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The Yorkshire Archaeological & Historical Society

Since 1863

For everyone interested in Yorkshire's past

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  2. Prehistory Research
  3. Section programme

Programme 2025: Key events

Prehistory Research Section events:

2025
December

Saturday 6th December 2025 Christmas Meeting.
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

Possible Archaeological Events for Your Diary:

  • 18th October: CBA Yorks: Autumn Seminar: Workstation Creative Lounge, Sheffield
  • 3rd November: Neolithic Study Group conference: ‘Kinship in Neolithic Europe’
  • 14th - 16th November: Bronze Age Forum will be held in University College, Dublin

Guest Lectures (open to all) 

Bradford University: School Archaeological and Forensic Science guest lectures series.

Lectures start at 5.30pm - search SAFS guest lecture series on Ticketsource

Please note - Your E-Mail Address:

The majority of members now receive their notices and newsflashes electronically. If your contact details have changed, please let me know, so that our address list remains up-to-date. If you wish to change the way you receive your section information, please drop me a line - either by email, or by post: John Cruse, 26 Logan Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9AR

Above programme updated 17th October 2025

 

 

September joint meeting of the Prehistory Research Section and The Prehistoric Society in collaboration with Leeds City Museum.

  • Posted On: 13 July 2024
September joint meeting of the Prehistory Research Section and The Prehistoric Society in collaboration with Leeds City Museum.

Saturday 7th September 2024, 2 pm – 3.15 pm 

Thoresby Room, Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 8BH 

Annual joint meeting of the Prehistory Research Section and Historical Society and The Prehistoric Society in collaboration with Leeds City Museum.

In-person talk open to all:

Jake Rowland: ‘Beyond Symbols of Power: Life in Middle Neolithic grave goods in Eastern Yorkshire’ 

Jake Rowland is a PhD student at the University of Southampton working on reconstructing the life histories of Middle Neolithic grave goods. His research integrates technological, contextual and use-wear analysis to explore prehistoric technology, materiality, depositional practices and the relationships between people and objects.

The round barrows, flat graves and mortuary features of Eastern Yorkshire have yielded some of the largest and most elaborate Neolithic grave assemblages ever found in Britain. From the extraordinary array of axeheads, knives and arrowheads from Duggleby Howe, Whitegrounds and Ayton East Field, to more unusual objects; worked boar tusks, antler ‘maceheads’ and jet beads and ‘belt sliders’. But what were these objects used for? How did they function in Neolithic society? And what do their lives tells us about the people they were interred with and the communities that deposited them?  This talk presents new evidence that challenges many of the previously held assumptions about these objects and places them within their broader context in Middle Neolithic Britain.

Booking required - book your free place:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/leeds/leeds-city-museum/archaeology-talk-beyond-symbols-of-power-life-in-middle-neolithic-grave-goods-in-eastern-yorkshire/2024-09-07/14:00/t-avmkrgr

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

See attached flyer.

 

Categories: Pre History
Tags: Yorkshire archaeology prehistory prehistoric neolithic grave goods
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