Beginning with John Frere’s famous letter of 1797 reporting the discovery of ancient flint tools in brick-pits at Hoxne and culminating with the exposure of million-year-old footprints on Happisburgh beach in 2013, this lecture for the Southwold Museum & Historical Society looks at the string of significant East Anglian archaeological discoveries which have revolutionised our understanding of the early human occupation of Britain.

This lecture examines the growing body of historical and archaeological material which sheds light on the important role which women played in the burial practices of East Anglian Anglo-Saxons before, during and after their conversion to Christianity. This is particularly clear in the aspects of female social and religious identity which were expressed in their own funerary assemblages, but also in the role which women seem to have played in the organisation and management of the burials of others.

The conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity was one of the most significant cultural changes in our nation’s history and it has shaped our physical and social landscape for the last 1400 years. We have recently seen a number of significant steps forward in our understanding of the origins and development of the early Church in East Anglia and this lecture presents the latest thoughts on the artefacts, sites and documents which shed light on this formative period. Subjects to be covered include the early use of Christian iconography, the high-precision dating of Anglo-Saxon burials, and the recently published Middle Saxon sites at Brandon, Sedgeford and Barber’s Point, as well as the spectacular new discovery of Middle Saxon timber coffins and a possible chapel at Great Ryburgh.

The year 2015 marked the 50th anniversary of the archaeological excavations at West Stow which revealed the remains of an extensive Early Anglo-Saxon settlement in Suffolk’s Lark valley. This lecture for the Friends of Thetford Museum examines the results of the original excavations and assesses the conclusions of the experiment so far.

Details TBC

Burials constitute a large part of the archaeological record from Anglo-Saxon England, and this dayschool for Wuffing Education uses the rich East Anglian burial record to explore the range of burial rites practised by the Anglo-Saxons. Subjects to be covered include the human skeleton, cremation, inhumation, the use of grave-goods and the impact of Christianity. The day will be illustrated with examples drawn from recent and unpublished excavations, as well as some classic sites.
Postponed from 3rd March 2018.

Monasteries were one of the most important and influential features of the medieval landscape. This lecture for the Loddon and District Local History Group examines East Anglia’s Anglo-Saxon and medieval monasteries, with a particular focus on the landscape setting of monasteries, the development of the monastic cloister and precinct, and the management of monastic estates.

This lecture for the Annual General Meeting of the Norfolk Archaeological Trust examines the changing nature of East Anglian settlements throughout the Anglo-Saxon period, drawing upon newly excavated and recently published sites from across the region, including West Stow, Carlton Colville, Brandon and Sedgeford.

Further details and booking arrangements can be found here.

This dayschool for the Suffolk Preservation Society examines the topography, settlement patterns, field systems and historic buildings which give Suffolk its distinctive historic landscape character, and explains the methods and techniques which can be used to ‘read’ the history of the landscape around us. The historic environment plays a critical role in the planning process, and the day also focusses on how the impact of development on the historic environment is managed and mitigated, and provides advice on making effective applications and representations. Details of costs and booking details can be found on the Suffolk Preservation Society website.