Wiltshire Archaeological Conference

The Wiltshire Archaeological Conference in Devizes is a one-day conference exploring recent archaeological work in Wiltshire.

 Set in the heart of Devizes in the Corn Exchange, the Wiltshire Archaeological Conference was well attended with just under 200 attendees from various commercial and academic backgrounds. The conference was well-publicised and -organised by the Wiltshire Museum and the Archaeology Field Group of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society ensuring a large, engaged audience. With ten presentations throughout the day ranging in subject and timeframe, there was one uniting factor for everyone there: Wiltshire.

 Roy Canham from the Bradford-upon-Avon Museum presented his research project combining field survey, historical maps and LiDAR data to investigate the historical landscape of Bradford-upon-Avon. Canham walked the audience through obtaining and manipulating LiDAR data and the information which might be gleaned through such data was thrilling to see. He produced a short video about his results which overlaid archival maps, geophysical survey data and the newly-obtained LiDAR data to showcase its applications within mapping, referencing a seminal publication about LiDAR (English Heritage 2010).

 A talk by Neil Wilkin of the British Museum about metal hoards from Bronze Age Wessex was another highlight of the conference. Wilkin spoke about the controversial reliance on metal detectorists as an essential source of information. The Treasure Act of 1996 and the 2002 Designation Order has enhanced the quality of data that is being utilised in archaeological studies, because the process became formalised and enshrined. However, proper data collection is still heavily dependent on the training and technology available to detectorists. Nonetheless, there has been a dramatic increase in treasure reported through the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Wilkin’s presentation highlighted some of the most exciting new finds, especially the Wardour Hoard, and asked why these hoards were deposited and what patterns might be identified. He posits that many of these hoards are single deposits within a short timeframe although some of the artefacts may have been more than 1,000 years old when buried (BBC News Wiltshire 2014).

 Overall the conference was a fascinating glimpse into the exciting new archaeological work being undertaken in Wiltshire, and it was a pleasure to a part of it.