Archaeology Conferences
Previous Events
10th November 2023 2023 RFG Autumn Meeting: New Research on Finds from the Edges of Roman Britain and Beyond
The 2023 Autumn Roman Finds Group Conference is entitled New Research on Finds from the Edges of Roman Britain and Beyond. It is being held online (on the Zoom platform). It will consist of 15 illustrated ‘papers’ presented in blended content (some pre-recorded and some live) on Friday 10th November 2023.
27th July 2023 Zoom in on Roman Finds: 30 years of Roman Military Equipment
A RFG Member only seminar: Mike Bishop and John Coulson on the Past, Present and Future of Roman Military Equipment
21st April 2023 2023 RFG Spring Meeting: New Research on Finds from the Roman Midlands and Beyond
The RFG spring 2023 meeting is being held in held in association with the University of Nottingham and its Museum, and will take place at the Music Recital Hall, Lakeside Arts, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD. There are five sessions of papers with twenty one illustrated talks, on various aspects of finds from recent work in the Roman Midlands and beyond. There is a wine reception and private viewing of the Museum on the friday, followed by the conference dinner. The RFG AGM will take place on day two before lunch.
5th April 2023 Zoom in on Roman Finds: East is East? Roman Finds from Slovenia
A RFG Member only evening seminar: Two talks on finds from Slovenia
7th October 2022 2022 Autumn Meeting: New Research on Finds from the Eastern Region of Hadrian's Wall
The 2022 Autumn Meeting will be held onlnie on the zoom platform. The title is New Research on Finds from the Eastern Region of Hadrian's Wall. 20 papers and four 'gallery tours' .
24th January 2022 Zoom in on Roman Finds: Presentations from Scotland. A pre Burns night seminar
A RFG Member only evening seminar: Three talks from RFG members from Scotland in a pre burns night special
18th October 2021 2021 RFG Autumn Meeting: Roman Finds from Infrastructure Projects: Rail, Roads and Sewers
The 2021 RFG Autumn Conference is held in association with King's College London and is entitled Roman Finds from Infrastructure Projects: Rail, Roads and Sewers. It is an open access meeting with four sessions and 14 illustrated talks. With particular thanks to King's College London for use of its Teams facility.
24th April 2020 Celebrating Roman West Cumbria: 30th Anniversary Conference - Senhouse Roman Museum
2020 is the 30th anniversary of the Senhouse Roman Museum opening to the public. A number of events and exhibitions are planned throughout the year to celebrate the Museum's continuing success and looking forward to the future. The conference is part of that celebration. The conference theme 'Celebrating Roman West Cumbria' brings together the research excavations from recent years covering the area from Ravenglass to Beckfoot.
22nd January 2019 Sounds of Roman Egypt
A free exhibition bringing to life the soundscape of Egypt during the Roman period.
14th July 2018 Archaeology in Hertfordshire: Recent Research
The Welwyn Archaeological Society and the Bishops Stortford Museum are pleased to announce the third Archaeology in Hertfordshire: Recent Research conference to be held at the Museum on July 14th 2018.
1st June 2018 Vagnari Roman Imperial Estate: The Settlement and its Material Culture
The workshop aims to present the archaeological research at Vagnari in its wider context and to discuss the impact of Roman expansion in south-east Italy on the culture and economy of the region. Speakers include Alastair Small who, together with Carola Small, discovered the site of Vagnari and conducted the first phase of fieldwork at the site from 2000, and Maureen Carroll, the director of excavations at Vagnari since 2012. A key and important part of the workshop is the presentation by the relevant project specialists of the artefacts and assemblages recovered in the Sheffield excavations. The workshop brings together these specialists to foster discussion of the artefacts themselves and their significance, and to engage participants at the event in this discussion.
10th March 2018 Remarkable Things: The Agency of Objecthood and The Power of Materiality
Apotropaic art, symbols or objects are those which have – or are reputed to have - the power of averting evil influence or ‘bad luck’. The very idea of an apotropaic object stands at the centre of theory seeking to concretise objecthood and materiary power.
