This month’s exciting lecture is about “Pons Aelius to Pandon – Newcastle upon Tyne from Roman to Early Medieval times”. In this, Jennifer Morrison will be discussing the change of the town in its early stages from a small vicus which surrounded the fort on Hadrian’s Wall to an establishment of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery. Some excavations on the Roman vicus and cemetery have produced some rather fascinating finds and former County Archaeologist Barbara Harbottle has excavated the Anglo-Saxon cemetery. Interestingly, there is no archaeological evidence to date of the Anglo-Saxon settlement which would accompany this. Jennifer’s talk will discuss the alternative suggested locations of the Early Medieval Settlement.

Jennifer is currently working as a part of Newcastle City Council as the Planning Archaeologist and HER (Historic Environment Record) Officer or Tyne and Wear. Alongside this, she also provides archaeological service to Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland Councils. Having studied at both Durham and Newcastle University, Jennifer was the former Secretary and President of Northumberland Archaeological Group, the Secretary for the buildings committee for the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and the Secretary of CBA North. Jennifer is currently a committee member of North East Ancient Egypt Society and the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland.

Please remember that the location of the lecture this week is back at the library as usual.