Thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and The Radcliffe Trust the MOLA Academy of Archaeological Specialist Training (MAAST) is hosting its first specialist-led archaeology training programme from 27 September 2018. Understanding Archaeological Artefacts is a free 22-week programme run by internationally renowned archaeological experts from MOLA.

Participants work with real archaeological material, learning how to identify and record different types of artefacts once excavated, including pottery, glass, clay pipes, animal bones, and small finds, such as metal objects. The specialist-led classroom sessions and practical hands-on group workshops lead to an online and print publication of the archaeological material and is accredited by CIfA (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists).

There are untold treasures held in archaeological archives around the country that for various reasons have not yet been studied in depth. The programme invites those outside the professional archaeological community to contribute in piecing together stories of the past.

The trainees will study artefacts excavated from a site in America Square, London. The material dating from the Roman to Victorian periods includes a significant collection of 18th- and 19th-century ceramics and other finds.

Jacqui Pearce, Senior Finds Specialist here at MOLA, said: “I have spent 40 years piecing together the jigsaw of fragmentary archaeological remains to build a coherent picture of life in the past. It’s a rewarding process and a constant voyage of discovery. The MAAST programme is about sharing expertise and co-creating knowledge with people outside of professional archaeology to tease out the stories behind these artefacts.”

We are looking for 15 enthusiastic participants for this pilot programme and are eager to receive applications from people aged 18-30 and 60+.

Understanding Archaeological Artefacts
Thursdays from 4.30 to 6.30pm
Term 1:  27 September - 6 December 2018
Term 2: 10 January - 21 March 2019
Venue: Mortimer Wheeler House, 46 Eagle Wharf Road, London N1 7ED
FREE

To apply please fill in an application available at www.mola.org.uk/maast

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