4th November 2017 Restrospect and Prospect Sat 4 November 2017 10:00 - 18:00 GMT Senate House, London
This year's Roman Society Day Conference will celebrate 50 years of the journal Britannia. The conference will explore the highlights of the last 50 years of Romano-British archaeology, with an emphasis not just on excavation and discovery but also inscriptions and artefacts.
13th June 2017 Instrumentum International Meetings: Vehicles in Antiquity and Middle Ages 13th - 16th June 2017 Arles (F, Bouches-du-Rhône)
The theme will be modes of transport in Antiquity et the Middle Ages and will focus in particular on the equipment and maintenance of land, river and sea vehicles.
1st April 2017 Hadrian's Cavalry Exhibition April to September 2017 Various sites along Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Cavalry Exhibition is a dispersed exhibition taking in 10 of the Museums along Hadrian's Wall that will bring national, international and private collection loans together for the first time. The exhibition aims to tell the tale of Roman cavalry regiments and their key role in securing the Empire's frontiers, exhibiting a range of finely decorated objects.
28th March 2017 TRAC 2017
Durham University is hosting the Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference (TRAC) 2017, one of the biggest gathering of Roman archaeologists and classical scholars in the world. Interdisciplinary and international, Durham TRAC will be bringing together academics to discuss all aspects of the Roman Empire (and beyond).
4th March 2017 An Introduction to Archaeological Illustration 4th - 5th March 2017, 9.30am – 4pm each day Roman Vindolanda – Hedley Centre
The course will look at general techniques and methods of accurately recording small finds including pottery illustration, metal objects, bone, and leatherwork. There will be a selection of objects from the excavations at Vindolanda to handle and draw over the duration of the course.
28th January 2017 Fibulae
Fibulae is a small exhibition about the clothing accessories that turn up most frequently in archaeologists’ finds: brooches known as fibulae. These brooches were used to fasten items of clothing, especially cloaks. Nearly four hundred fibulae are on view in the display cases.
30th January 2016 Making practice perfect: approaches to everyday life in Roman archaeology
The ‘Making practice perfect’ workshop will be a one-day event focused on ‘practice theories’ in Roman archaeology and beyond. The day will be organised into three sessions: ‘Structuration and related traditions’, ‘Practice theory and materiality’, and ‘Comparative perspectives’, the first two focusing on Roman case-studies, and the third aiming to develop dialogues between Romanists and archaeologists of other complex societies.
20th July 2015 Hellenic Society and Roman Society
Illustrated presentations by six world experts of their researches into how effective ancient armour was in practice. Issues will include production, wearability, enemy weapons and tactics, and changes and developments.
14th May 2015 The Rural Settlement of Roman England: from regional perspectives to national synthesis
Over the last three years the Department of Archaeology at the University of Reading and Cotswold Archaeology have been collaborating on a major project examining regional and chronological variation in Roman rural settlement through analysis of farm layouts, domestic architecture, agricultural practice and burial traditions.
27th March 2015 25th Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference
Following on from the success of our session at RAC/TRAC last year, the RFG will be sponsoring a session this year at TRAC. The session is titled Interdisciplinary Approaches to Roman Artefacts (RFG session) and will be chaired by Ellen Swift, It will be on Saturday afternoon from 2 to 5.30pm (Session 2).
28th November 2014 Things That Travelled - Mediterranean Glass in the First Millennium AD
Places are still available for this conference with a fantastic line-up of glass specialists covering a multitude of historical, archaeological and scientific topics. £40 full price and £10 for students. See website for registration information and final programme.
18th November 2014 British Museum Touring Exhibition
Roman Empire: Power and People brings together over 160 stunning pieces from the British Museum to explore the story of one of the most powerful empires the world has ever seen.
