Peter Marsden D.Phil, FSA Archaeologist, Speaker, Author. 2011: On a Roman shop counter at Herculaneum, the city in Italy destroyed by Vesuvius in 79 AD. A Mobile Museum to your venue. As an archaeologist from the Museum of London, now retired to the Exeter area of Devon, I am offering to bring to schools and societies a range of prehistoric, Roman and later objects for the audiences to examine, whilst telling their stories in Workshops and powerpoint Talks. At schools my aim is to support teaching and curriculum schedules by exciting the imaginations of students, teachers and others, to show how history is reconstructed from evidence. A selection of the objects and a summary of the talks is shown on the following pages. My career. As the City of London archaeologist from the 1960 s onwards, I searched for how the ancient City began in Roman times almost 2000 years ago, and grew to its present vast size. I have excavated Roman baths, houses, streets, the basilica and forum and city defences. Also, I sought for the lost Saxon city (that was later found near Westminster), and excavated medieval and later houses, streets, churches and a royal palace in the City of London. Through this I became involved with fascinating historical personalities, from Queen Boudica of the Iceni tribe who destroyed London in AD 60-61, to, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker, in the 15 th century, whose house I excavated near St. Paul s Cathedral. In London I also discovered Roman, medieval and later shipwrecks in the River Thames, and on retiring from the Museum of London have led research on many historic ships to reconstruct our maritime past. These include a 3,500 year old boat from Dover; Henry VIII s Mary Rose sunk in 1545 in a battle against the French; the English warship Anne sunk in
1690 in another sea battle against the French; and East India Company treasure ships of the 17 th and 18 th centuries. I was involved successfully in taking the Ministry of Defence to the High Court for not protecting a World War 2 sunken merchant ship, SS Storaa, as a maritime war grave. Currently (2012), I am on a committee overseeing the building of a modern fullsized reconstruction of an actual 4000 year old Bronze Age boat discovered on the River Humber. This is to be launched later this year, at the National Maritime Museum, Falmouth. I have a Doctorate in archaeology from Oxford University, and am a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London to which one is elected. Also, I, and have written books and many articles. Speaking experience. I have considerable international speaking experience at schools, universities, societies, museums and conferences. I was a Foyles Lecture Agency speaker; and in 2008 won the national Presentation of Heritage Research Award sponsored by English Heritage and the other national heritage bodies of the UK and the Irish Republic. Also, I have appeared on television and radio, and have given many talks at the Shipwreck Museum, Hastings a museum that I founded in 1986. Talks I can offer talks and workshops with antiquities, on a range of subjects: 1. Cess pits, cemeteries and sewers: being an archaeologist! * 2. Who sank King Henry VIII s warship Mary Rose in 1545? 3. London and Exeter; a tale of two Roman and Saxon cities. * 4. Treasure ships of the past: their real story. * 5. Discovering Roman London. * 6. Digging up Britain s oldest shipwrecks. * 7. War grave history on trial: the sorry saga of SS Storaa 1943. 8. Family history and archaeology. * Workshops 1. The Romans. * 2. Reconstructing the past. * I bring my own projection equipment and screen, and would normally exhibit a selection of relevant historic objects (marked * above). Fee and Expenses: These are negotiable, but affordable. Contact. Dr Peter Marsden FSA. prvmarsden@gmail.com 07828 986738.
THE ILLUSTRATED TALKS 1. Cess pits, cemeteries and sewers: being an archaeologist! The excitement of discovering new information about our past has led me into palaces and the homes of people of the distant past, and into their cess pits, cemeteries and sewers. One site even revealed a possible murder! I have had clashes with treasure hunters plundering the remains of our heritage; and have campaigned for laws to protect sites, and even founded the Shipwreck Museum at Hastings in which to preserve and display historic maritime treasures that would otherwise be lost. Roman cups, 1 st century AD. Medieval jug. Plate & spoon, 17/18 century. 2. Who sank the Mary Rose in 1545? The Devon connection. Over four hundred men died, including Exeter based Vice-Admiral Sir George Carew, when King Henry VIII s warship Mary Rose sank off Portsmouth on 19 July 1545. In 1982 the ship was raised, enabling archaeologists and historians to find out how and why she sank. I have walked on her decks, and recently, with others, found clues to who was responsible for the disaster. Henry VIII. Analysis of the Mary Rose, published 2009. 3. London and Exeter: a tale of two Roman and Saxon cities. London and Exeter are two important cities on opposite corners of southern Britain. Both were founded by the Romans almost 2000 years ago, one as the capital of the Roman province of Britain, and the other the tribal capital of the regional native British Dumnonii. Archaeological exploration shows that they shared much, but had important differences. Both
were deserted at the end of Roman times soon after AD 400, and both were re-established by the Saxons possibly in different ways. After having discovered much in Roman London, I recently moved to near Exeter and have been able to compare the first thousand years of the history of the two cities with fascinating results. Imported pottery from Gaul, coins, and a cooking pot reflect a sophisticated lifestyle in Roman Britain. 4. Treasure ships of the past: their real story. Examples of treasure, including Pieces-of-Eight and Ducatons, from historic shipwrecks of the 17 th and 18 th centuries illustrate the beginnings of global trade, with bullion carried from Europe to the Far East to trade for precious spices, silks and porcelain. The human tragedy of historic piracy and shipwreck is brought to life by discoveries on the seabed, as is the rivalry between archaeologists and modern treasure hunters. Silver Pieces-of-Eight and a silver ingot from Dutch trading ships sunk off Britain in 1742 & 1739. The(replica) silver medallion (centre) was cast soon after 1577 to commemorate Drake s voyage around the world during which he raided Spanish ports in America and seized gold, silver and jewels. 5. Discovering Roman London. This is the story of the discovery of how London began nearly 2000 years ago, and of the quest to find its palaces, forts, defences, temples, baths, houses and traces of its people and the burnt debris from the destruction by the rebelling Iceni tribesmen led by their British Queen Boudica in AD 60-61.
