In July 2024, the Department of Archaeology welcomed members of Northumbria region’s U3A (University of the Third Age) for a fun filled day of archaeology workshops.
Image above shows members of the Northumbria Region U3A who attended the workshop day at the Department of Archaeology.
The U3A was founded in 1982 to provide opportunities to people who are no longer in work to come together and learn new ideas, skills and activities. Cecilia Coulson, chair of the Northumbria Region U3A, had contacted the Department as many members wanted to learn more about archaeology. This came after visiting Professor Sarah Semple’s excavations at Yeavering, in Northumberland. Yeavering is the site of an 7th to 8th century Anglo-Saxon timber hall.
The U3A's archaeology day started with updates on the latest findings at Lindisfarne, from recent excavations and research by Dr David Petts and his team. Dr Anwen Caffell and Dr Claire Hodson followed this with a break-out workshop in the human bioarchaeology laboratory. Their workshop explored the knowledge obtained from studying the human remains discovered during the excavations on Lindisfarne.
In a parallel session, Dr Emily Williams provided insights into archaeological conservation. The attendees learned about the importance of investigative conservation work, and how it can help archaeologists to understand and interpret both material remains and sites.
The workshops came full circle by concluding with an update on the Yeavering site. The U3A heard about the latest findings and interpretations by Professor Sarah Semple, Dr Tudor Skinner and their team.
A fun day was had by all!
Thank you to Cecilia Coulson, Northumbria Region U3A chair who helped to organise the visit. Thanks also to all of the members of the Department who helped to prepare and provide lectures, workshops and organisational support for the event.
Our Department of Archaeology is a leading centre for the study of archaeology and is ranked =5th in the world (QS World University Rankings by subject 2024). We are an inclusive, vibrant and international community. Our students develop knowledge and gain essential and transferable skills through research-led teaching and lab-based training.
