Rate: The fee for a basic talk is £60 (plus travel if the location is more than 25 miles from High Wycombe, Bucks)

Talks last c. 45 mins with questions to follow, although they can be tailored to any time span including hands-on workshops for many subjects. I can use your equipment or bring my own (slide projector, OHP or digital projector with laptop can be provided).

Hambleden - life and death in a Roman villa

A talk about Roman Hambleden showing the archaeological evidence for what life was like during the Roman period. There are two villa sites in this valley which provide an intriguing story of life, and death, in this part of Bucks. Digital projection. Artefacts can be brought for handling for small groups.

Archaeology - all bones and stones?

A talk showing what archaeologists do and some interesting sites and finds. This talk can be tailored to suit the audience with local sites or topics. Digital projection.

The Romans in Bucks

Who were the Romans? When and why did they invade Britain? What did they do here and how do we know? Slides and OHP and real Roman artefacts

The Stone age

Who were the ‘stone age’ people and where did they live? A look at their lifestyles through their tools.  OHP plus specimens (this is a hands-on session and hence works best with smaller groups of 20 or so).

The Stone Age – the Neanderthals to us

The lifestyles of Stone Age people focussing on the Dordogne region of France from the Neanderthals and the Cro-Magnons to England and us. Tools, art and simply staying alive in a sometimes hostile world. Digital projection and artefacts.

How archaeologists work

This can be a 'straight' talk with slide or digital projection or it can be used as a day school with the added field techniques activity.

This is a fascinating and very much hands-on talk/activity. We start with the ‘why do archaeologists want to look into the past’ as a discussion. Then follow on with the ‘how they do it’ – a brief glimpse of some of the very varied methods. The group will then get hands-on activities with real archaeological equipment. With good weather and daylight, and if suitable, we can do a geophysics survey in the grounds!  Data can be downloaded to a laptop to see the results immediately. Not suitable for large groups.

Fossils and how to become one

A look at the world of fossils – what they are, how they lived and died, and where you can find them today, and how they became fossils. Specimens displayed on a large table and also passed round to handle (The full hands-on approach works best with less than 30 people.)

Turkish delight

The geology and archaeology of a wonderful country with an amazing history – Turkey. (A slant can be put on culture and life-style with lots of specimens such as rugs, donkey bags, ‘evil eye’, Turkish delight to eat, etc. Alternatively it can be more historical/archaeological or a geological/landscape focus.) Slides  (+/- specimens)

The Lycians

The Lycians were an ancient race of seafaring people (pirates) that settled in Lycia in Turkey. A fascinating history of these people – how they lived and how they were eventually wiped out.  Slides, OHP

Geology of……….

The geology of any area of your choice within England. Slides, OHP and specimens with geological maps

Smaller groups (up to c. 30) are best to enable handling of local rocks and fossils and also a close look at the information in the geological maps. (Larger groups are also possible, but the talk becomes more slide orientated.)

The Ice Age

A look at the last Ice Age and the different environments this created across the UK - and importantly, how we know about the dramatic climate changes of this era. The talk closes with a question posed – “so what is coming next – global warming or a return of the Ice Age?”  Slides with a few specimens to handle

Geology of NE Brazil – the story of the birth of the Atlantic

This goes through the stages of the Atlantic opening and separating Africa from South America. Looking at the geological and fossil evidence.  Slides plus some of the best fossils in the world!

Rocks and landscapes

How rocks create landscape. Examples from across the UK. Slides

Volcanoes

The what, where and why of volcanoes with some spectacular slides. The talk can incorporate a case-study of choice, such as Vesuvius with Pompeii and Herculanium, or Tenerife, or other localities of interest. Slides and volcanic specimens

Geology and life in the wilds of Patagonia

A slide tour round some of the wildest and most remote parts of the world. The talk focuses on the Chilean side of Patagonia, the Andes and volcanic activity, the extinct Indians of the area and life today in this desolate region. Slides with a few rocks and Indian artefacts.

The world of rocks and minerals

What is a rock and what is a mineral? How do they form and what do they tell us. Some of the answers to questions you may have had for some time! Lots of specimens to look at and handle. Slides, OHP, specimens.