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Conferences

York hosts 2015 Richard Hall Symposium on June 20th

The full list of speakers for the 2015 Richard Hall Symposium has been announced, with new research and discussions concerning women in early medieval history included in the programme.

The King's Manor, University of York - photo by Brian Robert Marshall / Wikimedia commons

Following the confirmation of its three key-note speakers, including Dr David Petts from the University of Durham discussing his new research on excavations in Lindisfarne, which was infamously raided by Vikings in the 9th century, the Richard Hall Symposium now also includes speakers from around the Viking influenced world who will examine the theme of “Researching and Representing the Early Medieval”.

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Organised by The JORVIK Group, the events and attractions division of York Archaeological Trust; the event takes place on the 20th June as part of York’s Festival of Ideas and aims to explore new research in the early medieval period, and the challenges faced in presenting this research to the public.

Dr Chris Tuckley, Head of Interpretation at The JORVIK Group comments, “At this year’s Symposium, our speakers are covering a wide range of early medieval subjects, with some looking at the evidence for women’s lives during this period”.

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Guest speakers at the 2015 Symposium include established researchers, and scholars early in their career, from universities and museums around the world. Speakers also include Julie Gibson, Lecturer and County Archaeologist for Orkney at the University of the Highlands and Islands, who presents her topic regarding one of her most exciting research projects: the remains of a woman found on the beach in Scar, Orkney, with evidence of her being interred in a traditional Viking boat burial.

“Throughout his career, Dr Richard Hall, from whom this event takes its name, gave support and encouragement to up-and-coming archaeologists and historians, and the Symposium programme reflects this”, explains Dr Tuckley.

Newly announced on the programme are Heta Aali of the University of Turku, Finland, with a talk on representations of Merovingian queens, and Santa Jansone, an independent academic who aims to look at the possible reconstruction of Scandinavian female dress in Grobin, an important settlement in early medieval Latvia.

The Symposium takes place in the Rahtz Lecture Theatre, King’s Manor, York on Saturday 20th June 2015. Tickets are £25, or £20 for students.

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The full programme now includes eight different speakers throughout the day. A VIP reception at JORVIK following the conference is available to delegates at an additional £10. This is an opportunity to meet with speakers informally and explore ways in which York Archaeological Trust have successfully presented the early medieval period to the general public

To see the full programme, book tickets or for any other information, visit www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk or call 01904 615505.

 

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