Events calendar

To sign up to any of our events please Contact us with your name and the event you will be attending.
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The calendar above shows scheduled events from the Worthing Archaeological Society and associated local organisations.  Click event on calendar for further information.  To filter the type of the events shown, use the drop-down arrow on the top-right of the calendar.
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The WAS Lecture Programme for 2017-18 can be downloaded as a printable pdf here:

Next 'WAS' events

For lectures, members have free entry and visitors are asked to make a donation of £4 to the society.
For excavations, a day membership can be purchased for £5.
13
Feb
Lecture: Bridge Farm 2011 to 2017 - Rob Wallace and David Millum
Worthing Library Lecture Theatre 7:30-9pm
Rob Wallace and David Millum, the directors of the Culver Archaeological Project, will give a summary of their excavations of the Romano–British settlement at Bridge Farm, near Barcombe Mills, discovered in 2011 during a geophysical survey for Margary’s London-Lewes road. They will include a brief background to CAP as well and some initial thoughts about how this 1st to 4th century settlement fits into the wider context of south-east Britain in the Roman period and why it qualified for earthwork defences during the late 2nd century. The talk will cover the first 7 years of what looks destined to be a very long and regionally important investigation.
John Pull Lecture - Glass of wine or cup of coffee afterwards
17-25
Feb
Fieldwalk: Fittleworth
WAS members have the opportunity to take part in a joint fieldwalk near Fittleworth, West Sussex with Chichester & District AS.  The field has so far produced a number of good quality Mesolithic and Neolithic flintwork.This is scheduled to start on Saturday, 17thFebruary and continue through to Sunday, 25th February, which is likely to be a much greater window than needed. With a good number of walkers and reasonable weather it should be completed in a few days but it does mean that days can be cancelled if the weather is dire.

For those who have not been on a fieldwalk before,training can be given on site. There will also be the opportunity to help with finds.

It would be of assistance to the organisers to get some idea of numbers as soon as possible. If you are interested in walking or helping with finds, please contact Gill Turner and give your preferred dates.

Car sharing and lifts can be arranged.
Please remember that for insurance purposes your membership must be up to date.  For renewals, please contact Membership Secretary Liz Lane.
3
Mar
Study day: Ice Age in Europe - Matt Pope
Dr Matt Pope FSA MCIfA, Principal Research Associate and Senior Teaching Fellow in Palaeolithic Archaeology at U.C.L.
The record of human occupation in Europe now extends well beyond a million years and involves multiple species of humans in apparently successive waves of colonisation, from the Near East, Africa and Asia.
Europe has always presented challenges to early humans, forested in warm periods and intensely cold and seasonal in the cold ‘glacial stages’ it required adaptation by species initially more suited to open and lightly forested tropical grasslands.
In this day course we’ll cover the archaeological record of successive human species: Homo antecessor, Home heidelbergensis, Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens. We’ll explore the evidence for changes in behaviour including hunting, use of fire, processing organic materials and consider how the British record differs from that of other continental regions.  The course will familiarise you with basic concept about climate and environmental change, stone age technology and latest theories surrounding human evolution.
To be held in the Education Room at Worthing Museum.
Places still available - contact form below
13
Mar
AGM followed by Lecture: Source to Sea - the River Adur - Dr Geoff Mead
Worthing Library Lecture Theatre, AGM 7pm Lecture 7:30-9pm
‘Adur: Source to Sea’ takes a visual journey from the sources of the river in central Sussex, through the broad plains of the Wealden clays and sands before heading south through the Downs and on to the Coastal Plain of West Sussex, ending its journey at the current river mouth. This talk looks at the geology, geography and history of this small but fascinating watercourse.
10
Apr
Lecture: The Science of a Middle Bronze Age Hord - Dr Jaime Kaminski
Worthing Library Lecture Theatre, 7:30-9pm
In March 2011 a spectacular Middle Bronze Age hoard was discovered by a metal detectorist on land belonging to the Glynde Estate ‘Near Lewes’, East Sussex. Comprising nearly eighty artefacts and artefact fragments the hoard has recently been subject to scientific analysis. This presentation will consider what the analyses tell us about the production of the artefacts in the hoard and the implications for Bronze Age craft production
14
Apr
Study Day: West Sussex landscapes and geology for the Archaeologist - Matt Pope
Dr Matt Pope is Principal Research Associate and Senior Teaching Fellow in Palaeolithic Archaeology at U.C.L.
This is a Minibus Day Tour with limited space.
There are one or two places still available - contact form below
29
Sept
An Introduction to timber-framed buildings of the Weald, their development and dating for beginners - Jeremy Clarke of The Wealden Buildings Study Group
Jeremy is President of the Wealden Buildings Study Group and has carried out numerous surveys on vernacular timber-framed buildings in south-east England.
This day school will cover terminology, how to approach dating a building, useful resources and a group practical session using site photographs and plans to try out the knowledge gained.
To be held in The Education Centre at Worthing Museum.
Places still available - contact form below

