The 1991 Congress - Bristol

The Congress

Much professional archaeology is becoming dull and boring - that is always the fate of the routine. This is why many of the most exciting projects in archaeology are those done by independents, the amateurs, who can follow their own star, and pursue their own research to its conclusions.

The fourth Congress of Independent Archaeologists, at Bristol University, on September 14th - 15th 1991 provided the opportunity to hear leading independent archaeologists presenting their latest research. There will be no theoretical archaeology; these are all real projects concerning real archaeology presented by real archaeologists, and will form the highlights of archaeology in Britain in the 1990s.

The speakers

Roy Friendship Taylor on why he thinks he knows the name of the owner of the Piddington Roman villa

Carole Hutchison on why the Grandmontine Priory at Craswall should be preserved

Colin Baddeley, on the discovery of the Roman legionary fortress at Mancetter

Caratacus, 1950 years on: The year of the Romans, presented by the Dean Archaeological Group

Stephen Clarke on his discovery of the unknown Norman defences at Monmouth

The Frocester Roman Villa and its Iron Age predecessor: Eddie Price describes the saga of his 30 year excavation and the problems of his current writing up.

Waltham Abbey how Peter Huggins discovered the Saxon predecessor to the abbey. Was King Harold in the avant garde of Anglo Saxon architecture?

Albert Daniels on the Snodland Roman Villa

Scarborough how we discovered the early medieval fortifications by Trevor Pearson

Were there druids at Deal? How the Dover Archaeological Group found a pit shrine, and then the burial of a 'warrior druid'.

Alastair Marshal on the Guiting Power project, in Gloucestershire. Already a unique Iron age enclosure has been excavated and this year they investigate the Saxo-Norman origins of the modern village

How we discovered an unknown stone circle, by Ed Archer and the Lanark Archaeological Society

The earliest Cursus in the world, dug up by the Abingdon Archaeological Society.

New discoveries in Humberside. by the East Riding Archaeological Society

and many shorter contributions

Following the Congress

* A computer workshop session for those who know nothing about computers but are thinking of acquiring one, with a demonstration of Shareware.

Guided tours of Bristol by members of the Bristol and Avon Archaeological Society

Visit Monmouth on your way home, where a special tour of the excavations and the town will be laid on for Congress members.

Who should attend

Officers and leading members of all county and local archaeological societies

All active amateur archaeologists.

All armchair archaeologists

Those professional archaeologists (e.g. county archaeologists) whose job includes liaison with amateur archaeologists

And all those who wish to enjoy a weekend of exciting and stimulating "real" archaeology

Where it is being held

The conference will be held at Bristol University over the weekend of 14th- 15th September 1991. It will be held at Churchill Hall where full residential accommodation has been reserved, and there is ample parking space.

The conference will begin at 11.00 on Saturday 14th September following the AGM of the Council for Independent Archaeology at 10.30. There will be a conference dinner at 8.00 pm and the Congress will continue on the Sunday morning, concluding at lunch time.

There will also be a major Exhibition of the work of Independent archaeologists. Those who wish to display their work should contact the Exhibition organiser, Moira Gittos.

Return to Conference list