Public lecture series
Our public lectures are free events that attract a diverse audience including the public, secondary school pupils and professionals. The series aims to open up areas of interest in the Earth and environmental sciences and present new research in this area to the public.
Understanding ancient worlds: how can geosciences and environmental sciences influence archaeology?
There is no doubt that our understanding of the importance of archaeological finds is linked to the development and wider application of scientific methodology.
As part of this year's series of public lectures, we welcome fascinating speakers and investigate the use of some geoscientific and environmental techniques to improve our understanding of past history and environments, both here in South Wales and around the world.
These presentations will investigate how evidence of sediments and rocks, geochemistry, the dating of human remains and artefacts, climatic and forensic data and the landscape and vegetation can help build a clear picture of our shared history, including Roman and Colonial and more recent contexts, and also influence our views on conservation and heritage strategies.
The 2023/24 monthly Lecture Series will be held in the Wallace Lecture Theatre (Room 0.13), Main Building. Lectures begin at 18:30.
You do not need to book a ticket for the events.
| Date | Guest speaker | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 14 May 2024 | Dr Angela Middleton (Historic England) | Excavation finished! Now what? The role of investigative conservation in Archaeology |
| 9 April 2024 | Professor Derek Hamilton (University of Glasgow) | The dating game: building better chronologies for better archaeological narratives |
| 12 March 2024 | Dr Paul Breeze (Kings College London) | Palaeoclimate and hominin dispersals through the deserts of Africa, Arabia and SW Asia |
| 13 February 2024 | Dr Rachel Crellin (University of Leicester) | Gold hidden in stone: finding an early Bronze Age goldworking tool kit |
| 9 January 2024 | Dr Richard Madgwick (Cardiff University) | Bones don't lie: isotope approaches to diet, health, and mobility in past societies |
| 12 December 2023 | Professor Nicki Whitehouse (University of Glasgow) | Why is archaeology important to our contemporary environmental challenges? |
| 14 November 2023 | Dr Tim Young (Cardiff University) | Clearing the smoke: science and early ironmaking |
| 10 October 2023 | Dr Mélanie Roffet-Salque (University of Bristol) | Advancing the application of lipids in archaeological and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction |
| 12 September 2023 | Professor Martin Bell (Reading University) | The Geoarchaeology of the Severn Estuary - the John Allen legacy. |
Parking
We encourage members of the university community (including visitors) to travel to the university using sustainable modes of transport.
We do however acknowledge that is not always possible, and that some visitors will need to travel to campus using motorised vehicles.
We encourage the use of electric or hybrid vehicles for this purpose wherever possible. Our car parks are controlled by ANPR camera technology and/or foot patrol.
Visitor parking is not available during Open Days or other large, on-campus events.
Pre-bookable pay-as-you-go parking
Pre-bookable PAYG parking is available for use by visitors (as well as staff and contractors) from 07:00-00:00 (midnight) Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.
PAYG bays must be booked in advance of arrival using ‘RingGo’ via app or website.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this event, please contact Professor Dianne Edwards at edwardsd2@cardiff.ac.uk.
Should you require the Q&A sessions to be in Welsh, please email edwardsd2@cardiff.ac.uk at least two weeks before the event.