    Contact us if you are interested in attending a study day

Past 'WAS' events

9
Jan





12
Dec




25
NOV




14
NOV






15
OCT
Lecture: The First Brexit How Britain became an island and its effect on Neanderthals, Mesolithic and Neolithic Man - Robert Turner
Over the past 460,000 years Britain has been separated from Europe several times with the final split in 6,200 BC when the disaster of Dogger Land had a great effect into the Mesolithic peoples of that time. Recent discoveries by Imperial College London, operating from Littlehampton, have now been able to draw a picture of "what leaving Europe" meant in times past.
Lecture: The life of a common soldier in the English Civil War - Nigel Rumble
The clothes, weapons and accoutrements used by a soldier in England in the 1640's in his daily life. I will also briefly cover the make up of the armies and talk a very small amount about battle tactics. The talk will be illustrated with (mostly) reproduction clothing and equipment and explanations of their use; there will be an opportunity at the end to examine these items more closely.
Half day school: Place-names and Archaeology in Sussex - Judie English
The Education Room at Worthing Museum.
Judie will discuss Place-names in the Landscape and how they were derived.
Coffee and tea will be provided during a short mid morning break.
The cost of the half day session will be £15 for members and £18 for non members.
If you are interested in attending, please complete the booking form below.
Lecture: Evidence for Saxons in post-Roman Sussex - James Sainsbury
Worthing Library Lecture TheatreArchaeology is the key driver in uncovering evidence for Germanic settlement in Sussex during the decline of the Western Roman Empire. The historical documents are few and unreliable, though arguably should not be dismissed outright. This talk will look at some key 5th and 6th century Saxon burial and settlement sites in the county, along with documents, chance finds and new genetic research in an attempt to piece together the birth of the kingdom of Sussex.
James will be bringing some finds from the Highdown Cemetery for handling after his talk.
Visitors are welcome, entry £4, free to WAS members.
Walk: around historic Littlehampton with Cheryl Hutchins
A 1.5 hour easy walk around historic Littlehampton. 
10
OCT




30
SEP
Lecture: Iron Age Memory vs. Roman Metaphor; re-reading the archaeology of a Client Kingdom - Gordon Hayden
What was the immediate impact of the Roman Conquest in Hampshire and West Sussex? The lecture will highlight some continuation of Iron Age traditions and how they interplayed with incoming ideas and practices. It will also propose an alternative hypothesis as to why Fishbourne Palace was built.
Study day: led by David McOmish: " Making Sense of Monuments: Landscape Archaeology of Sussex: The Bronze Age"  
David McOmish,  a Senior Archaeological Investigator with English Heritage and a leading British Prehistorian, has, among numerous other achievements,  made several large scale landscape studies of the South Downs. Some of you may remember last year he gave us a wonderful study day which took us up to the end of the Neolithic. This day is likely to prove just as popular.
5-17
AUG
Summer Dig: Rough Copse
Our Summer dig will be from Saturday August 5th to Thursday August 17th inclusive. This time we are going to look at an area in Rough Copse, West of Goblestubbs which showed up on the Lidar.
Setting up/Surveying will take place on August 3rd & 4th, and Recording/Planning/closing the site on August 16th and 17th.
17
JUN


14
MAY

11
APR
Day School: Flint Knapping with Bob Turner
This will be held in the beautiful venue of Downs Barn, Sompting. Bob will tell us about the uses of flint tools in prehistory and demonstrate how to make them, followed by practical sessions where we can try to make our own.
WAS Walk: To commemorate Con Ainsworth on what would have been his hundredth birthday
The George, Burpham.

Lecture: Two Ancient Cities: Archaeology at Butrint and Gjirokastra in Albania - Oliver Gilkes
Worthing Library Lecture Theatre.
18-26
MAR
Excavation by WAS
Slindon Field 20
14
MAR

11
MAR

14
FEB

2 JAN

13 DEC

26
NOV
22
NOV
WAS AGM 19:00 followed by:
Lecture: Why Stonehenge is Where it is - Mike Allen
Worthing Library Lecture Theatre
WAS Study Day: The Archaeology of the Roman Military
Led by Edwin Wood, Sussex Finds Liaison Officer
Education Room, Worthing Museum
Lecture: A Look Back at WAS Field Activities - Keith Bolton
Worthing Library Lecture Theatre

New Years' walk and pub lunch - High Salvington to the Gun Inn, Findon.
Lecture: What does land organisation tell us about social change in late prehistoric Sussex? - Judie English
Worthing Library Lecture Theatre
Lecture: Bronze Age Worthing - Barrows, Beakers and Hoards
Worthing museum
Medieval pottery day with Duncan Brown
Education room, Worthing museum
Membership