This conference brings together people from across the UK, from a wide range of backgrounds (ecologists, woodland managers, historians, archaeologists, volunteers and students on research projects), to explore our shared interests in woodland heritage.
Registration includes teas and coffees, sandwich lunch, a wine reception, a conference pack with the programme and abstract booklet, and the field visit on the Sunday morning. There is an option to book return coach travel for the field visit this will be restricted to 50 places on the coach. Alternatively, it is possible to travel to Hirst Wood by car, or by train from Bradford Forster Square to Saltaire.
The conference will explore key themes which can broaden our horizons and improve connections between all parts of society interested in woodland history, including:
- What an interdisciplinary understanding of past wooded landscapes can offer to the wider fields of archaeology and history
- The challenges of collaborative research across disciplines and different spatial scales
- How community-based landscape archaeology projects investigate woodlands: their methods, contributions and potential
- Open source technologies for community and individual research
The organising team welcomes the submission of papers and posters for presentation at the conference, particularly those discussing the key themes.
In association with the conference there will be a meeting of the Charcoal and Wood Work Group (CWWG) on Sunday afternoon at the University of Bradford. This is an informal discussion group for archaeobotanists and the topic for papers and debate will be experimental studies for understanding wood and charcoal assemblages.
We invite proposals for posters with a closing date of 16 October.
The conference will serve to promote and discuss current research and investigations of woodland heritage, inviting discussion from academics, professionals and community-based organisations.
This three day conference includes the following themes:
Friday 16 November 2018
Towards an interdisciplinary understanding of past wooded landscapes
Saturday 17 November 2018
Community-based landscape archaeology projects and open source technologies
Sunday 18 November 2018
Morning: field visit to Hirst Wood, Shipley, which runs alongside the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and the River Aire to the north of Bradford. This will include demonstrations of greenwood crafts and pottery firing, and will be followed by the opportunity to visit Salts Mill and the World Heritage Site of Saltaire village.
Afternoon: Meeting of the Charcoal and Wood Work Group - with informal papers and discussion about experimental approaches to understanding wood and charcoal assemblages from archaeological sites.
Booking is essential, and the closing date for registration is 1 November.