13th November 2014 ALG Autumn 2014 Meeting Leeds 13-14th November 2014
The ALG Autumn 2014 meeting Leather in Warfare is being held at the Royal Armouries, Leeds and co-hosted by that august institution. We are most grateful to the Royal Armouries for their enthusiasm for the meeting and having them co-host the event has allowed us to significantly expand the programme and widen the subjects covered.
31st May 2014 Historical Metallurgy Society
For many centuries metal, especially precious metals, has been the dominant material used in the construction of jewellery and other items of personal adornment. The basic form of personal adornment varies with time, location and culture, which influence not only the style of the pieces but also affects their methods of manufacture and decoration.
10th May 2014 How Roman Was Roman Britain?
A Day Conference organised by the Roman Studies Group of Surrey Archaeological Society
4th May 2014 Hadrianic Society Conference 2014 4th - 9th April 2014
We run a dual meeting over 6 days; the first half is a ‘Reunion Weekend’ for members old and new, the Second half a conference proper titled THE ROMAN ARMY SCHOOL.
28th March 2014 28th-30th March 2014 RAC
The University of Reading is proud to host the Biennial International Roman Archaeology Conference in collaboration with the Roman Society The conference will take place on Friday 28 to Sunday 30 March 2014, returning to where it began 20 years ago in 1994.
30th November 2013 30th November 2013 Romano-British Towns Conference
One day conference at the University of Reading. Organised by the Roman Society in collaboration with the University of Reading, English Heritage and Cotswold Archaeology.
9th November 2013 9th November 2013 150 years of Roman Yorkshire
Conference marking 150 years of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society.
2nd November 2013 2nd November 2013 Health and Medicine in the Roman World British Museum
In collaboration with the Association for Roman Archaeology.
Latest News
RFG Exeter Conference 16th and 17th April 2021 - free open access - all welcome
Sorry, this event is now sold out. Click on the link above or visit the meetings page.... Read More »
Call for papers on dress and adornment at the 25th Limes Congress
From 22-28 August 2021 the 25th Limes Congress will take place in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. We would like to invite paper proposals for Session 16: Dress and adornment in frontier communities.... Read More »
Glasgow Conference Postponed
Unfortunately the Glasgow conference due to take place on 3rd/4th April has had to be postponed. Our Autumn 2020 meeting resurrect he meeting with as close to the original programme as possible.... Read More »
Masterclass on Romano-British Brooches
We are delighted to announce that Roman Finds Group committee member Dr Jörn Schuster will be offering a one-day Masterclass on Romano-British Brooches with former RFG committee members Dr Hella Eckhardt and Dr Emma Durham from the University of Reading. This one-day event will enhance your skills in the description, identification and dating of Romano-British brooches. You will also learn about the way the PAS records brooches and the research potential of personal adornment for our understanding of Roman Britain.... Read More »
Happy 30th Birthday, Roman Finds Group!
