https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips Welcome to the noticeboard for trips in the Department of Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology at the University of Birmingham. Here you’ll find lots of short reports, written by students, and photos from the trips offered to our students as part of their modules. This page is updated regularly so keep checking back! en-us 2018-05-17 13:37:09 UTC 2025-11-14 22:49:42 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padletuploads.blob.core.windows.net/prod/48537468/162ba124f5dd964109517fae199c0152/Mary_Rose_Museum.jpg shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261580707 A very useful field trip that allowed me to gain a new perspective on the material and monuments we read so much about. It was also very impressive and inspiring to see these things in real life. In reading barrows, landscapes and artefacts can seem quite abstract so seeing things in real life is a valuable experience and helps to get to grips with them.
- Roland Tillyer ]]> 2018-05-17 13:39:02 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261580707 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261580769 This trip was extremely valuable for the study of this module. It helped us to get a feel of, and observe in person, how the landscape had been utilised overtime for differing ritual purposes. Visiting the landscape at Stonehenge revealed its immense scale, relating to the architecture and how sites are linked both physically and ritually. This is something that cannot be perceived through simply reading texts. The Museum trip allowed us to regard the skills and fine workmanship used in the production of the objects placed with in the burials. 
-Elise Johnson ]]> 2018-05-17 13:39:11 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261580769 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261580846 The trip to visit the Stonehenge landscape and the collection at Devizes Museum was extremely useful for granting an understanding of how the Bronze Age features were situated in the landscape. Being able to visit the Barrow groups and understand their spatial relationships to each other and the scale of the monuments themselves was extremely interesting. Walking the journey of the Stonehenge avenue was a highlight for me as I got to experience the designed effect that Stonehenge was supposed to have on its Bronze Age visitors.
-Matthew Clark]]> 2018-05-17 13:39:19 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261580846 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261580924 2018-05-17 13:39:29 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261580924 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261593195 There were a few sculptures and marbles I had read into before the visit and found extremely interesting. Seeing these at the museum was definitely better then googling an image! 

The Parthenon Frieze:
After studying this in our seminars and reading into the different interpretations of what the images could represent, it was incredible to be able to see (most of) the structure with my own eyes. The details in the horses in the Marathenomachai and also the figure of the girl (or boy?) holding the presumed peplos really caught my attention.

The Strangford Shield:
It is said to be similar to the shield the statue of  Athena Parthenos once held, and depicts very clearly the battle of the Greeks vs the Amazons.]]> 2018-05-17 14:05:41 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261593195 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261593987 This trip was a fascinating experience and helped me achieve a greater understanding of the Parthenon frieze and what it represents in the context of both Greek and other cultures. Furthermore, the visit to the John Soane museum helped me understand just how many items 'Grand Tourists' collected.
Nathan Campbell.

]]> 2018-05-17 14:07:40 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261593987 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261594060 The trip was a great opportunity to put into context the debate over where the Parthenon Marbles should be stored and over whether or not the BM displays them to their best advantage.
The John Soane Museum  was fascinating; a window into the world of the 'Grand Tourist Collector'. It was eye-opening to see ancient relics displayed with so much attention paid to artistic detail, and so little attention to historical context.

(The John Soane Museum - a real-world Pinterest board. Photo Credit - Shannon Mattern)]]> 2018-05-17 14:07:50 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261594060 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261594350 I felt that the presence of my tutor and his colleagues greatly enhanced the experience. I feel that field trips and hands-on experiences such as those that trips offer are vital to any archaeology module and that the perspective that they granted us cannot be overstated. The unique setting felt as though it really allowed the unique insight we were granted by the professors to sink in. The small group also helped to foster a communal atmosphere here among the students.

BA Archaeology and Anthropology student]]> 2018-05-17 14:08:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261594350 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261594622 Helped me to understand the function and historical contacts of Neolithic earthworks, in general a very informative and interesting trip.

BA Ancient History and Archaeology student]]> 2018-05-17 14:09:20 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261594622 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261594680 It was insightful and very interesting, I look forward to the rest of the module.

BA Archaeology and Anthropology student]]> 2018-05-17 14:09:29 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261594680 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261595706
The trip to the Avebury landscape was very informative and served to heighten my understanding of death and burial in the archaeological record. What I liked in particular about the trip was that we visited sites from different time periods. It was useful to see how death has been represented in the landscape throughout time. 

Visiting the sites in person was useful for providing context. I believe it's important to visit sites as you can see how they fit into their landscape. Sites like Wansdyke, for example, would have dominated the landscape and this is very important for interpretation purposes (the image is a view from the top of the hill where the site is located). Overall, I feel that the trip helped me understand the module content much better. Also, the jacket potatoes at the Historic England café were excellent. 

Jess Ling (MA Archaeology)]]> 2018-05-17 14:12:15 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261595706 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261595807 This trip was well worth bearing the weather for. The sites and their histories provided an interesting backdrop for a range of different burial types that we have covered in the module, such as communal burials e.g. West Kennet long barrow.
Seeing the sites in their setting also helped to develop my understanding, thinking about their visibility etc. and how that may have affected its meaning, for instance, the Wansdyke execution site on the border of Wessex and Mercia and highly visible due to its high location.
The visit to Avebury (pictured) was also very informative, in particular the information about the body of the Barber-Surgeon.
In all, the trip was very interesting and informative, incorporating a wide range of topics relevant to the module that are present in this rich landscape.

Theo Reeves
(MA - Funerary Archaeology)]]> 2018-05-17 14:12:31 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261595807 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261595868 Despite the wind, rain and cold that threatened to put a downer on the day, this trip to Avebury was incredibly informative.
Viewing landscapes and sites in contexts is a key part of heightening both knowledge of an area as well as appreciation of what is covered in lectures. Being able to see the landscape that forms key parts of the module content is very helpful, and helps to consolidate knowledge.
Talks given throughout the day were well researched and interesting, and gave depth to some of Avebury's most famous features. The information given was always well complemented by the accompanying handout which will prove useful when revising content.
The trip to Avebury was therefore a greatly interesting as well as helpful day, putting into context the theory that we have covered thus far and will continue to do so in upcoming lectures.
Below is a picture of the Barber Surgeon stone, whose story was the focus of my group's research and presentation.

Faith Rea

• BA Archaeology and Ancient History (3rd year)

]]> 2018-05-17 14:12:40 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261595868 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261598323 I really enjoyed this trip, especially the Pitt rivers museum. I like the combination of modern and tradition museums along with being able to touch some of the items. It really brings the past alive. This trip was greatly appreciated, thank you.
Yuritzi castel]]> 2018-05-17 14:18:54 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261598323 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261598380 We were given an assignment to find a few artefacts that show characteristics of different types of social structures. This trip around these museum was so helpful for me because it makes such a difference seeing these items rather than just reading about them. It was also an exciting experience to go to a museum and recognise the things I have learned about in the exhibitions and displays. It was fun to be able to pick out aspects of different places and people through the physical things they left behind. Now I feel like I have a much better idea of where to start with our upcoming presentation.

Kat Smith]]> 2018-05-17 14:19:03 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261598380 shacuob https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261600106 2018-05-17 14:23:06 UTC https://padlet.com/shacuob/cahatrips/wish/261600106