How to Find Out More about Archaeology

KENT CONTACTS, CLUBS, MUSEUMS

• Canterbury Archaeological Trust: 92a Broad St, Canterbury CT1 2LU (+44 (0)1227 462062). Education Officer e.mail: mariongreen@canterburytrust.co.uk
  Other enquiries: admin@canterburytrust.co.uk
  CAT exists to survey, assess and, if necessary, to excavate sites threatened by redevelopment. It also has a committment to publish its results which it does in various forms. One important aspect of CAT's work is to manage the Archaeology in Education Service (AES).
  Please note: CAT has charitable status and there is a charge for certain activities.
• Friends of Canterbury Archaeological Trust. Keep up to date with the Trust's activities. You will receive CAT's Annual Report and quarterly Newsletter about current excavations, excursions, lectures, voluntary work etc. For young adults and adults. Membership is by subscription. Half-price subscription for full-time students and UB40 holders. Contact the Hon. Membership Secretary, Friends of Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 92a Broad Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2LU
• Museum of Canterbury.. Any teacher in the Canterbury district (includes Herne Bay and Whitstable) may borrow a loan box free of charge, provided they make a booking and take responsibility for collection and return of items. Ring for details (+44 (0)1227 452747).
• Canterbury Roman Museum. Built around the remains of fine mosaic floors and hypocaust of a Roman town house first excavated after World War II. Displays about Roman town life include two rare cavalrymen's swords and a Christian silver hoard. Hands-on activities. Special events.Butchery Lane, Canterbury. (+44 (0) 1227 785575).
• London Borough of Bromley Museum. The curator gives talks to schools and conducts visits to local sites eg. The Priory, Crofton Roman Villa and Poverest Road Roman Bath House. Loan box service (Roman, Victorian, World War I and World War II, Light Sources - as in sources of illumination) for schools in the London Borough of Bromley. Half-term loan, one box per school. No charge. Contact the curator at Bromley Museum, The Priory, Church Hill, Orpington B26 0HH (+44 (0)1689 873826).
• Dartford Borough Museum Schools Loan Box Service. Serves Kent, London, Essex. Includes Paleolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age (Celtic) and Roman material. Half-term loans. Schools to collect and return. No charge. School visits to museum by arrangement. Contact Dartford Borough Museum, Market Street, Dartford DA1 1EU (+44 (0)1322 224739).
• Maidstone Museum. A collection of Kentish archaeology of national importance, including excavation archives from internationally renowned antiquarians, chance individual finds and reference collections. Reference collections are categorised into Palaeontology, Prehistoric (Paleolithic to Iron Age), Roman Britain, Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, Post - medieval/Modern and Paper Archives. Sessions for booked school groups visiting museum. Finds (original and replica) sessions include Roman Arms and Armour, Romans in Britain, Ancient Egyptians, Anglo-Saxons, Victorians, Young Detectives (general object handling). Education Officer can take finds into local schools. Fee payable. Contact the Education Officer, Maidstone Museum, St Faith's St., Maidstone ME14 1LH (+44 (0)1622 602853).
• Sites and Monuments Record (SMR). The Record consists of OS maps marked with every recorded archaeological site and every recorded find-spot (ie. where finds only have been found, no actual site) in the county together with accompanying descriptive detail, photographs and publication references. The SMR is referenced by parish. Teachers may consult the Record by arrangement. Contact the SMR Team, Kent County Council Planning Dept, Springfield, Maidstone ME14 2LX (+44 (0)1622 221541).
• Canterbury Cathedral Education Centre. A variety of resources relating to the needs of both primary and secondary schools (eg. guided tours, photocopiable materials, project room with hands-on activities). Contact the Education Officer, The Education Centre, Canterbury Cathedral, The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2EH (+44 (0)1227 762862).
• Trust for Thanet Archaeology. The unit has excavated extensively in the Thanet area. Occasional talks to schools. Contact the Trust at The Antoinette Centre, Quex Park, Birchington Kent CT7 OBH (+44 (0)1843 843088) or email thanet.arch@btclick.com.
• Kent Archaeological Society. For young adults and adults interested in extending personal knowledge of the archaeology and history of the county. KAS publishes Archaeologia Cantiana annual journal, plans excursions, training excavations, day schools and lectures. For membership details contact the Hon. General Secretary, Three Elms, Woodlands Lane, Shorne, Gravesend, Kent DA12 3HH.
• Dover Archaeology Group. 'Questions and Answers' sessions in local schools with a group member. Includes hands-on items. No charge. Contact Keith Parfitt, Group Director, c/o Canterbury Archaeological Trust (see above).
• Dover Museum. Finds displays, models etc. about the development of the Dover area from prehistoric times. The Dover Bronze Age Boat gallery is excellent for schools. Resources include packs, loan boxes. Special events throughout the year. Work Experience placements for schools and Higher Education establishments. Contact the Education Officer, Dover Museum, Market Square, Dover CT16 1PB (+44 (0)1304 201066).
• Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit (KARU). Responsible for excavation and management of the Roman Painted House and Crofton Roman Villa (see 'Going out ... Roman Visits in Kent' above). Excavations in Dover and West Kent/Bromley area. Range of publications. Work Experience for post-GCSE students. Participates in National Archaeology Day (+44 (0)1304 203279 or +44 (0)181 4624737).
• Sheppey Local History Society. School visits to Minster Abbey Gatehouse Museum (+44 (0)1795-872303 by arrangement. Several publications by the society. (+44 (0)1795 661119).
• The Faversham Society owns and manages the Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre in Faversham, manages the Maison Dieu Museum at Ospringe for English Heritage and manages Chart Gunpowder Mills. Cares for Stone Church near Faversham. Teacher's pack for Fleur de Lis where audio-visual displays and artefacts illustrate the history of the area. Artefact loan service. Wide range of publications at the Fleur de Lis Centre. Work Experience students welcome. Contact the Education Officer at the Fleur de Lys Heritage, 13 Preston Street, Faversham, Kent ME13 8NS Centre, (+44 (0)1795 534542).
• Orpington and District Archaeological Society. School visits to Scadbury Moated Manor where the society carries out on-going excavations. Site open to public on selected days.Contact Mrs Brenda Rogers (+44 (0)1689 827213).
• City of Rochester Society. Provides guides for tours of Rochester and speakers for local schools. Local museum: Guildhall Museeum, High Street, Rochester. Hon. Sec. 32, Powlett Road, Frindsbury, Rochester, Kent, ME2 4RD (+44 (0) 1634 848717).
• Otford and District Archaeological Group. A member visits primary schools at their request, giving talks on excavations and archaeological/historical topics. Contact Cliff Ward, Thyme Bank, Coombe Road, Otford, Kent TN14 5RT (+44 (0) 1959 522384).
• Young Archaeologists Club, Canterbury branch based in Canterbury. Contact Abby Guinness, group leader on 07779163137 or email abby.guinness@surreycc.gov.uk or abbyguinness@hotmail.com
• Young Archaeologists Club, North Downs branch based in Maidstone Museum. Contact Lyn Palmer, group leader (+44 (0) 1892 533661) or email evelyn.palmer@virgin.net
• Shorne Wood Country Park (between Rochester and Gravesend). Many archaeological features lie within the 300 acres, from prehistoric, medieval and World War ll times. The aim is to involve as many local people as possible in investigating them, including school groups. Contact Lyn Palmer, Community Archaeological Officer, 55 Stone Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2QU, evelyn.palmer@virgin.net
• The Centre for Kentish Studies is the Headquarters for the Kent Archives service. It holds manuscript and printed records for the County of Kent gathered from many sources such as the County Council itself, other local authorities, churches, schools, hospitals, courts and also clubs and societies, local businesses, families and individuals. Printed ephemera and books collection, video, oral reminiscences and film made in and about Kent. Specialist educational material to teachers for lessons and project work as well students of History through the Education Resources service. The CKS, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone ME14 1XQ. (+44 (0) 1622 694363).