A cooking pot from a house burnt by Iceni in AD 60-61. A dice and gaming counters. And a kitchen mixing bowl made by the potter SOLINUS. All from London. 6. Digging up Britain s oldest shipwrecks. In 1962 I unexpectedly discovered in London the oldest seagoing sailing ship yet found in northern Europe, sunk about 150 AD. Also, it happened to be the first identified example of shipbuilding by the native Celtic people of NW Europe and was probably like those used by the native Dumnonii in SW England. Since then I have worked on some of the oldest plank built boats yet found anywhere, from nearly 4000 years ago vessels older than the time of Moses, and with a bizarre construction (to our eyes). Clues to the history of ancient ships: ship nail from a Roman wreck in London of about 150 AD, and Roman coins depicting warships. 7. War grave history on trial: the sorry saga of SS Storaa, 1943. In 2000 the Ministry of Defence declared that merchant ships carrying war supplies in both World Wars could not be protected as they were not in military service, and that their Navy gunners were passengers. Seven of us challenged the MOD in the High Court and in the Court of Appeal and won, in spite of a rollercoaster ride of a case peppered with misinformation. This adventure led to finding a survivor of SS Storaa, torpedoed in 1943 in the Channel with the loss of 21 lives, and to diving into the wreck to photograph its military cargo. Today Storaa is the only protected British wartime merchant ship. SS. Storaa
8. Family history and archaeology. Historic documents are traditionally used to discover family history. Nowadays, archaeology and DNA have so widened that scope of knowledge that everyone find their roots. Descended from a medieval Lancashire family I believed that my roots were amongst the ancient Britons. Historical and archaeological research led to my finding the remains of homes used by my farming ancestors. But when my DNA was tested, doubt was cast doubt on the reliability of some historic documents. Also, it suggested that my family was amongst the Vikings who settled in Lancashire during the 10 th century; and it cast light on the likely movement of much earlier ancestral migration out of Africa 80,000 years ago. We all share in this epic out of Africa human saga. Archaeology and DNA have opened up new avenues of research into family history. By studying tree-rings we can reconstruct ancient weather patterns; and DNA enables us to understand our links to the related, but extinct, Stone Age peoples who made these flint axes in Europe roughly 250,000 years ago long before our ancestors arrived here. WORKSHOPS 1. The Romans Every object from an archaeological dig has a story, so my aim is to support teachers history schedules by leading a show and tell with objects, to explore themes, such as how did Roman people dress, or what and how did they eat? Many Roman objects, such as house keys, jewellery, writing materials, and kitchen pots have modern counterparts, and it helps to show the Roman alongside the modern. Below is a selection of objects for children to handle. The owner s name GAIVS scratched on the base of a cup; a bronze brooch c. 50AD; cat and running dog footprints on a brick; lamps.
House keys; styli for writing on waxed tablets; cosmetic jar and dress or hair pins. Tableware imported from Gaul: potter s stamp DOCCALI;; cups; man on couch playing a lyre, decoration from a bowl. Scissors, and spindle for spinning wool; shoe soles; grain imported from Egypt region, burnt in a London shop by Boudica c. 60AD; the spout of a baby s feeding bottle. 2. Reconstructing the past. A range of objects, many of medieval and later date, have fascinating stories: Bronze Age axe, c.1000bc;15 th century cooking pot; bottle of French wine from wreck of Amsterdam of 1749 at Hastings.
18 th century pewter plate and 17 th century spoon; reverse inscription on plate refers to the historic Bear at the Bridgefoot inn by London Bridge;; and an 18 th century wig curler. 18 th century medicine jar; and replica jar with traditional ointment to cure all ills (very strong smell!); and a wine glass of c.1750. 18 th century delft ware plate.