Welcome from the Editor

Season’s greetings from the Kent Archaeological Society. The nights are now long, twinkling lights, extraordinary storefronts, decorated houses and flamboyant trees are forming a tapestry of magical wintery landscapes across the county. The winter chill is gripping the nation, and frosty mornings are common once again. What better time to make a cup of hot chocolate and cosy up next to the fire with the latest magazine from the Kent Archaeological Society?

[fg]jpg|Christmas with the team|Image[/fg]

I mentioned in my previous update, the importance of these changing seasons, the magic and wonder of transformation, and the cycle of life in dramatic, stunning spectacle. Our ancestors and predecessors revered the winter season, with the solstice playing an important part in the calendar, guiding practices of seasonal landscape management and livestock care, hunting and migration activity, and of course ritual celebration. A chance for groups to meet, combine efforts, ideas, and to share and enjoy life experiences.

[fg]jpg|Festive decorations in Tunbridge Wells|Image[/fg]

[fg]jpg|Christmas lights in Tonbridge|Image[/fg]

[fg]jpg|Christmas at Dover’s Maison Dieu|Image[/fg]

Many of those ancient practices echo through to our modern celebrations and we are able to connect to a shared history in genuinely tangible ways. We become time travellers, glimpsing those moments and repeating the actions of ancient revellers. Whatever your winter traditions may be, you follow in the footsteps of a long line of festive frolickers, joyously acting out traditional practices across our ancient landscape.

[fg]jpg|A festive chronology of Kent in 2 jolly minutes|Image[/fg]

It is with this incredible longevity of celebration in mind, that we teamed up with the talented Emma Youell Design Ltd this month to bring to life a snippet of Kent’s winter celebrations. Check out our social media channels and website for a rollercoaster ride through the festive heritage of our county over the millennia.

www.facebook.com/theKentArchaeologicalSociety1857

At a time when many are winding down during the holidays, it is curious to note that the society seems to be busier than ever. We have a full calendar of exciting projects, engaging outreach and interesting archaeology throughout Christmas and into the New Year. We have been pleasantly inundated with enquiries relating to the heritage and archaeology of the county. These enquiries take many forms, some are personal research projects, such as buildings enquiries, family histories, local events or occasions and more general historical questions. Others are specific to some of the current debates, issues and initiatives affecting the county.

[fg]jpg|A packed conference at Aylesford Priory|Image[/fg]

As you will witness from the pages of this magazine, the past few months have been filled with important conferences, meetings, events and activities. Our three main conferences, the Archaeology Research Group conference, Historic Buildings Group conference and the combined conference with LEGISE were all a roaring success. All three were incredibly well attended and sparked fascinating debate. There have been some spectacular archaeological discoveries across the county, and this only seems to be increasing, indicating the richness of the historic landscape which remains beneath our feet. We need to be careful about protecting this important landscape, as it is a finite resource, and if we lose it or fail to record it, we may never get the opportunity again.

[fg]jpg|Our Curator fascinating the masses discussing the Ozengell Collection|Image[/fg]

Our educational impact continues to grow, and word is spreading about the opportunities available for young people to interact with the society in numerous ways. We have already arranged numerous 2026 work placements, school visits, career days, outreach events and are even utilising our collections for national competitions which engage great young minds, requiring them to shape the future of the heritage sector. We continue to run the Cur8 group at Maidstone Museum, bringing alive heritage studies with hands on experience, and we hope to become a pillar of heritage based educational opportunity in a time when academia and the humanities are increasingly threatened by budget constraints and departmental closures.

We have also been busy updating our society merchandising, which has been steadily increasing over the past six months. Our online store now has a wide variety of unique and exciting products on offer, from hoodies to mugs, t shirts to books, and everything in-between. We also have links to affiliated stores offering a range of items such as replica historic weapons, tools and jewellery. You can find out more on the website, perfect for those ‘difficult to buy for’ gift opportunities! We are even offering gifted memberships, so do check out what’s on offer.

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/shop

[fg]jpg|Festive KAS hoodies and a variety of other merchandise available online|Image[/fg]

Generally, across the county, there seems to be a growing nervousness arising from the potential future government restructuring. The uncertain plans are leaving almost everybody in the heritage sector in a state of quiet concern. We are in a position of both pre-emptive planning, and at the same time in a kind of uneasy limbo, whilst we await decisions being made. In almost every meeting I have attended over the past few months, the future of local government seems to dominate the conversations, and it is unsurprising, since whatever choices are made will hugely impact the heritage industries. As ever, we aim to champion and protect Kent heritage, and hope that any future decisions will take the importance of Kent history and archaeology into consideration. We are certainly available for discussions on how we can secure and promote this important foundation for our communities.

On a far more pleasant note, it has been wonderful to meet and communicate with many incredible heritage professionals and enthusiasts recently. We have engaged in important and progressive conversations about future projects and potential archaeological and historical opportunities, and there is so much energy and enthusiasm surrounding discussions on how the county can move forward together to preserve, promote and celebrate our historic landscape. Whether it be museums, explorers, fund-raisers, collectors, archaeologists, councillors, teachers, or scientists, the passion and potential are clear, and we are excited to be a part of a thriving Kent network.

[fg]jpg|A growing library of publications, all available on the Society website|Image[/fg]

This month marks a year of being in-post as the editor of the Kent Archaeological Society Magazine. It has been a challenge, but also a marvellous experience, and one from which I am constantly learning and adapting. I hope that the five publications I have been involved in have been well received. As ever, I welcome any feedback, and recommendations for things you might like to see in future editions. I also welcome your articles, events and updates and thank all of those who have generously provided material for the magazines I have produced thus far.

www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/magazine

Here is the completely faithful transcription, preserving wording, spelling, punctuation, capitalisation, and paragraph breaks exactly as shown:

Finally, I was proud to represent the Kent Archaeological Society Football team recently in the, now annual, British tournament held in Leicester. Our brave and newly formed team finished gloriously mid-table, winning two games, and losing two. Teams from ULAS, Cardiff Uni Archaeology Dept, Pre-Construct Archaeology, Oxford Archaeology, CFA and more battled it out across the day. Reigning champions, Cardiff Dragons retained their title, but next year, it has Kent written all over it!... The big European tournament, the Winckelmann Cup, takes place in July 2026, and is being held in Leipzig, Germany. We hope to enter a team, so if you fancy dusting off your boots and getting involved, do give me a shout.

craig.campbell@kentarchaeology.org.uk

All that is left to say is that I wish you all the happiest of holidays. I hope that you enjoy the festivities, the magic and marvel of the season, and have a wonderful time with loved ones, doing whatever your winter celebrations might entail. Do spare a thought for those who may be grateful for company, or kind words over the Christmas period, and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year as we continue to explore the wonders of Kent’s magical past together.

Happy Holidays!
Craig Campbell

[fg]jpg|Merry Christmas everyone|Image[/fg]

[fg]jpg|The glorious Kent team|Image[/fg]

[fg]jpg|The tournament is in its second year and has already doubled in size|Image[/fg]