Members of the Archaeological Leather Group are frequently contacted by archaeologists who think they have uncovered a tannery site. Very often, the only evidence is a hole in the ground containing some pieces of leather. In order to increase knowledge and understanding of leather manufacturing techniques, the ALG is organising conference entitled Archaeological Leather Group Weekend Conference HAVE WE GOT A TANNERY?
It will take place on April 12th and 13th, 2008 at the Walsall Leather Museum. An international group of specialists experienced in examining stone, bone and environmental remains will contribute, as well as those who have excavated a wide range of skin processing sites, dating from pre-historic times to the nineteenth century. Skin working processes which leave no archaeological remains will also be discussed.
The cost for the two days will be 350 for ALG members and 365 for non-members.
For further details and a booking form, please contact:
Mike Glasson, Leather Museum, Littleton Street West, Walsall, WS2 8EG
Tel: 01922 721153 Email:
mailto:leathermuseum@walsall.gov.uk
Details of the group, its meetings and publications can be found at http://www.archleathgrp.org.uk/
***Programme***
**Saturday, 12th April**
10.00-10.30 REGISTRATION, COFFEE, etc.
10 30-11.00 Roy Friendship-Taylor Questions,
questions, questions:
what the archaeologist needs to know
11.00-11.30 Roy Thomson Skin, leather and tanning:
some definitions
11.30-11.45 COFFEE
11.45-12.15 Terry O'Connor Bone evidence-title to be
announced
12.15-1.00 Allan Hall & Harry Kenward Plant and
invertebrate
indicators of leather production: from fresh skin =
to leather offcuts
1.00-2.00 LUNCH
2.00-2.30 Susanna Harris Preparing skins in
pre-history: a review of
evidence and approaches
2.30-3.15 Lotta Rahme Tanning with traditional tools
and techniques:
Inuit, Native American
and Sami people
3.15-3.45 Lucy Skinner Traditional tanning
techniques as observed at a
contemporary Sudanese
tannery
3.45-4.00 TEA
4.00-4.45 Carol van Driel Murray Are we missing
something? The
elusiveness of Roman tanneries
4.45-5.15 Esther Cameron Bits and pieces: leather
from Anglo-Saxon
contexts
**Sunday, 13th April**
9.30-10.00 Cecily Spall Have we got a parchmenerie?
The challenges of
identifying leather =
working at a dry preserved site
10.00-10.30 Patricia Stevens Archaeology and
tanning: the relationship
between animals and tanneries
10.30-11.15 Anton Ervynck Everything but the
leather: the search for
Roman and Medieval tanneries =
in Flemish archaeology
11.15-11.30 COFFEE
11.30-12.15 Mike Shaw Late 15th to 17th century
tanning in
Northampton: the excavation =
evidence and some wider research
12.15-1.00 Stephanie Ratkai Tanning and related
trades in Birmingham
1200-1800
1.00-2.00 LUNCH
2.00-2.45 Kevin Rielly Bermondsey's leather
industry: the
archaeological evidence
2.45-3.30 Helen Gomersall Hide and seek-some
thoughts on recognising
tannery structures
3.30 Close & TEA
Location:
Archaeological Leather Group (Walsall, England)
