Remembering the Great War

Back in May/June, the University asked me to plan and manage the Colston Research Symposium: "Remembering the Great War: Perspectives from the Local to the Global". We invited the finest speakers from across the land, see below, and the attendees were just as important!

Hosted at Wills Hall on 23 October, the atmosphere was excited and expectant. Check out the social media buzz, along with photos: https://storify.com/tierneae/colston-research-society-2014#publicize

Afterwards, we travelled the Wills Memorial Building, up to the Great Hall to hear from Sir Max Hastings on "Catastrophe 1914". The massive room was packed to near full capacity as hundreds of people sat for the powerful talk.

Dinner at Merchant's Hall, Clifton, Bristol

I was fortunate to then be invited along with speakers and select guests to Merchant's Hall for a very fine dinner. All in all, a very long, busy and rewarding day!

Bristol Archaeology & Anthropology

I've just created the Bristol Archaeology & Anthropology Facebook page. We have private groups, but they are not really suitable for public consumption - too many shenigans - so now we have a delightful new welcoming page for new researchers, staff and students, full to the brim with recent news stories. I imagine it will evolve in response to how the Bristol gang use it.
But if you don't like the page, you'll never find out!

https://www.facebook.com/bristolarchanth

Everyone likes to be liked....

My life in pictures from the last month and a half

Fantastic fieldtrip to survey the Hell-Fire Caves

Had fun making a wordle of two chapters of my dissertation, on the Irish Hell-Fire Clubs

Hoped across the sea to visit the folks and survey the Hell-Fire Club of Dublin, Montpelier

Recent activity: from Mexico to Anglo-Saxons and a media bonanza

The last month has been a hectic jumble of archaeological wonderment, and I have yet again let my blog suffer as a result. But, it has all been for the greater good (of archaeology).

First up - a terrific trip around the Yucatan, Mexico

I discovered that I am very good at pointing at archaeology enthusiastically, while trying to hide from the sun. Chichén-Itzá was utterly amazing. The complex is dotted with stunning stepped pyramids, other religious buildings and detailed relief sculpture. Archaeologists are hard at work restoring the structures and no one is allowed climb the steps anymore. Trenches have also been opened, showing earlier occupation phases on the site - this work has been postponed until the drainage is sorted.

Exhibit A: Pointing at archaeology (extra 'points' as it includes both a pyramid and a trench)

New Discovery: Minoan Double-Axe-Head found outside of Crete

While driving around Bristol the other week, saw this:

July News: Fossils, cerne abbas & Maiden Castle

The last few weeks have been insanely hectic for me, hence the long drought of blog posts. First off, a trip to Dorset, Fossil Hunting!

A jaunt around Weymouth:

Camping in glamourous Hollywood:

And trips out to Cerne Abbas and Maiden Castle:

(Above, 4th Century AD, ruins of Roman Temple on top of Maiden Castle)

Arnos Vale Cememtery survey

What a fantastic opportunity to test out the EDM equipment - thanks to Lindsay (pictured below) for letting me help out. You can read more about Arnos Vale here http://www.arnosvale.org.uk/

Battle Practice, Blaise Castle

I was really lucky to tag along and make this little video! The gang had a crazy day, with very few injuries.

TAGtastic

The 32nd TAG (Theoretical Archaeology Group) Conference went off without a hitch this weekend - thanks to all the organisers for all their hard work!