Roman Finds Group chose the city of Salisbury as the perfect place to celebrate our 30th anniversary at our Autumn 2017 conference, ‘New Research from Finds from South and South-Western Britain’.... Read More »
RFG 30th Anniversary Meeting 20th and 21st October 2017 at Salisbury Museum
This year the Roman Finds Group is 30 years old. To celebrate, we’ve organised our 2017 Autumn Meeting in Salisbury, where there will be a special reception.... Read More »
The metallurgy of our portable heritage
The metallurgy of our portable heritage study day is being held on Saturday the 17th June, 2017 at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London... Read More »
Call For Papers for Autumn RFG Meeting at Salisbury Museum on 20th-21st October 2017
The theme will be ‘Finds from Southern and South-western Britain’. This is call for papers of around 20 minutes in length.... Read More »
An Introduction to Archaeological Illustration - Saturday March 4 and Sunday 5th 2017
This weekend workshop covers aspects and techniques of archaeological illustration under the personal tuition of Mark Hoyle BA(hon);P.G.C.E.;MAAIS; MIfA. The course will look at general techniques and methods of accurately recording small finds including pottery illustration, metal objects, bone, and leatherwork. There will be a selection of objects from the excavations at Vindolanda to handle and draw over the duration of the course. An archaeological drawing starter pack to use and keep will be provided.... Read More »
Roman Rural Settlement Project - Feedback Needed and Meeting on 14th September 2016
Members of the project team and others have produced a series of short papers concerning various aspects of methodological approaches which cover a variety of topics, including one on finds, which can now be viewed and downloaded at http://www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/methodology-study/. We are keen to get responses to the papers, and have provided an opportunity for written comments on the papers to be submitted by email.... Read More »
Fully funded AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award PhD studentship between the University of Kent and English Heritage
The key research question is as follows: How does the artefact assemblage of small finds from Roman Richborough contribute to our understanding of the military site, its occupants, and the wider nature of the Roman military in the NW provinces of the empire? There is scope to develop the project according to the student’s particular interests for instance by focusing on particular methodological approaches or categories of material.... Read More »
Finds from Roman York, Brigantia and Beyond - Abstracts Published
We have now received the abstracts for our forthcoming conference. You can read them all here.... Read More »
New Grants Available From Roman Finds Group
A series of small grants are available from the Roman Finds Group to all fully paid-up members.... Read More »
Smile please! RFG to go on film
The RFG is in the process of embarking on an exciting new project designed to act as an educational aid.... Read More »
MOLA are advertising for three Finds Trainee posts - Closing Date 30th September 2015
Museum of London Archaeology are advertising for three Finds Trainee posts. Closing Date 30th September 2015.... Read More »
Full Details and Booking Form Available for 'Celts' Conference Autumn 2015
A major Later Prehistoric Finds Group & Roman Finds Group conference in collaboration with the British Museum and including entry to the temporary exhibition. Full details and booking forms are now online.... Read More »
Grant to support the study of PAS finds from Cheshire
Chester Archaeological Society wishes to encourage the study and publication of objects (or groups/types of object) reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme from Cheshire and adjoining areas, to ensure that their potential contribution to the understanding of the archaeology and history of the county is realised.... Read More »
Constitution for Roman Finds Group
RFG members have recently received a letter setting out options for additional future activities together with a copy of our draft constitution; comments on both are welcome.... Read More »
A Review of Our October 2014 Meeting at Manchester Museum
Click here to read a review of this meeting, written by Bryan Sitch... Read More »
Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies
The Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies was the foremost medium for publishing Roman military equipment. Founding editor (and member and friend of RFG) Mike Bishop’s crowdfunding campaign to revive JRMES (and the newsletter Arma) has exceeded his target; all funds will contribute to future publications.... Read More »
RFG Membership of Council for British Archaeology
The RFG is proud to be an organisational member of the Council for British Archaeology.... Read More »
Cheshire Archaeology Public Consultation
The future delivery of archaeology services in Cheshire is currently under review and is open to public consultation, which is being carried out by an on-line-only questionnaire.... Read More »
Finds from the Roman North and Beyond
Joint Roman Finds Group and Centre for Interdisciplinary Artefact Studies Meeting Spring 2015 Roman Finds Group with the CIAS, Newcastle University Bookings are now open for the Spring 2015 Meeting... Read More »
Call For Papers for #TRAC2015
