Cardiff Archaeology 100
28 April 2020
Celebrating the past, present, and future in centenary year with community archaeology, virtual conferences and Festival for alumni.
Marking 100 years of Archaeology and Conservation at Cardiff, the School of History, Archaeology and Religion is hosting an innovative series of events to examine the past, present and future of these disciplines.
The year of events showcases a century of research and reflects current practice in teaching and trailblazing public engagement, celebrating the impact of staff, students, alumni and fellows.
The series marks the establishment of Archaeology at Cardiff University as part of a long-flourishing partnership with the Amgueddfa Cymru National Museum Wales. Links began in August 1920 when Mortimer Wheeler took up the new joint post of Lecturer in Archaeology and Keeper of Archaeology. This started an evolving collaboration which has transformed knowledge of the past, created internationally renowned teaching, excavation and research and sent Cardiff graduates across the globe.
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Local school pupils excavate at Caerau hill fort in southeast Wales.
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Conservation students work on artefacts from around the world, like this ancient Egyptian textile.
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Excavation in Sardinia, Italy.
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Excavation of iron age hillfort in Germany.
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Guerrilla Archaeology takes experimental archaeology to festivals including making rings carved from antler.
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Conservation in action at Catalhoyuk, the world heritage site in Turkey.
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Excavation in Praisos, Crete.
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Rock art in Kline Spitzkoppe where the Phoenix Heritage project is supporting sustainable heritage in Namibia.
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Students expand skills on excavations and placements at home and abroad, like this Romania excavation.
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Research underway in the Scilly Isles.
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Taking new research into feasting and ancient diet to modern masses at Stonehenge.
Professor of Bioarchaeology Jacqui Mulville gives a taste of what to expect:
“Although these two institutions are now independent organisations, the link first formalised by Sir Mortimer Wheeler is something celebrated to this day. It is alive still in our collaborations alongside local communities to explore Wales' incredible archaeology and heritage, discovering new knowledge about our past.”
From community archaeology in back gardens to digital discussion in lively Twitter Conferences, we aim to engage public interest in hands-on disciplines that explore our very human existence across decades, centuries and millennia.”
Opening the Centenary Week (6 June – 12 June) with the Alumni Photo Exhibit, centenary celebrations continue with Conservation Take Over, Cardiff Archaeology Twitter Conference with downloadable pdf programme, Centenary Illustration Exhibit, as well as do-it-yourself Experimental Archaeology video tutorials, plus Centenary Community Day led by archaeology collective Guerrilla Archaeology usually spotted at UK festivals over the summer.
Throughout the year alumni shaping the disciplines continue to deliver an exciting series of public talks reflecting current directions in the disciplines.
Alumni around the world are also encouraged to share pictures of their favourite Cardiff excavation, artefact, find, degree highlight or placement using the hashtag #CUArch100 via Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @CardiffArchaeology.
Crowning the Cardiff Archaeology Centenary is Future of the Past, examining the past, present and future of archaeology in a day of alumni-led seminars and Question-time style discussion.
Alumni Dr Kathryn Roberts (Head of Archaeology, Cadw), Professor Carl Heron (Director of Research, British Museum), Professor Robin Skeates (Durham University), Ms Siobhan Stevenson (Director of Legacy Conservation) and Duncan Brown (Historic England) will lead discussions on 17 December, chaired by the School’s Director of Civic Mission Dr David Wyatt.
For latest Cardiff Archaeology 100 updates head online and join in using the centenary hashtag #CUArch100.