NATIONAL CONTACTS

• English Heritage Education Service. Deals with the historic monuments in its care, plus others of interest. Strong Archaeology element included in its programme of resources. Free educational visits to EH sites with a range of publications advising on visit planning, INSET, videos etc. Circulates Heritage Learning termly, free to all schools (articles, activities, reviews, resources etc.). Interested individuals may also be added to the mailing list. South East Region covering: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Sussex. English Heritage Eastgate Court 195-205 High Street Guildford, GU1 3EH (+44 (0) 1483 252000) email: southeast@english-heritage.org.uk
• Council for British Archaeology (CBA). Produces Teaching Archaeology: A United Kingdom Directory of Resources and CBA Guide to Archaeology in Higher Education . Also fact sheets about how to get involved in Archaeology, the subject at Higher Education level and employment prospects. Contact the Education Officer, CBA, Bowes Morrell House, 111 Walmgate, York YO1 2UA (+44 (0)1904 671417).
• Young Archaeologists Club. The YAC is the junior branch of the CBA and is aimed at 8 to 16 year olds. Publishes a quarterly magazine with features, competitions, reviews, practical activity suggestions. Organises field trips, talks, workshops. Organises National Archaeology Day, venues thoughout Britain. Membership open to children and interested adults. Two Kent branches (see above). For national office contact YAC, St Mary's House, 66 Bootham, York YO30 7BZ (+44 (0) 1904 671417 email: yac@britarch.ac.uk