Following the success of last year’s Roman Finds Group session at TRAC, we are very pleased to sponsor a session this year on ‘Interdisciplinary Approaches to Roman Artefacts’.... Read More »
BARGAIN ROMAN MONOGRAPHS
The following Roman-period Yorkshire Archaeological Reports are now available at greatly reduced prices:... Read More »
Roman Society Working Party Questionnaire
The Roman Society is trying to gather data on how it can better develop links with museums, local societies and schools. Please contribute your views via our online survey. Thanks!... Read More »
Date For Your Diary: Manchester Meeting on 8th October 2014
A date for your diaries. We are going ahead with arrangements for an exciting meeting in Manchester in the autumn and the date is now confirmed as Wednesday 8th October, (not as given in the last Lucerna).... Read More »
PhD Studentship in Archaeology | University of Reading
Project title: Tools in Roman London: industry, household practice and ritual deposition across the ancient city.... Read More »
PhD Studentship in Archaeology | University of Reading
Project title: Ringing the changes: the social significance of finger-rings in Roman Britain... Read More »
Vindolanda - An Introduction to Archaeological Illustration - ; 22nd - 23rd February 2014
This weekend workshop covers aspects and techniques of archaeological illustration under the personal tuition of Mark Hoyle BA(hon);P.G.C.E.;MAAIS; MIfA... Read More »
Unusually large find of seals and amulets in ancient sanctuary in Turkey
Classical scholars from the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” made an unusually large find of seals in an ancient sanctuary in Turkey.... Read More »
Online Course: Pompeii and the Cities of the Roman World
Sera Baker, who attended the RFG Meeting at the British Museum this year has sent details of a new course being run online by the University of Oxford.... Read More »
Conference Dates
Three dates for your diary. 27es Rencontres de l’AFAV # 9-10 novembre 2012 # Musée d'Aquitaine # Bordeaux. L’Antiquité tardive dans l’Est de la Gaule 3 - 8-10 novembre 2012. AFPMA-Association Française pour la Peinture Murale Antique : XXVIe séminaire.... Read More »
Roman Altars
An altar has been discovered during recent excavations at Maryport, the first for 142 years. See the news story at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19224154... Read More »
Catch our committee member Sally Worrell on ITV Secret Treasures this week!
Catch our committee member Sally Worrell on ITV Secret Treasures this week! The programme, timed to coincide with this week's Festival of British Archaeology, features the top 50 finds made by members of the British public in the last 20 years, and runs on ITV1 for several evenings, culminating in an hour-long special on Sunday 22 July.... Read More »
Society of Museum Archaeologists training courses
A list of upcoming courses from the Society of Museum Archeologists.... Read More »
Training opportunity
During this week-long course you will learn the basics of processing finds from archaeological excavations. Guided by nearly a dozen experienced practitioners and specialists, you will go through all the various stages from handling and packaging, to sorting and cataloguing.... Read More »
Portable Antiquities Website
The Portable Antiquities Scheme website provides information about Scheme, eg contact details for the finds liaison officers and reports on recent finds.... Read More »
The British Museum Study Centre
Another development which is worth saying something about is the Study Centre. This is located a short distance away from the main Museum site on New Oxford Street. The current projected date for completion is 2004... Read More »
All change at the British Museum (2001)
On December 6th 2000 the Queen opened the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court after nearly three years of building work. The courtyard is vast, which is the first impression you get on entering, especially when you raise your eyes to Foster's domed glass roof.... Read More »
Training opportunity (July 2010)
IfA Workplace Learning Bursaries. Museum of London Archaeology will be hosting two IfA-funded opportunities for training from late summer / early autumn.... Read More »
Your group needs you! (January 2011)
The RFG has been in crisis - you may have noticed the absence of meetings and a winter newsletter in 2010. Since the appeal in Lucerna 39 (September 2010), we have recruited several new committee members - thank you!... Read More »
Could you contribute to Diggers' Forum?
Over at the Diggers' Forum we're relaunching our newsletter and we are planning on including factsheets and short informative pieces on subjects that are of interest to our membership.... Read More »
Survey of Archaeological Specialists 2010 - 11
Landward Research have been commissioned by the Higher Education Academy's History, Classics and Archaeology Subject Centre and English Heritage to conduct a survey of archaeological specialists.... Read More »
Archaeological Evidence for Glassworking - Guidelines for Best Practice
This latest edition in the English Heritage Guidelines series focuses on the identification, investigation and interpretation of glassworking evidence at sites in England from the Bronze Age until the 20th century.... Read More »
Please help us to make the Roman Finds Group even better!
Since 1988, the RFG has been a useful forum for everyone with an interest in Roman finds.... Read More »