The North East, steeped in Roman and Anglo-Saxon archaeology – from Hadrian’s Wall to the monasteries of Lindisfarne, Monkwearmouth and Jarrow – is set to be a fitting host for a leading international archaeology conference when it heads to the region for the first time later this year.
Organised jointly by the McCord Centre for Landscape at Newcastle University and Durham University, the 5th International Landscape Archaeology Conference (LAC) will take place 17-20 September 2018, with sessions taking place across Newcastle and Durham and a conference dinner is planned at The Boiler Shop – birthplace of Stephenson’s Rocket.
Paul Szomoru, head of business events at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, said: “North East England is rich in archaeology and historical interest making it a fantastic location for this prestigious conference. This is the first time LAC has been to the UK, so I’m delighted that we are working together with Newcastle and Durham Universities and the International Association of Landscape Archaeology to ensure the 2018 conference is a huge success.”
LAC is a biennial series of conferences run by the International Association of Landscape Archaeology (IALA) and around 300 participants are expected to attend from 35 countries. The founding conference took place in Amsterdam in 2010 and since then it has been held in Berlin, Rome and Uppsala. Both Newcastle and Durham Universities have long traditions of archaeological research and training, bringing invaluable expertise to the table in planning and delivering the event.
Sam Turner, director of the McCord Centre for Landscape at Newcastle University, said: “The North East of England is rich in prehistoric remains and is the best known of the Roman imperial frontiers, making it the perfect backdrop for what is set to be a truly inspiring conference.”