BOOKS

• English Heritage produces a wide range of resources specifically for teaching the National Curriculum. Free Resources catalogue available. See 'National Contacts'.
• Current Archaeology. Well established inexpensive periodical appealing to both academics and general reader. Published 6 times a year. By subscription only. Articles about recent digs in Britain, developments in Archaeology, reviews etc. Write to Andrew and Wendy Selkirk, Current Archaeology, 9 Nassington Road, London, NW3 2TX.
• Shire Archaeology series. A wide range of excellent small books covering a variety of themes. Each includes suggested reading for the general reader and more academic.
• Time Team books. Revealing the Buried Past, Archaeology is Rubbish, Reconstructing the Past. Excellent reconstruction drawings by Victor Ambrus. www.channel4.com/history/timeteam for booklist.
• History at Home, Rob David, English Heritage (ISBN 1-85074-591-9)
• Learning from Objects, Gail Durbin, English Heritage (ISBN 1-85074-259-6) Orders to: English Heritage Postal Sales, c/o Knights of Old, Kettering Parkway, Kettering, Northants NN15 6XU. Tel: 01536-533500. Fax: 01536-533501.
• The Treasures of Childhood, I and R Opie, Pavilion London
• Collectors Guide to 20th Century Toys, J Opie, Bracken Books (ISBN 1-85891-244)
• Toys Through Time, C Oxlade, Macdonald Young Books (ISBN 0-7500-1334-6)
• Young Oxford Book of Archaeology, N Moloney, OUP, 1995. Hardback, large format, full colour. An excellent book covering the processes of Archaeology on land and under water, some of the most significant events in the history and prehistory of the ancient world and which takes us through the Industrial Age up to the present, looking at evidence for living in the 20th century. An additional section deals with Ethnoarchaeology looking at what we can learn about the past by observing present day societies who use 'ancient' technologies. The author is both an archaeologist and a teacher. Highly recommended. KS2 and above.
• An Introduction to Archaeology, L and R Adkins, Quintet Publishing Ltd., 1992. Hardback, large format, full colour. In 1997 this book is sadly out of print but you may find it remaindered. Similar to the Oxford book with its emphasis on excavation processes and finds analysis. Includes a background to the early days of Archaeology, how sites are formed and later discovered, all siting actual examples. KS 2 and above.
• Archaeology, ed. J Justice, New Horizon Library, Sampson Low, 1976. Hardback. One of the very few books for children (before the introduction of the National Curriculum) on the subject of Archaeology. Slimmer version of the Moloney and Adkins books (above). Good background to the subject, summary of principles and processes and examples of some of the most famous excavations of the ancient world. KS 2 and above.
• Archaeology, C Goff, Macdonald Educational, 1974. Hardback. Similar to the above. Additional sections on the threat of building developments to buried sites and the place of 'Rescue' Archaeology. KS 2 and above.
• Young Scientist Book of Archaeology, B Cork and S Reid, Usborne, 1984. Paperback, full colour. Very good inexpensive introduction to the scientific aspects of Archaeology. Methods of archaeological investigation and interpretation with plenty of diagrams, reconstructions etc. KS 2 and above.
• Search for the Past, R Place, Ginn, 1987. Set of 6 booklets with additional Teachers Notes. Full colour. Themes include 'Digging up the Past', 'Great Finds', 'Finding Ancient Things' amongst others. The author consistently highlights the place of Archaeology in historical investigation. Notes provide a wealth of suggestions for associated activities. Top KS 1 / KS 2.
• Roman Archaeology, Miranda Green, Longman, 1988. Aspects of Roman Life Series. Small paperback, black and white. Summaries of archaeological processes, some of the famous sites and suggestions for activities and further involvement. KS 2 and KS 3.

WEBSITES - GO TO OUR LINKS PAGE

Archaeology, Past and Present How can Archaeology help children to learn? Archaeology is exciting National Curriculum History Special Needs A cross-curricular approach What do Archaeologists do? A guide to excavation techniques and finds processing Archaeology in the classroom Introducing some basic concepts Using objects to find out about people Going out ... Roman Visits in Kent

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