Kent Archaeological Society
Founded in 1857 to promote advances in knowledge of Kent’s past by fieldwork, documentary research and publication.
Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh provides an update on the forthcoming Nightingale Lecture, the Society for Landscape Studies conference and the Medway History Showcase at the RE Museum, Gillingham.
KAS Deputy Manager Rebecca Fletcher and Archivist Craig Campbell are taking part in the Run Kent half marathon to raise funds for Society projects.
The Kent Shipbuilding conference organised jointly by KAS (Maritime Kent Research Group) and Chatham Historic Dockyard is coming up on the 7-8 November 2024.
A list of speakers and events hosted by the Shoreham Historical Society.
Through the work of the Benefact Trust's Movement for Good you can nominate the Kent Archaeological Society to receive £1000 towards its work.
The Society's excavations at Lees Court Estate feature in the French Science & Vie magazine.
Dana Goodburn-Brown ACR talks to Icon about her work as an archaeological conservator and involving the local community in her projects.
The KAS is very pleased to announce the start of a long-term student placement which will be illustrating some of our varied archaeological collection.
Don't miss our fantastic upcoming talk A History of Pirates with Kent Archaeological Society.
On Saturday, July 13, LEGISE (Landscape Explorers Group in South East) organised and hosted an exhibition in partnership with the Dover Museum.
Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh reports on recent and upcoming heritage events on the Center for Kent History blog of the Canterbury Christ Church University website.
Today is both #findsfriday and #fossilfriday! Although as archaeologists we don't routinely deal with fossils, we do occasionally come across them.
An interview with KAS Trustee Liz Roberts and General Manager Richard Taylor discussing the findings at the The Lees Court Estate Project features on BBC Radio Kent’s The Wake Up Call with Anna Cookson, available on BBC Sounds (starting at 42:00).
Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh reports on various goings on at the Center for Kent History. Featured on the Canterbury Christ Church University website.
The only full-scale replica of the first ship to circumnavigate the world is visiting Kent.
Read about the new #livesinourlandscape gallery at Maidstone Museums, which has now been opened for a month!
Tales of Forgotten Kent by Malcolm Horton, published by the History Press, is a collection of twenty two essays about the people and events that have largely been neglected by historians, but are part of Kent’s rich tapestry as the “Garden of England” and its location as the gateway to Europe and the New World.
All set up and ready to go at @maidstonemuseum for #festivalofarchaeology 2024!
The society has recently joined TikTok! Give us a follow as we post more video content about our work, our collections and how people can get involved in archaeology and history!
The Lees Court Estate Project features on the BBC News website.
Dr Astrid Stilma reports on the conference in the first week of July for the Centre for Kent History and Heritage blog on the Canterbury Christ Church University website.
“Early human life in Kent revealed at archaeological dig near Faversham unearthing artefacts from Neolithic and Bronze Age”.
An update by Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh on upcoming events and the last of the Kent History Postgraduates group presentations for 2023-24. Featured on the Canterbury Christ Church University website.
Dr Philip MacDougall outlines his research into the influence and connections of Kent’s naval facilities with the Russian Navy through from Peter I's visit to Chatham in 1698 to the later use of Chatham by the Russian Navy during the French Wars of the eighteenth century.
An exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing work at Lees Court Estate, an 800-year-old estate under the Stewardship of KAS Patron, The Countess Sondes.
A follow up from last week, Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh reports on Dr Janet Clayton’s presentation to the Kent History Postgraduates group as the last of these meeting for this academic year.
The society are back at the Kent County Show for the first time since 2008. It's a rather wet start to our day here, but fingers crossed the weather improves over the weekend!
Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh reports on the activities of the Kent History Postgraduates group.
An update by Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh featured on the Canterbury Christ Church University website.
The Society of Landscape Studies Annual Conference 2024 sponsored by the Society of Landscape Studies and the Centre for Kent History & Heritage.
Incredible lightshow inspired by the Anglo-Saxon world premiering at Rochester Cathedral this Autumn.
The annual KAS Historic Buildings Conference for 2024 will be held at Aylesford Priory on Saturday 5th October 2024.
A hybrid conference organised by the Sussex School of Archaeology & History, some of the talks extending beyond Sussex.
This year's annual Kent Place Names Conference will be held in conjunction with Kent Archives Service.
A livestreamed lecture by Mark Samuel PhD FSA MCIfA hosted by the Society of Antiquaries of London. Open to anyone to join online, Fellows and Non-Fellows.
An online talk by Tad Taberer on the discovery of the shipwreck of the SS T.R. Thompson, of diving and recording the historic steamer and of the incredible connections that followed.
The Kent Shipbuilding conference organised jointly by KAS (Maritime Kent Research Group) and Chatham Historic Dockyard.
The Archaeology Research Group of the Kent Archaeology Society is proud to present its annual fieldwork conference focusing on “Recent archaeological work in the Darent Valley.”
An online discussion with Dr Simon Elliott FSA about Septimius Severus, the great warrior emperor from North Africa who died in York in AD 211 after spending the last three years of his life trying to conquer the far north of Britain.
A conference run by The Sussex School of Archaeology & History in association with CBA SE.
An online talk by Andrew Mayfield, Community Archaeologist for Kent County Council and the Royal Parks at Greenwich, on the history of the site, the big dig over ten seasons and the work to further research and report on the former home of a Sheriff of Kent.
The latest in a series of online talks hosted by the KAS with Dr Reb Ellis-Haken, Postdoctoral Research Associate with the University of York Department of Archaeology.
