The Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology
SPMA logo The Newland's Miner.  The logo shows a free miner of the Forest of Dean, depicted on the monumental brass to Robert Greyndour at Newland church, Gloucestershire.  Greyndour died in 1443; the brass was engraved in London at about that time (drawn from a rubbing by Peter Brears).
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New SPMA Grants:

The Society is delighted to announce the launch of two new grants:

Lecture Bursary - Local and regional archaeological, historical and antiquarian societies are invited to apply for financial support to defray the costs of lectures on post-medieval archaeology. The Society will make up to £500 available each year for this purpose, and the Council will decide how this should be spent, normally at its autumn meeting.

Research Grants - The Society may make small grants to members, as resources permit, to enable research projects to be undertaken on the post-medieval archaeology of Britain, Europe and the wider world, from c.1500 to the present day. Each grant will be subject to a maximum of £1,500. Applications will be considered twice a year, with deadlines for submission on 1 May and 1 September.

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HELM Training Day:

Stopping the Rot

Derby, 3rd November, 2011.

This day will provide an introduction to English Heritage’s Stopping the Rot guidance. Looking at what the problems are and what support and guidance is available from English Heritage, and what other statutory powers are available to Local Authorities. It is for people working in planning, conservation development control, enforcement and legal departments. There will also be a session on best practice for maintaining vacant historic buildings and temporary uses for them.

These courses are free of charge and limited to 60 places.

If you would like to reserve a place please email HELMbookings@english-heritage.org.uk

Medieval Pottery Research Group - Research Framework

The MPRG is pleased to announce A Research Framework for Post-Roman Ceramic Studies in Britain has recently been published and is available for download at: http://mprgframework.info/

This document provides a focus for post-Roman ceramic studies in England, Scotland and Wales. Its aim is to inform all archaeologists during the development of local, regional and national research programmes, as well as period specific strategies. Part one is a Resource Assessment and survey of the profession. Part two presents the Research Agenda and Part three the Strategy to achieve it. Part four lists the expected outcomes.

Further details about the MPRG and the framework can be found at the web address listed above or by contacting Anne Irving at anne.irving@apsarchaeology.co.uk

 

 

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New SPMA Journal Out Now:

Volume 45, part 1 of Post-Medieval Archaeology is now published.

Bermuda Special Issue:

Guest editors Brent Fortenberry (Boston University) and Marley Brown III (The College of William and Mary), celebrate archaeology in Bermuda on the eve of the island’s 400th anniversary. The issue presents the diverse nature of contemporary archaeological research on Bermuda, drawing together a wide array of scholars from the disciplines of archaeology, history, material culture studies, heritage and architectural history.

Click here to read more

 

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SPMA Journal Article in the news:

ARCHAEOLOGY FIND SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON FAMILY PETS

Discovery is believed to be the earliest archaeological evidence for pet tortoises

Post-Medieval Archaeology (44(1)) contained an article by University of Leicester archaeologist Dr Richard Thomas who has discovered a bone belonging to a late19th-century tortoise from Stafford Castle, Staffordshire - believed to be the earliest archaeological evidence of a tortoise kept as a family pet.

The Stafford Castle tortoise bone was found amongst the skeletons of cats and dogs, in a context that suggests it was kept as a pet, possibly by the family who were caretakers at the castle at the time.  The date of the find coincides with the late 19th century increase in the trade of live animals and with the widespread importation of tortoises in particular.

Read more about this in Post-Medieval Archaeology (44(1)) 'Translocated Testudinidae: the earliest archaeological evidence for land tortoise'.

 

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Post-Medieval Fieldwork in Britain and Northern Ireland is now online

An on-line version of Post-Medieval Fieldwork in Britain and Northern Ireland (PMFBNI) is now avaiable via the Archaeological Data Service. This is an exciting new venture for the Post-Medieval Archaeology journal, featuring a searchable digital database for these annually submitted excavation summaries. Generously supported by grants from English Heritage, this new resource has been developed in tandem with the Society for Medieval Archaeology.

crossing paths or sharing tracks

Marylin Palmer, Audrey Horning, Sarah Tarlow and Nick Brannon at the launch of Crossing Paths, Sharing Tracks

New SPMA Monograph Launched:

Crossing Paths or Sharing Tracks?

Future directions in the archaeological study of post-1550 Britain and Ireland


Edited by Audrey Horning
and Marilyn Palmer

The SPMA recently launched new monograph, Crossing Paths or Sharing Tracks? at Leicester University. The impetus for this volume lies in the expansion of interest in post-medieval archaeology in university, commercial, and voluntary sectors. The study of post-medieval archaeology is a relatively new discipline but, within archaeology as a whole, it represents one of the fastest growing areas of study. Archaeologists seek to avoid the fragmentation of a still small discipline into subfields such as pre-1750 post-medieval archaeology, post-1750 industrial archaeology, or the incorporation of theory as somehow outside of the purview of the work of the older organisations. This important and timely volume brings together articles that consider the commonalties between approaches as well as the unique contributions made by members of each organisation towards the study of the material heritage of the post-1550 period.

Click here to find out more about the SPMA monograph series and to order your own copy of this volume.

Post-Medieval Archaeology

Correspondents Wanted!

The Notes and News Section of Post-Medieval Archaeology Needs You

The Society is looking to appoint a number of overseas correspondents to inform us of significant new discoveries to help broaden the scope of the Notes and News section in Post-Medieval Archaeology.

If you are interested in becoming one of our 'own correspondents' then please contact either John Allan or Hugo Blake for more information.

 
SPMA is a Registered Charity. (UK Registered Charity No. 281651) ©SPMA 2011