McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research annual report 2018-19

Events and Outreach
Discussion Groups
The African Archaeology Group (AAG) was set up in 2008 to
revive the African Seminar previously established by Dr John
Alexander. Its aims are to discuss current research programs and
results of Cambridge archaeologists working in Africa, to hold
seminars by Africanist speakers, to bridge University departments
and research bodies interested in Africa’s past, and to maintain
the tradition of Cambridge’s long-standing involvement in African
archaeology.
Organizer: David Kay
The Americas Archaeology Group is open to anyone interested
in archaeological and anthropological research projects
throughout the Americas. Presentations are given by research
students, postdocs, visiting scholars and lecturers from the UK and
overseas institutions. Meetings are usually held Monday afternoons
in the McDonald Seminar Room. A trip to the pub tends to follow
for lively, informal discussions. All are welcome!
Organizer: Sara Morrissett
The Ancient Near Eastern Seminar Series attracts speakers from
the UK and overseas institutions and offers a focus for the wide
range of Assyriological and Ancient Near Eastern archaeological
projects across the University, builds links with other research
centres and offers a chance for all to see the work that is being
carried out in this large and important field of research.
Organizer: Kyra Kaercher
The Archaeological Field Club (AFC) provides a range of lectures,
site trips and other events to broaden the knowledge of, and
further enthuse, those with an interest in archaeology.
Organizers: Isobel Coats, Ruairidh Mcleod
The Asian Archaeology Group (AsAG) aims to provide a forum
for new research and discussion for those working in the field of
Asian archaeology. We have talks every other week that cover the
Asian continent in all its diversity – from megaliths in Borneo and
minarets in Turkmenistan to phytoliths in India and starch grains in
China!
Organizer: Dylan Gaffney
The Computational and Digital Archaeology Lab (CDAL)
is a hub for doctoral, post- doctoral and faculty levels that are
committed to advancing the application of digital, computational,
and quantitative methods in archaeology. The workshop series
brings together experts of the field from around the world
showcasing their latest research.
Organizers: Enrico Crema, Marta Kryzanska
The Egyptian World Seminar Series, supported by the Mulvey
Fund, continues to present recent research and discussions
regarding Egyptology. It attracts speakers from around Britain
and the EU who cover all aspects of Egyptology as anthropology,
archaeology, philology and museum studies.
Organizer: Kate Spence
East Anglia is a very active region in commercial archaeology.
Field Archaeology: Methods and Mayhem (FAMM) is a
forum where the concerned parties across the spectrum:
Archaeological Units, Development Control, Outreach groups
and the University can discuss the ongoing advancements,
discoveries and the problems within this region and beyond.
Organizer: Donald Horne
The Garrod Research Seminars represent the Department of
Archaeology’s main series of invited scholarly lectures. Each year
they relate to a specific theme.
Organizer: Anna O’Mahony
The Heritage Research Group is made up of graduate
students, academics, heritage practitioners and other interested
parties. In addition to helping organize the annual Cambridge
Heritage Seminar (a successful international conference), the
main focus of the Heritage Research Group is its seminar series.
The seminars aim to bring together researchers from diverse
disciplinary backgrounds, whose projects cover a wide range of
topics within the broad field of heritage.
Organizer: Ben Davenport
The Later European Prehistory Group welcomes everyone
interested in the European Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages.
The group provides an informal and friendly setting for the
exchange of ideas, dissemination of research results and the
discussion of current topics of interest. Professionals, students
and academics are invited to contribute.
Organizer: Thomas Matthias Boehmer
The Medieval Archaeology Group meets to discuss recent
research on historical archaeology from the fifth to fifteenth
centuries ad.
Organizer: Samantha Leggett
The PalMeso Discussion Group for all things Palaeolithic–
Mesolithic has continued to attract guest speakers from all
around Britain, as well as providing a forum for Cambridge
MPhil and PhD students to present the results of their own
research in a relaxed atmosphere.
Organizer: Andreas Nymark, Benjamin Utting, Emily Hallinan
The Pitt-Rivers Archaeological Science Seminars are
generally given by Cambridge researchers and visitors. They are
primarily aimed at researchers working in the archaeomaterials,
geoarchaeology, archaeobotany, genetics and isotope
laboratories in the McDonald Institute, but cover a wide range
of topics.
Organizers: Camila Alday, Emily Tilby
Archaeology at Cambridge 2018–2019 41