We kindly invite you to the keynote public lecture by Prof. John Hines, to be held on March 22nd, 2021 (Monday) at 17:00 CET .

John Hines (Cardiff University, Wales, UK)

Climate Change and Pandemics: Past, Present and Future

There can be few issues that are more topical or more truly global in importance than the facts and effects of climate change, and the serious challenges placed upon human economic stability and social cohesion by sudden, lethal, pandemic disease. This presentation will survey ongoing research into these topics as reflected in the Anglo-Saxon cemetery populations in England of the 6^th century AD, and particularly the impact of using a range of advanced laboratory analytical techniques. It will also draw upon supplementary research from other areas of northern Europe, where specific local conditions often make it possible to incorporate different forms of evidence – not least palaeo-environmentally relevant sequences – in much greater detail. It is possible, as a result, both to demonstrate and to start to measure the impact of correlated developments across the climatic and biological data; to articulate their relevance to our perception and appreciation of our shared situation in 2021; and also to outline how both continuing and new, integrated and international research should enable archaeology to make further major contributions to public awareness and understanding in the future.

More  about Prof. John Hines can be found here.