THE winter 2024 study day at Springhead, the environmental arts centre at Fontmell Magna, focuses on the ways our ancient predecessors dealt with death. Grave Concerns, on Sunday 17th November, features three experts, including the archaeologist and television presenter Julian Richards, who lives in North Dorset.

Grave Concerns, which runs from 10am to 5pm, follows a very successful course at Springhead last winter, focusing on Stonehenge and its surrounding landscape. This year, the Springhead Trust is turning its attention to the subject of burials through the ages.

The ways in which our ancestors treated the dead, from the ways in which remains were buried to the objects that were placed with them as they were sent to the next world, tells us much about their beliefs.

The three experts, who will look at differing aspects of this fascinating subject, are:
Julian Richards, an archaeologist who, in the course of his career, has been involved in the excavation of human remains of all periods, from the Neolithic to the 19th century. Drawing on his experiences of presenting the BBC series Meet the Ancestors, Julian will chart changes in burial practices over 6,000 years and show how they shed light on changing beliefs;
Jackie McKinley, one of the country’s leading experts in the study and analysis of human remains, both inhumations and cremations. A regular expert on Time Team, Jackie will show how human remains can offer clues to health and diet and how newly developed science is increasing our capacity to reconstruct ancient lives;
David Dawson, director of the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes, home to the collection of spectacular Bronze Age grave goods excavated over 200 years ago by the pioneering archaeologists Richard Colt-Hoare and William Cunnington. David will explore some of these grave groups to show how they provide insights not only into prehistoric technology but also to the lives of their owners.

There will also be a contribution from Tim Daw, the creator of Wiltshire’s newest long barrow at All Cannings, near Devizes, who will explain the development of his pioneering burial site and examine the phenomenon of modern barrow building.

After each presentation there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion and the remainder of the day will allow the opportunity to explore wider issues. Numbers for the study day are limited to 40; there will be an opportunity to explore the beautiful Springhead gardens. Tickets are available via Ticketsource. All proceeds will go towards supporting Springhead’s education aims.