The Archaeology Research Group (ARG) is proud to host its annual Fieldwork Forum on Saturday 15th March 2025. The event, once again being held at the historic Aylesford Priory, will focus on challenges facing the archaeology of Kent. It will be a chance for attendees to discuss the challenges facing the county’s archaeology and potentially ways in which these can be met.
Each topic will begin with 10 minutes of introduction, followed by 20 minutes discussion with the main points being written down for delivery to the KAS board of trustees.
The topics for the day have been agreed but the speakers are subject to change.
Programme
10am – Arrival and registration
10.20am – 10.30am – Introduction (KP)
10.30am – 11.00am – Is There Still A Place for the Volunteer?: Strengths and Weaknesses of the Amateur Archaeologist, Keith Parfitt & Andrew Mayfield, KCC Community Archaeologist
11.00am – 11.30am - Funding a Local Group: Problems in Commissioning and Paying for Specialist Services, Andy Ward, KAS Curator & Anne Sassin, Darent Valley Landscape Partnership.
11.30 – 11.45am - Tea Break
11.45 – 12.15 – ‘Can We Help?’ Volunteering with Commercial Units, Keith Parfitt & Andy Ward
12.15 – 12.45 – ‘We Can’t Take Anymore’: Depositing Finds and Field Archives in Kent Museums, Andy Ward, KAS Curator
12.45 – 13.45 – Lunch (Please make your own arrangements)
13.45 – 14.15 – ‘Clearing the Backlog: Salvaging, Archiving and Publishing Unreported Sites and Finds from the 1950s to the 1980s., Gerald Cramp
14.15 – 14.45 – Should KAS be Setting up a Museum of Kent Archaeology and History?, Andy Ward, KAS Curator
14.45 – 15.00 – Tea Break
15.00 – 15.30 – Increasing Connectivity across the historic County of Kent. Ann Isenberg, Darent Valley Landscape Partnership
15.30 – 16.00 – Concluding Remarks and Forum Closes
A stall selling KAS publications will be available on the day should attendees wish to purchase from the society. Please note while cash can be taken, card payments are preferred.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the Forum are free to existing members of the Kent Archaeological Society. For the first time this year the ARG are pleased to offer a £20 ticket for non-members of the society which includes entrance to the forum and six months membership to the Kent Archaeological Society.
Membership Benefits
Become a member of the Society to receive exclusive content, advice and discounts on Society publications and events. Membership includes subscriptions for individuals, free student membership, joint/families, affiliate groups and institutions.