Join us for a welcome drink and an hour or so immersed in a discussion on Piracy in 16th and 17th century Britain through the exploits of Francis Drake and Henry Morgan, led by Kent Archaeological Society.
With Janys Thornton. The next in a series of online talks hosted by the KAS.
A talk by Dr. Martin Watts (talkabouthistory.org), the latest in a series of online talks hosted by the KAS.
Latest Publications
A wide-ranging history of the geography and communities of Kent from the earliest times to the present day. Edited by Stuart Bligh, Elizabeth Edwards and Sheila Sweetinburgh.
Paul Tritton of the Kent Defence Research Group investigates how a Kent market town prepared to confront a Nazi invasion during Britain’s darkest Hour.
Joan Thirsk, Bridgett Jones, Alison Williams, Anne Hughes and Caroline Wetton.
Edited by K. P. Witney. Kent Archaeological Society Records.
Edited by M. Roake. Kent Archaeological Society Records, 27 (1999).
Edited by N. P. Tanner. Kent Archaeological Society Records, 26 (1997).
J.D. Driver, J. Rady and M. Sparks. Vol IV of The Archaeology of Canterbury series, published by Canterbury Archaeological Trust LTD and Kent Archaeological Society, with the aid of generous grants from the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, the Simon Fraser University, British Columbia and the Friends of Canterbury Archaeological Trust, and of a loan from the King’s School, Canterbury, 1990.
Kent Archaeological Society Records, 25 (1988).
By Lt-Col. G. W. Meates, F.S.A.
By S.S. Frere, P. Bennett, J. Rady and S. Stow. Vol VIII of The Archaeology of Canterbury series, published for the Canterbury Archaeological Trust by the Kent Archaeological Society with the aid of a grant from the Historic Buildings and Monument Commission (England), 1987.
Edited by K. L. Wood-Legh. Published 1984.
By S.S. Frere and Sally Stow. Vol VII of The Archaeology of Canterbury series, published for Canterbury Archaeological Trust LTD by Kent Archaeological Society with the aid of a grant from the Department of the Environment, 1983.
The British Archaeological Association Conference Transactions for the year 1979: v. 5.
Volume II of the Archaeology of Canterbury series, published by Canterbury Archaeological Trust LTD and Kent Archaeological Society with the aid of a grant from the Department of the Environment, 1982.
Paul Bennett, S.S. Frere and Sally Stow, 1982. Volume 1 of the Archaeology of Canterbury Series, published by Canterbury Archaeological Trust LTD and Kent Archaeological Society with the aid of a grant from the Department of the Environment, 1982.
A selection from the J. Fremlyn Streatfield collection. Kent Archaeological Society Records, 20 (1971).
Honoring past members, exploring Kent's archaeological sites, and showcasing heritage discoveries.
Member Access
About the KAS
The Society’s interests include all aspects of the human past in the historic County of Kent, including the the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham lost to London since the Society's founding.
The Society encourages local groups to remain active in fieldwork as well as historical and desk-based research, and makes grants, organises events, publications, lectures and training excavations. The Society also promotes education and the study of history and archaeology in schools and encourages people of all ages to take an interest in the subject. The Society also administers, funds and distributes grants, bursaries and prizes in support of initiatives and projects which meet our core value of bringing the past to the present for everyone.
The KAS Library and Collections are largely held at Maidstone Museum and comprise artefacts and records relating to the archaeology and history of Kent including books, journals, ephemera, pamphlets, plans, maps, estate papers, glass plates, photographs, drawings, postcards and past member’s notebooks.
Students
Starting in 2024, our fund will be available to all full-time student members to help cover expenses and costs during your study period. Contact our Student Ambassadors Alex Read at the University of Kent and Grace Conium at Canterbury Christ Church University to learn more about how the Student Fund can support your academic journey.
The Society provides a unique opportunity for volunteers to help conserve, curate, and digitise valuable documents and artefacts from all over Kent. With your help, we can ensure that these treasures are protected for future generations. We would love to hear from you if you're interested in getting involved in an ongoing project or developing your dissertation project.
Follow the Society
Patrons
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Jools Holland
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The Viscount De L’Isle
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Professor David Killingray
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Mr A. I. Moffat
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The Countess Sondes
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Dr J. Whyman
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Professor Sir Robert Worcester
Management Team
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Dr Richard Taylor
GENERAL MANAGER
Responsible for the overall management of the Society’s daily operations, point of contact for the Board of Trustees and all key partnerships with external bodies, including fundraisers and grant-giving bodies.
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Rebecca Fletcher
DEPUTY MANAGER
Responsible for financial operations, the VeryConnect Management system, and Line Manager to the Management Team.
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Ann Watson
ADMINISTRATION MANAGER
Responsible for membership administration, conference and events planning and external enquiries.
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Craig Campbell
SOCIETY ARCHIVIST
Responsible for the care, management and interpretation of the Society’s document collections and Society Library.
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Jason Mazzocchi
ARCHAEOLOGIA CANTIANA EDITOR
Responsible for the annual production of Archaeologia Cantiana.
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Jacob Scott
DIGITAL MANAGER
Responsible for the development and production of the Society website.
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Brie Thomas
FINANCE MANAGER
Responsible for the daily management of the Society’s finances.
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Andy Ward
SOCIETY CURATOR
Responsible for the care, management and interpretation of the Society’s object collections.
The KAS were pleased to welcome the team from Maidstone Community Support Center to the Lees Court Estate project.