Archaeology at Science and Engineering Week

Saturday 16th March marked the start of Science and Engineering week at the University of Southampton.

Archaeology was very well represented – with both ancient science and technology and much more modern scientific analyses on display for people to try out and investigate. Popular highlights included the chance to make Upper Palaeolithic hand prints using the paint blowing technique (with Alistair Pike) and the chance to excavate a decapitated burial complete with grave goods (with Dom Barker and Sonia Zakrzewski).

Several hundred adults and children of all ages got involved with these and with examination of fossil hominin skulls – such as Homo ergaster’s  Nariokotome Boy (with William Davies) and compared cave bears and horses (with Jaco Weinstock) to look at evolutionary differences over time and between species. Our fantastic PhD students talked, entertained and educated hundreds in the fun and scientific possibilities and activities within archaeology.