Author: azinhowells

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New Funded PhD Opportunities in Archaeology

Two new funded PhD opportunities with Dr. Hella Eckardt (University of Reading), Dr Richard Hobbs (British Museum) and Caroline McDonald (Museum of London) have become available:

  • Ringing the changes: the social significance of finger-rings in Roman Britain: This project will analyse rings from the British Museum, the Portable Antiquities Scheme and from published sources, covering the whole of the Romano-British period…
  • Tools in Roman London: industry, household practice and ritual deposition across the ancient city: As part of their placement at the Museum of London, the student will consider how Roman tools illuminate daily life in Roman London and provide an insight into agricultural, industrial, domestic and ritual activity within London…

The application deadline for both studentships is 25th of April 2014. For further information please click here.

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Glastonbury Revealed – Film Launched

A film launched today by the AHRC features research on Glastonbury Abbey led by Professor Roberta Gilchrist of the University of Reading and funded by the AHRC.  The research has re-evaluated the archaeology of Glastonbury Abbey and disentangled the rich but not always accurate myth from historical reality. Among the findings are: fresh evidence to confirm that the abbey site was indeed occupied in the 5th or 6th century, before the foundation of the Saxon monastery; identification of an early timber building with large post pits associated with fragments of imported Roman amphorae, dated c AD 450-550, and often associated with very high status secular (ie royal) settlement; analysis of glass and metal fragments suggesting that the glass-working furnaces at Glastonbury represent the earliest evidence for significant glass production in Saxon England; and a great deal more.

The project has worked closely with local groups and the general public and outreach activities have been crucial to its work and its findings.

This film examines the new evidence unearthed by the project and how researchers have worked with the Abbey Museum, conservators and the public to explore the history of this rich and extraordinary site. To watch the film please click here.

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Win Wainwright’s Financial Award

F.T. Wainwright was a history graduate of the University of Reading whose research on the early medieval period was at the interface of archaeology and history.

To commemorate F.T.Wainwright’s work, his daughter Barbara Wainwright, a former member of the University of Reading Council, instituted an annual award fund in the Department of Archaeology to be spent in support of students “doing something they could not do otherwise”.

The Department has decided to include the following activities: Participation in non-local fieldwork, support for dissertation, research and museum visits, support for exchange visits, and attendance at relevant and important conferences or public lectures. Such activities may be undertaken in Britain or mainland Europe. To find out more please go to this page.

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Dr Jim Leary Makes National News

Dr Jim Leary was interviewed by BBC Radio Wiltshire yesterday about his new book on Silbury Hill. The book is the final academic volume that sets out the results of the multi-million pound Silbury Hill Conservation Project. The full reference is: Leary, J., Field, D. and Campbell, G. (2013). Silbury Hill. Europe’s largest prehistoric mound. Swindon: English Heritage publishing.

Here’s the link to the radio show – scroll to 46min.

He was also interviewed for a news website.

Jim-Leary