All change at the British Museum (2001)
The Queen Elizabeth II Great Court
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. Just as impressive from the outside, at least in terms of size, is the Reading Room in the centre, which is even larger than it was previously because a huge double staircase has been wrapped around it. I used to have the privilege, in the days of the British Library, to walk through the Reading Room every morning from the North Entrance, and was always dumbstruck by the magnificence of the dome. The restored dome is even more breathtaking: the original papier-mâché lining has been repaired, and the original paint scheme of gold on a light blue background has been reinstated. A wise decision was made to keep the original reader's desks in place, and it is intended that the Reading Room will continue to be a place of study, as it will house the Paul Hamlyn library of 25,000 volumes.
And the controversial south portico? I personally think it looks fine, and I can't really see what all the fuss has been about. It was not an original feature of the courtyard, so there isn't a problem if it stands out as looking somewhat new; how could it not? The other porticos have been exposed to the elements for 200 years. It has been built in the style of Smirke and has three portals instead of one.
The Great Court will give 50% more public space for the museum, including a new Education Centre, a Young Visitors Centre, new galleries, shops and cafes. It will also house COMPASS, a computer based information system, where visitors will be able to research the museum's collections and have high-quality prints made of individual objects within seconds.
The main effect of the Great Court will be better freedom of movement. The original entrance hall (now restored to its original Victorian colour scheme) was badly cramped and disorientating for visitors. They will now be able to come through the entrance hall and the new South Portico into the Great Court, where they can collect their thoughts and decide how to use their visit. There is also a bridge link with the upper levels from the terrace on the outside of the Reading Room.
NH: 13th Jul 2011 10:26:00
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 »