THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 15TH JUNE 2013, 4.00PM
JOHN STANLEY BELL LECTURE THEATRE, UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD
THE PRESIDENT, DR ALISON SHERIDAN, IN THE CHAIR
38 MEMBERS ATTENDING
ITEM
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from:
Secretary Dr Josh Pollard – daughter Orla born last week. Also Membership Sec
Tessa Machling, Vice Presidents Dr Ann Woodward and Niall Sharples, Council
member Dr Frances Griffith and Reviews Editor Dr Jacky Nowakowski.
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1.1
2
2.1
MINUTES
The Minutes of the 2012 AGM held on 9th June in the Madjeski Lecture Theatre,
University of Reading, had been previously circulated. M allen proposed and A Gibson
seconded that the minutes be accepted as a true and accurate record. This was
approved and the minutes were signed by the President.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
The President reported that the high point of last year was Europa conference at
which Professor Bradley was presented with a surprise Festschrift. Next year’s winner
will be Prof Alasdair Whittle and the Europa Conference will be held at Cardiff.
2.2
It had been another busy and productive year, dominated by developments relating to
the shift to CUP as producer of PPS and PAST (see Editor’s report). The
organisational aspects have passed off smoothly; there is content available for free to
Members on the website and CUP’s worldwide marketing has generated interest in
PPS from around the world, greatly changing the geographical breakdown of our
readership. Julie Gardiner, Tessa Machling and colleagues at CUP were thanked for
all their hard work.
The Research Papers series continues to do well and tribute was paid to Mike Allen
for his expert management and editorship of this Series.
2.3
A related issue that has come up this year is that of the Government’s move to impose
Open Access regulations on all Government-funded research outputs, meaning that
publications will have to be made available on the Internet for free. It is not thought
that this will have a major adverse effect on our membership.
2.4
Membership continues to be very healthy, with around 1450 members including over
300 institutional subscribers. The Society has gained 100 members this year, no
doubt helped by the website.
2.5
There had been a busy programme of events. Pete Topping was thanked for
organising the Moundbuilders Tour to America and Professor Harry Fokkens was
thanked for organising the very successful trip to the Netherlands. Thanks were
extended to all events organisers.
2.6
The Society has continued to support events organised by others, especially those for
young scholars, including the Iron Age and Roman Society conference held here in
Bradford in June. The Society’s twinning with the SPF has resulted in the organisation
of a joint session on prehistoric ceramics at this year’s EAA conference in Plsen.
2.7
The President announced the generous sponsorship of a new award for 2013, by the
SUERC C14 laboratory. Up to three C14 dates will be awarded to the best application
by a non-commercial organisation or individual. Such awards are a very important way
of recognising and encouraging excellence in prehistoric research, particularly again
by young scholars.
2.8
Advocacy has remained an important aspect of our activities, and Adrian Chadwick
and Jim Leary were thanked for their efforts. Among the issues on which the Society
voiced its opinion was Herefordshire Council’s plan to reduce funding of its
archaeology service to nothing in 2 years time. Concern was also raised regarding the
National Museum Wales’ staff reductions.
2.9
The Officers and Council members were thanked for their work, especially outgoing
Vice President Niall Sharples and Co-opted Council member Professor Harry
Fokkens. The External Financial Assessors – John Cruse last year and Caroline
Speller this year – were also thanked for their support.
2.10
The Society extends its condolences to the families of three individuals with a close
connection to the Society: Thurstan Shaw, President between 1986 and 1990, died
earlier this year; Ian Kinnes, Secretary of this Society between 1976 and 1980, died
last August; and Ian Colquhoun died last week and had been planning to attend this
conference.
2.11
Congratulations were extended to the Secretary Dr Josh Pollard and Mhairi on the
birth of their daughter Orla and to Events Officer Tom Moore and Claire, on the birth of
their son Charlie.
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3.1
SECRETARY’S REPORT
The Secretary’s report had been published in PAST.
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4.1
EDITOR’S REPORT & J. M. BAGULEY AWARD
The Editor reported that the transition to CUP had gone smoothly and that the Society
was now reaching a wider international audience. A slight delay in the scanning of
PPS had been due to staff changes at CUP. Members were encouraged to sign up for
alerts. Only PPS papers would be flagged.
PAST was now being produced in 16 page, full colour.
4.2
The J M Baguley award was presented to Harold Mytum & Ken Murphy for their paper
Iron Age Enclosures in West Wales in Vol 78 of the Proceedings
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5.1
TREASURER’S REPORT
The Treasurer noted that the accounts had been published in PAST. The Society’s
finances were healthy and a projected temporary deficit resulting from the transfer to
CUP had been alleviated by increased membership.
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6.1
MEETINGS SECRETARY’S REPORT
Last year’s meetings had been successful and well attended, especially the study
tours to America and the Netherlands.
6.2
The events for the forthcoming year were now on the website and will be published in
PAST.
6.3
The day conference series on the Prehistory of People will continue next year with a
session on The House and Household.
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7.1
AWARDS AND GRANTS
The second Undergraduate Dissertation Prize was awarded to Peter John Heyes of
the University of Leicester.
7.2
The Following grants and awards were made:
Research Fund
J. Harding (Newcastle University), fieldwork on Hastings Hill, Tyne and Wear
D. McOmish (English Heritage), later prehistoric landscape, Arundel
G. Naumov (University of Skopje), Neolithic sites in Macedonia
H. Saul (University of York), prehistoric sites in Mustang, Nepal
G. Smith (Monrepos Museum), Middle Palaeolithic Oosthoven, Belgium
M. Vejby, Loughcrew radiocarbondates
The Leslie Grinsell Prize went to J. Harding, and the Bob Smith Prize to H. Saul.
Coles Award
J.Z. Matias (Durham University), museum visits, France
M. Stovickova (university of Sheffield), fieldwork, Catalhoyuk.
Conference Fund
E. Matthews (University College Dublin), P. Preston and H. Robson (University of
York) all to attend Congresso Muge 150
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8.1
ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
The following officers and council members were eligible for election and all were
uncontested.
OFFICERS:
Vice-President: Dr Robert Chapman, Reading University (emeritus)
Secretary:
Dr Josh Pollard, University of Southampton
Treasurer:
Dr Clare Randall, Bournemouth University
Editor of PPS/
Managing Editor:
Dr Julie Gardiner, Wessex Archaeology/Oxbow Books
Editor of PAST: Dr Joanna Brück, University College Dublin
Editor of Research
Papers series: Dr Mike Allen, Allen Environmental Archaeology
Book Reviews Editor: Ms Jacqueline Nowakowski, Historic Environment Service,
Cornwall County Council
Meetings Secretary:
Dr Tom Moore
Conservation Co-Ordinator:
Currently vacant; to be co-opted during 2013
ORDINARY COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Ms Courtney Nimura
Dr Anwen Cooper
Dr Marcus Brittain
8.2
There being no more candidates than vacancies, all were duly elected.
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Meeting closed at 16.35