Buried Secrets: From Gold to Stories of Witchcraft

What can science tell us about what happened to a body nearly 1,700 years ago? Adam Wightman (Colchester Archaeological Trust) explores an extraordinary Roman burial recently unearthed in the city. Using cutting-edge techniques, from ancient DNA to portable X-ray fluorescence, archaeologists can now reconstruct not just who this person was, but the secret rituals that surrounded their death. From traces of exotic substances to evidence hidden in the soil, discover how modern science is unlocking the mysteries of belief and ritual in Roman Britain.

Metal detecting has grown exponentially in popularity of late. Argued by some to be a menace to archaeology and by others a real asset, with the real deciding factor being the behaviour of the detectorist. I am a member of several local detecting clubs and work closely with archaeologists and the local FLO (Finds Liaison Office). My talk this evening encapsulates a collection of personal observations and experiences.

The witch-trials that began in Manningtree in 1645 spread to twelve other communities in the Tendring Hundred district of north-eastern Essex. Join Alison to find out why the witch-trials happened, when and where, and discover insights into the psychological, emotional, and gender dynamics of witchcraft accusations through the case-study of Mary Johnson. Mary was a sailor’s wife from Wivenhoe (Alison's own home-town) who was accused of working harmful magic against their children by two of her neighbours in 1645.