Event: Lake District Archaeology Conference 2013 - 3rd November

A day conference at The Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

Sunday 3 November 2013

The Lake District is a unique combination of natural landscape modified by millenia of human activity. During this conference, learn about recent projects carried out by local groups, individuals and organisations, including the National Trust.

Programme

10.00 Introduction

Vivienne Rees, Chair of Historic Environment Advisory Group, Lake District National Park Authority

10.05 Archaeology in the Lake District National Park 2012-13

John Hodgson, Lake District National Park Authority

10.15 Reflections on History – survey and investigation of slate quarrying in Great Langdale and early mining near Grasmere

Jamie Quartermaine, Oxford Archaeology North and Jamie Lund, National Trust

11.10 Questions and Discussion

11.15 Coffee/tea

11.45 Survey of long houses in the Duddon Valley

Peter Matthiessen, Duddon Valley Local History Group

12.05 Recent work of the Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining History Society

Warren Allison, CATHMS

12.25 Geophysical survey and excavation of the Roman vicus at Ravenglass

Kurt Hunter-Mann, York Archaeological Trust

12.55 Questions and Discussion

1.00 Lunch

2.00 Geophysical survey of the Roman fort and vicus at Ambleside

Jamie Lund, National Trust

2.10 The Roman settlement project at Maryport

Stephen Rowland, Oxford Archaeology North

2.45 Coffee/tea

3.10 Discovering Derventio: recent archaeological investigation of the Roman site at Papcastle

Frank Giecco, Wardell Armstrong Archaeology

3.50 Questions and Discussion

4.00 Finish

How much is it?

Conference including tea and coffee: £13 each
Conference including tea, coffee and buffet lunch: £19.25 each
If you require a parking voucher please add £2

How to book

Please fill in the Archaeology Conference Form (PDF) and send a cheque for the appropriate amount (payable to LDNPA) to:
LDNPA
Murley Moss
Oxenholme Road
KENDAL LA9 7RL
Alternatively call 01539 724555 with your debit or credit card details.

Closing date

The conference normally sells out, so please don't wait too long! The final date for bookings is Monday 28 October 2013.

Parking

There is a pay and display car park next to the Theatre. There is a discount for parking on any long stay car park in Keswick with Allerdale Borough Council. A day rate of £2 is payable only in advance.
Please tick the box on the form and add £2 to your payment if you need a parking voucher.

Details also at:  http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/learning/lakedistrictfacts/archaeologyhistory/archaeologyconference

Report: Introductory Day 3rd August

There was a great turnout, with over fifty people from the local community cramming into the room at the Pennington Arms Hotel in Ravenglass.

Holly Beavitt-Pike of the Lake District National Park gave the welcome address and then introduced Dr Alan Leslie of Northlight Heritage who spoke about Ravenglass Roman Fort in the wider Roman context.

He asked when our preconceptions of Rome were formed and showed images from tv series, and films going back to the 1920s. He then went on to consider the evidence for Roman Ravenglass, and how it is viewed. He challenged us to think about the context of the fort and how it is interpreted. He pointed out the book Motel of the Mysteries by David Macauley which humorously explored the idea of future archaeologists digging up a motel and not fully understanding what they have found. [Kurt has a much thumbed copy of this, which he will bring to the excavations in September],  Dr Leslie gave a thought-provoking and amusing lecture which set the scene for the next speaker.

Kurt Hunter-Mann of York Archaeological Trust, who is directing the excavations, spoke about the archaeology of Ravenglass so far and what will be happening on site during the forthcoming excavations. In the first year, there will be three long trenches, so there's plenty of digging to do. In addition, there will there will be opportunities to take part in geophysical surveying, environmental analysis and field walking (which will include the shoreline).  He omitted to say there will also be the chance for undertaking finds work!  So there's something for everyone to get involved in.  In particular, he said that local input is crucial, with the community having insights into their archaeology and area which would be very valuable to the project.

Next to speak was Lisa Keys of Minerva Heritage who will be delivering the Romans in Ravenglass Outreach programme.

 
This will involve local schools visiting the site, as well as the Young Archaeologists' Club coming to see the dig at some point.  There will be several open days over the four weeks (for the dates see here), which will include displays, craft activities, finds displays from previous excavations and site tours. At the end of the project there will be an interpretive leaflet and panel, as well as a permanent display at nearby Muncaster Castle.

That was the end of the lecture programme  for the day and it was time for lunch. It was a fine day, so people were able to sit out in the courtyard to eat their sandwiches, and chat about the project. The audience was split into two groups. One section was to follow Holly, and the other Kurt, in a tour of the fields that were to be the object of the project.  This was a chance for the community to contribute further information, as well as ask further questions of the tour leaders.

The tours lasted for a couple of hours as the groups were led over the two fields and around to the Bath house.

Overall it was a great day with much enthusiasm for the project shown by both the speakers and the local community. We're all now looking forward to September and the main events of the Romans in Ravenglass project!

New date for your diary!

Kurt (Excavation Director) will be speaking about the Ravenglass Project at the Hadrian's Wall Archaeology Forum in 2014, not as first thought, in 2013.

I have also updated the original Ravenglass Dates blog to reflect this.

Romans in Ravenglass Introductory Day - 3rd August

An important date for your diary. There will be an Introductory Day for the project on 3rd August.  It is being held at the Pennington Hotel in Ravenglass, and begins at 10am.  This will be your chance to hear about the background to the project, as well as meeting key staff involved in the dig.  There will also be a site visit.  Further information can be downloaded here.