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The Yorkshire Archaeological & Historical Society

Since 1863

For everyone interested in Yorkshire's past

Prehistory Blog

News of recent discoveries, finds, excavations, etc.

Saturday 6th December 2025 Christmas Meeting and talk

  • Posted On: 18 October 2025

In-person talk and guests are welcome.
Tea & coffee available from 11am and the talk starts at 11.15am until 12.30pm.

Venue: St George’s Centre, 60 Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3DL

Dr Neil Wilkin, Curator of Neolithic and Bronze Age collections at the British Museum, will talk about: ‘Chalk Children: The Folkton and Burton Agnes drum burials in their Neolithic world In 2015, a burial containing three small children and a remarkable set of grave goods was excavated by Allen Archaeology Ltd near Burton Agnes on the Yorkshire Wolds. Of particular note was the decorated chalk ‘drum’, comparable to the well-known Folkton Drums, also buried with a child, discovered 125 years ago. This talk brings together new research and scientific study to explore the national importance of this pair of internationally important and poignant graves. What can they tell us about Neolithic Yorkshire and its place in the emerging artistic and cultural world of Britain and Ireland 5,000 years ago?

Dr Neil Wilkin is curator of the European Neolithic and Bronze Age collections at the British Museum. His most recent major exhibition project was The World of Stonehenge (2022). He is the co-author of the tie-in book The World of Stonehenge (2022) and Grave Goods: Objects and Death in Later Prehistoric Britain (2022)

Any enquiries to: info.prehist@yahs.org.uk info.prehist@yahs.org.uk

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