney
- Presentations on latest research in particular areas by members or outside speakers; eg Stonehenge as a pilgrimage site
- Visits to museums; eg Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, BM Sutton Hoo and Europe gallery
- Walking tours; eg archaeological sites in the City of London; All Hallows by the Tower, St Brides, Mithraeum, Roman bath
- Exhibitions; eg Ashmolean: how plants changed our world, BM: Bayeux Tapestry
- Viewing of archaeological programmes online followed by discussion
Future meetings
Meetings are held monthly around the middle of the month on varying days. Subjects provisionally below.
Wed 20th May: Presentations: the archaeology of Orkney; the British Museum Sutton Hoo collection
Venue has been circulated to members by email
Tue 16th June: Visit and talk: the Saxons exhibition at the Aylesbury Discover Bucks museum with talk by the Head of Archaeology, Brett Thorn. Cost: £22.50 including entry to museum and exhibition and tea/coffee and cakes. This includes artefacts similar to the Sutton Hoo horde.
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. Cost: £10. You can also explore the rest of the collections.
You can also attend the exhibition there: In Bloom: how plants changed our world (£16.20 or £8.10 with Art Fund card).
Wed 19th August, 2:30pm: 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
Tue 15th September: Talk/video on Bayeux Tapestry
Wed 14th October: Possible visit to the replica Bayeux Tapestry in Reading
Thu 19th November: Talk and tour of the new London Museum, Smithfield
Wed 9th December: Presentation TBC and lunch
Other events
Booking to May 31: 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.
To May 25th: British Museum: Hawai'i: a kingdom crossing oceans. History and culture of the islands and the relationship with Britain.
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.
Past meetings
Tuesday April 14th 2026: Initial planning meeting. Presentation on the neolithic routes to Stonehenge. Report here.