Speaker: Tony Wilmot
This talk will summarise the phenomenon of the Roman amphitheatre as experienced in Britain and will concentrate on contrasting the evidence from the amphitheatres of Chester and Richborough, both of which have been excavated within the last 20 years. It will cover variations in amphitheatre construction between the legions and the civilian centres and evidence for the nature of arena events and the behaviour of spectators. Tony Wilmott is a senior archaeologist at Historic England and has worked as a professional field archaeologist for 46 years. During this time he has excavated on many sites, mainly, but not exclusively, of Roman date. He is particularly known for his work on Hadrian’s Wall and at Richborough, and for excavations on the two amphitheatres of Chester and Richborough. He is the author of The Roman Amphitheatre in Britain and is currently working on a fully revised edition.
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11/10/2024 19:30 - 11/10/2024 21:00
Speaker: Chris Stone
Organised by the Architecture Section
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08/11/2024 19:30 - 08/11/2024 21:00
Speakers: Christopher Kennedy and Aidan Ridyard
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15/11/2024 19:30 - 22/11/2024 21:00Speaker: David Rudling
The Ouse valley is a key communication route from the Channel coast, via the Downs to the wide expanse of the Weald. It traverses and encompasses landscapes and archaeological sites of both local and regional importance - all connected by the river Ouse and its valley. David will review the archaeological fieldwork that has been undertaken in the valley to investigate and record Roman-period settlements and land-use. He will look at the emergence and fates of sites such as the native settlement at Bishopstone, the villas at Newhaven, Beddingham, Barcombe and Plumpton, and the nucleated settlement at Bridge Farm, Barcombe Mills. He will also consider the main Roman roads in the valley, and the iron working sites north of Barcombe.
Dr David Rutling is the Academic Director at the Sussex School of Archaeology, having previously been Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sussex, and Director of Archaeology South-East which is part of University College London. He has directed a wide range of fieldwork on sites of various periods throughout Sussex, notable sites including Roman villas and tile kilns, Romano-Celtic temples, a Middle Bronze Age settlement site and various medieval urban sites in Hastings, Lewes and Winchelsea. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, a trustee of the Council for British Archaeology South-East, and Chairman of the Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society.
Image above - Barcombe villa c AD 150 (drawing by Andy Gammon)
Speaker on Zoom
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10/01/2025 19:30 - 10/01/2025 21:00
Speaker: Robert Mee
Organised by the Local History Section
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17/01/2025 19:30 - 17/01/2025 21:00
Speaker: Colin Merrony
Organised by the Archaeological Research Group
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07/02/2025 19:30 - 07/02/2025 21:00
Speaker: Richard Sheppard
Organised by the Architecture Section