30 Years of Evolution

From its beginnings in the 1970’s within the continuing education programme, archaeology at the University of Kent has constantly evolved. By the late 80’s part-time awards were in place, which by the early 90’s had developed into a full programme taking part-time students through from Certificate to Degree. Anthony Ward, senior lecturer in archaeology, points out, ‘Hundreds of students have achieved university awards with us. I think we can say that the University has made a real contribution to archaeological learning in the county in which many members of KAS have participated.’

In the late 90’s the University offered archaeology to full-time students and degrees are now offered in both Classical & Archaeological Studies and History & Archaeological Studies, with Archaeology & Anthropology available shortly. There is also archaeological input into the Forensic Science degree and a new Heritage Science degree.

Since 1999 ‘full-time equivalent’ archaeology students have risen from 30 to 120. Archaeological staff in Classical and Archaeological Studies have increased from 2 to 6, supported by part-time colleagues. Kent also has 2 lecturers in Biological Anthropology who are archaeologically trained. The teaching and research interests of the full-time Classical and Archaeological Studies staff are wide ranging:

• Dr Eleftheria Salvi - Late Antique and early Medieval
• Dr Gabor Thomas - Anglo Saxon and Viking Age studies and landscapes
• Dr Patty Baker - Classical Archaeology, gender studies and ancient medicine
• Dr Evangelos Kyriakidis - Greek and Aegean Bronze Age with particular interests in Minoan iconography and Linear B
• Dr Steve Willis - Iron Age and Roman, with particular specialism in ceramics and landscapes
• Dr Anthony Ward - British and European Prehistory and landscapes

This summer a major six-week training excavation for students was organised by Gabor Thomas who was research officer with Sussex Archaeological Society before joining Kent in 2003. It took place at Bishopstone in Sussex, where a 9th to 11th century Anglo-Saxon village was investigated in a joint venture between Sussex Archaeological Society and Kent, building on Gabor’s previous work in the area. Results were exciting, including a pre-Conquest cemetery, houses, halls and a tower with a cellar in which was found a collection of iron tools. It is anticipated that fieldwork-training opportunities will be offered in Kent in 2005 and subsequent years.

Classical and Archaeological Studies is now broadening its horizons. The appointment of Evangelos Kyriakidis this summer takes it firmly into the archaeology of the East Mediterranean. Closer to home, in future it will participate in the University of the Transmanche, initially by setting up a MA in the ‘Archaeology of the Transmanche’ focused on later prehistory and the first millennium AD. Modules from this programme will be available as part of the programme of the new trans-frontier university, a Blair-Chirac initiative to mark the centenary of the Entente Cordiale. The project involves Kent, the Université du Littoral and universities at Lille. Kent has appointed Steve Willis from the archaeology department at Durham to help take this forward.

Anthony Ward says ‘We are delighted to welcome Steve. He will help develop courses and the research agenda to assist in enhancing understanding of the archaeology of Kent in the context of the near Continent. After all, through much of its history Kent has arguably had more in common with communities across the Narrow Seas than areas north and west of the Thames!’ Steve has research interests in Flanders and has spent much time field-working in Picardie, particularly on Iron Age sites.

Steve is enthusiastic about his role: ‘Late prehistory is a period when we can identify a series of Continental contacts which become increasingly manifest, particularly in the later Iron Age and through the Roman eras, raising interesting questions for study, such as landscape and settlement development and the importance of coastal trade.’

‘There is also scope for sharing best practice with colleagues from the near Continent in relation to research, development-funded archaeology, heritage management and presentation and the public participation in archaeology.’

Anthony Ward confidently predicts that ‘archaeology at Kent has an exciting future as numbers of staff and students continue to increase. We look forward to collaborating with other archaeologists in the region to advance the practice of the discipline and our understanding of the archaeology of the south-east of England.’

More information on archaeological courses at Kent can be obtained from Anthony Ward, Classical and Archaeological Studies, Cornwallis Building, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NF. tel: 01227 823879, a.h.ward@kent.ac.uk