The Centre of Archaeology hosted a number of public lectures in 2014. These lectures were free to attend.
These fascinating lectures are listed below and all will took place in the Science Centre, Staffordshire University.
27th January 2014 – ‘Finding Treblinka’ Archaeological Investigations at Treblinka Extermination and Labour Camps – Holocaust Memorial Day Lecture by Dr Caroline Sturdy Colls – 6pm
At the extermination and labour camps at Treblinka in Poland, the Nazis murdered over 800,000 people. When
they abandoned the camps in 1943 and 1944, they tried to hide the traces of their crimes. This resulted in the popular perception that the camps had been destroyed and no systematic attempt was made to locate the evidence of the crimes or to find the graves of the victims. At last year’s Holocaust Memorial Day Lecture, it was outlined how historical and archaeological research has proven that a considerable body of evidence from the camps does survive. This lecture will present the results of the 2013 season of archaeological work at Treblinka, as part of which further non-invasive survey and minimally invasive excavations facilitated the discovery of the gas chambers and allowed mass graves to be marked for the first time. It will be demonstrated how the forensically accurate picture of the camps that is emerging can be used in the future for commemoration, re-interpretation and education.
26th February 2014 – ‘Archaeology and the Search for Shakespeare’ Lecture by Kevin Colls, Centre of Archaeology, Staffordshire University – 7pm
William Shakespeare is arguably one of the most famous people who have ever lived. His plays have been translated into almost every know language and are taught in classrooms and performed in theatres across the world. However, in reality we know very little about the man himself as there are very few contemporary historical 
documents that have been found that elude to Shakespeare the person. This fascinating lecture documents the recent attempts to use archaeological investigations to shed light upon one of the most enigmatic people in history.
16th April 2014 – ‘The Great War Camps of Cannock Chase and the Messines Ridge Model’ Lecture by Suzy Blake, Historic Environment Records Officer Staffordshire County Council – 7pm
Between 1915 and 1918, over half a million men were sent to Cannock Chase to train for war. The remains of two of
these Great War Camps survive on the Chase. This captivating lecture explores the history of these camps and the men who worked there and recent work by Staffordshire County Council to record, excavate and understand these important remains.
7th May 2014 – ‘Archaeology: It’s in the DNA’ Lecture by Dr Laura Walton-Williams from Forensic and Crime Science, Staffordshire University – 7pm
Since its discovery, DNA has revolutionised the way in which scientists and archaeologists can investigate the 
ancient individuals and communities. This absorbing lecture highlights some of the recent developments in the techniques used to extract DNA samples and presents an overview of the use of DNA in archaeological projects that includes Richard III and the recent evidence focusing on human evolution.
11th June – ‘The Staffordshire Hoard: Four years later’ Stephen Dean, Principal Archaeologist, Staffordshire County Council – – 7pm
Since its discovery on the 5th of July 2009 and subsequent archaeological excavation, the Staffordshire Hoard to this day represents the largest volume of Anglo-Saxon gold and Silver metalwork ever found. Now, four years on, 
this lecture by Stephen Dean, Principal Archaeologist for Staffordshire County Council outlines the latest developments on the conservation and interpretation of the Hoard and how this magnificent find has revolutionized our perceptions of Anglo-Saxon England.
A new public lecture series for 2015 is currently under development and details will appear here soon.