KAS Conference: Anglo Saxons in Kent (Dark Ages or Discovery?)

Our President, Kenneth Gravett, opened the Conference by extending his welcome to the many members and friends of the KAS. The first talk was given by Dave Perkins from the Thanet Trust for Archaeology who outlined for us the many sites on the Island, illustrating his talk with many excellent slides. He was followed by Keith Parfitt from the Dover Archaeological Group who dealt with two important sites from the Dover area. The burial site at Millhill near Deal and the domestic site at Whitfield that has correlations with the site of West Stow in East Anglia. After lunch we were treated to a talk by Paul Bennett on Anglo Saxon Canterbury and which was up to his usual high standard. The final speaker, Mrs Sonia Hawkes was unable to attend. Miss Kathy Haith from the British Museum stepped into the breach at very short notice and gave us a very interesting 'gallop' through the finds from the burial site at Buckland. These are being processed for conservation and research by her department at the British Museum. The great interest of these four excellent talks was reflected in the many and varied questions throughout the day. This conference was up to the usual very high standard that we have come to expect from the KAS and it is gratifying to note that so many people attended and all tickets were quickly sold out. Let us hope that this is the start of such a tradition.

Sheila Broomfield.