ERAS leads and organise activities for those interested in archaeology in our area. Experts are on hand at our monthly field studies meetings to guide members through hands-on activities. During the summer months our experts on occasion offer walks or visits to local sites of archaeological interest. During the winter months, local and visiting speakers give talks as part of our winter lecture series.
Field studies meetings are usually at 7:30pm on the first Wednesday of each month in an upstairs room at St Nicholas Community Centre, Holmechurch Lane, Beverley. No need to book - just come along - but do check our Events page to check that a different event hasn't been arranged as we do like to offer different experiences in our Field Studies programme.
Lectures usually start at 7:30pm and are held in the Wilberforce Building, Hull University, Cottingham Road, Hull. There is an entrance fee for non-members of £3. We also broadcast these lectures to ERAS members and a link is sent via email to access online before the event.
Additional special events are planned every year to allow members to get to know each other. We also run our own excavations, research and survey projects which members are encouraged to become involved in.
Please use either calendar below to find out more about our events.
Wednesday, February 04, 2026 at 07:30 PM
ST NICHOLAS PARISH ROOMS, HOLMECHURCH LANE, BEVERLEY, HU17 0QPFIELD STUDIES - WEDNESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2026
On Wednesday 4 February at 7.30 pm Field Studies will return to our usual address in Beverley. This first session will be a mock exercise of interpreting a site - with a view to working out where to situate excavation slots, how to interpret the archaeology and learning how to create a matrix and understand the phasing of a site. This, as always, will be a friendly, fun and informal session with a mix of knowledge and abilities. Field Studies is open to all members and no prior experience is necessary. We very much look forward to welcoming you!Our Field Studies sessions are held in St Nicholas Parish Rooms, Holmechurch Lane, Beverley, HU17 0QP (up the stairs - first room on the right) and will finish around 9 pm.Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 07:30 PM
LT1, WILBERFORCE BUILDING, THE UNIVERSITY OF HULLOLD BONES: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANIMAL BONES? - DR CLARE RAINSFORD - 18 FEBRUARY 2026
A Cambridge graduate, with an MSc from the University of York and PhD from Bradford, Clare is one of the leading zooarchaeologists in this region. Now a freelancer based in York, Clare previously worked for York Archaeology on the bones from the Hungate excavations and has studied animal bones from excavations from the Orkney Islands to Southwest England. Most recently she has been working on the bones from the excavations on the later Bronze Age/ Iron Age ring fort and sanctuary at Kipling House farm, and Roman Brough.
The lecture will take place in LT1, Wilberforce Building, The University of Hull on Wednesday 18 February at 7.30 pm. For those unable to attend we hope to livestream - details will be sent to members with a digital link to join on the night.Free to ERAS members. £3 for guests.We look forward to seeing you all there!Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 07:30 PM
LT1, WILBERFORCE BUILDING, THE UNIVERSITY OF HULLTHE MELSONBY HOARD - PROFESSOR TOM MOORE - 18 MARCH 2026
Consisting of around 800 artefacts, the largest hoard of Iron Age metalwork yet found in the UK, the Melsonby hoard was discovered by detectorist Peter Heads close to the possible Brigantes capital at Stanwick in North Yorkshire. It was subsequently excavated by a team led by Professor Tom Moore of the Department of Archaeology, Durham University. The hoard which includes chariot wheels, cauldrons, horse bridles and ceremonial spears is being studied by a range of experts particularly those from the British Museum. Thanks to a public appeal and grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund the hoard will remain in this region in the collections of the Yorkshire Museum in York.
The lecture will take place in LT1, Wilberforce Building, The University of Hull on Wednesday 18 March at 7.30 pm. For those unable to attend we hope to livestream - details will be sent to members with a digital link to join on the night.Free to ERAS members. £3 for guests.We look forward to seeing you all there!Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 06:00 PM
LT1, WILBERFORCE BUILDING, THE UNIVERSITY OF HULLEXCAVATIONS AT SKEFFLING, HOLDERNESS -MARY ANNE SLATER PRECEDED BY ERAS AGM - 15 APRIL 2026
AGM begins at 7.00 pm followed by lecture
During the Outstrays to Skeffling Managed Realignment Scheme, a joint initiative by the Environment Agency and Associated British Ports, excavations undertaken by York Archaeology revealed a surprising amount of archaeology, from prehistoric to medieval. What caught media attention was a possible Roman oyster processing site near Skeffling. Mary-Anne Slater of York Archaeology will present an account of these fascinating discoveries.
The lecture will take place in LT1, Wilberforce Building, The University of Hull on Wednesday 15 April at 7.30 pm. For those unable to attend we hope to livestream - details will be sent to members with a digital link to join on the night.
Free to ERAS members. £3 for guests.We look forward to seeing you all there!