Day of Archaeology 2012 is scheduled for June 29, 2012

Last year’s event brought out 400+ archaeologists, and almost 450 separate posts including lots of photos, video, audio and more.

You can read more about the Day of Archaeology at About the Project, but the general hope is that by raising awareness about the truly diverse nature of archaeology, we will also in turn emphasize the vital role that archaeology plays in preserving our past for everyone’s future.

http://www.dayofarchaeology.com/

 

Wiltshire Historic Landscape Characterisation underway

The Wiltshire Council Archaeological Service has announced that the Wiltshire and Swindon Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) Project started in early April 2012. This three year project is sponsored by English Heritage and is being run by Wiltshire Council in partnership with Swindon Borough Council.

Salisbury Museum organises guided walk of Down Farm Thursday 19th July 2012

Walk & Visit – Down Farm Museum - Thursday 19 July 2012. Martin Green will lead a walk to explore the rich archaeological landscape centred around Down Farm. In the morning we will visit the museum to set the scene for the sites to be visited later. After this we will explore sites in nearby Fir Tree field which include the natural shaft and burial monuments excavated and subsequently restored by Martin. Following lunch a longer circular walk will cross the Dorset Cursus and take in the earthworks on Gussage Cow Down before traversing a length of the Ackling Dyke. We will then leave the Roman road to cross the Cursus again visiting the restored Neolithic hengers and barrows on Wyke Down before crossing the Allen valley back to Down Farm.

Follow this link on the Salisbury Museum website for more information What's On

Walk - Along the Woodford Valley 18th July 2012

 Wednesday 18 July 2012. A guided walk exploring the landscape and archaeology of the Woodford Valley led by local environmental historian Dr Hadrian Cook. This will be an enjoyable six mile circular walk through the Woodford Valley including uneven ground. The walk, lasting approximately 4-5 hours, will explore the landscape, agriculture and archaeology of the Woodford Valley to the north of Salisbury. 

Booking required. Please contact the Museum to book.

Walk - Through the New Forest and Lower Avon Valley 20 Jul 2012

Friday 20 July 2012. This guided walk discovers the landscape and history of the New Forest and Lower Avon Valley south of Salisbury, near to Fordingbridge. It is led by local environmental historian Dr Hadrian Cook. An enjoyable, approximately eight mile circular walk, will include uneven ground and some climbs. The walk lasts approximately 4-5 hours and will explore the western boundary of the New Forest, the adjacent farmed  landscape, the Avon floodplain including the watermeadows and  associated settlement history in the valley. An annotated map with be provided on the day. A  Festival of British Archaeology event.

Booking required. Please contact the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum to book.

Guided Walk of Clarendon Palace 27th July 2012

Friday 27 July 2012. A guided walk from Salisbury to the 12th century ruins of Clarendon Palace led by local Blue Badge Guide Ruth Newman.  A half day excursion for the adventurous visitor who enjoys walking and a sense of history. Visit the Clarendon Palace ruins dating back to the 12th century; experience the landscape of kings, a royal retreat and place of government even before Salisbury Cathedral was built. Stand on the site where Henry II met Thomas Becket in 1164, an event which led to the archbishop's exile and death just six years later.

An enjoyable four mile (6.4 km) walk with a hill up to the palace, providing fantastic views of Salisbury on the way to this wonderfully isolated spot with friendly llamas patrolling the grounds. A Festival of British Archaeology event. 


Booking required. Please contact the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum to book.

Talk, Tea and Tour: The making of Circles and Tangents:

Tuesday 29 May 2012 Salisbury Museum. Vivienne Light, Curator of Circles and Tangents, the museum’s 2012 summer exhibition, will talk about how she first started writing on the arts (particularly that associated with the Wessex region). She will describe how she undertook her research, a pivotal part of which involved direct contact with the artists and with their friends, families and descendants. During this process a vast number of interconnects emerged and Vivienne has highlighted a fragment of important regional artistic history which could easily have been lost. 

Tickets will include Vivienne’s talk, afternoon cream tea and a tour of the exhibition itself where Vivienne will be happy to answer questions.