Canterbury Archaeological Trust

Name: Canterbury Archaeological Trust
Address: 92A Broad Street, Canterbury, CT12LU, GB
Telephone: +441227462062
Price range: $

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Canterbury Archaeological Trust

Although archaeological excavation might be perceived as our primary concern our activities go beyond buried archaeology.

Canterbury Archaeological Trust has been assisting developers, architects, businesses and individuals with their heritage and archaeological requirements for nearly 50 years. The Canterbury Archaeological Trust was formed in 1976 and the principal purpose of the Trust as set out in its Memorandum and Articles of Association (1975) is ‘to promote the advancement of public education in the field of archaeology’. The charity pursues this objective through a wide range of activities, including active involvement in archaeological fieldwork and research throughout south-east England and beyond. Our research interests are wide and not restricted to the UK and our expertise is sought on a professional consultation basis by developers and local authority planners. Canterbury Archaeological Trust’s principal role remains unchanged from 1976: ensuring that sites and buildings under threat from construction projects are adequately investigated and recorded before work takes place. Our activities are largely dictated by urban and rural development plans which may involve anything from constructing a shopping centre to adding an extension to a private house. The Trust is a Registered Archaeological Organisation with the Institute for Archaeologists, and is committed to uphold the standards and codes of conduct of the Institute. We have an active historic building recording department, employ an Education Officer (whose role is to work closely with schools and centres of higher learning in the development of education initiatives related to archaeology). We are expanding our community involvement with the successful appointment of a Community Archaeologist Trainee, made possible by the Council for British Archaeology. Wherever possible the participation of amateur volunteers is encouraged and a very broad programme of public outreach and educational activities is undertaken. The Trust is committed to engage wherever possible all sectors of the community in its work in order to promote a better appreciation of our mutual heritage. Canterbury Archaeological Trust is both a registered charity (charity number 278861) and a limited company (company number 1441517).

08/09/2026

Join us this Saturday! 😁❤️

Canterbury Archaeological Trust is 50 this year and we are marking the occasion with a special public Open Day on Saturday 12 September.

Come and spend the day with us at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge and see what CAT has been working on over the past five decades.

We will have displays from some of our projects with original artefacts and archaeological finds on show. You can meet members of the team, find out what happens behind the scenes and see some of the technology we now use in our work.

There will also be interactive displays and activities for children, so families are very welcome. Tea, coffee and soft drinks will be available during the day.

Saturday 12 September 2026
10.30am to 4.00pm
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, Kentish Barn
Free entry

Entry is through Christ Church Gate in the Buttermarket. Just tell the Cathedral gate staff that you are attending the Canterbury Archaeological Trust event at the Lodge. They will let you into the Precincts without charge and point you in the right direction.

We would love to see you there and celebrate 50 years of Canterbury Archaeological Trust together.

01/09/2026

19/08/2026

Happening tomorrow, a specialist view of the pottery from Canterbury with Martha Carter. We hope you can join us! 😁

Please join us for another talk from the Friends of Canterbury Archaeological Trust! 👀😁

This month's topic is the pottery from Canterbury presented by CAT's very own pottery specialist, Martha Carter. Join us to learn about what we have uncovered and what we can learn from this important archaeological resource. 🪏🍯

The talk is on Thursday 20th August at 7pm and will be held at Canterbury Christ Church University, in the Laud Building LG16.

All are welcome and we ask for a suggested donation of £2 from non-members of the Friends. We hope to see you there! ❤️

12/08/2026

23/07/2026

A huge thank you to this year's East Wear Bay field school students from the University of Kent and our international students.

You worked incredibly hard throughout the excavation, even though the hot days. It was great to see your skills and confidence develop each day.

We hope you enjoyed your time at East Wear Bay and learned a lot about field archaeology.

Thank you for being a part of the team!

20/07/2026

Curious about archaeology? Come and see it in action.

Join the Canterbury Archaeological Trust team at East Wear Bay, Folkestone on Saturday 25 July, from 10am to 3pm, for a free public open day.
Meet the archaeologists and volunteers working on the excavation and hear about the latest discoveries from one of Kent's most important archaeological locations. From prehistoric activity to the Roman period, East Wear Bay continues to reveal new evidence about the people who once lived here.

Everyone is welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!

01/07/2026

Work begins once again at East Wear Bay.

The team is back at East Wear Bay and site set up is now under way ahead of the start of this year’s work.
Over the next few weeks, archaeologists will be working on site to continue investigating this important coastal archaeology project.

There will also be a public open day on Saturday 25 July, 10am to 3pm, where visitors can come along, meet the team, and hear more about the work taking place.

Please keep an eye on our page for updates from the site.

Photos: Ray Duff

26/06/2026

✨ ✨

Most Roman copper alloy reaches us green, after centuries of corrosion. Every so often the ground hands one back close to how it was made, warm in colour and unmistakably fashionable.

It’s a gilt bronze brooch with a finely coated surface. This little lunular (or ‘pelta’) brooch dates to around AD 20 to 75, with split terminals and a pelleted central boss. It was found during excavations in Canterbury, where waterlogged ground sealed it away soon after the Roman conquest. Those rare conditions preserved its original colour, so you can see it much as a Roman would have.

See it up close and read the full story 👇

🔗 unlockingourpast.co.uk/finds-showcase

24/06/2026

Reminder: the East Wear Bay talk is tomorrow.

Join Andy Macintosh for Facing the Cliff: The Results of Excavations at East Wear Bay 2025.

Thursday 25 June 2026
7:00 to 8:00 pm
Canterbury Christ Church University, Laud Building, LG16, Ground Floor, N Holmes Road, Canterbury CT1 1QU

Free to attend. No booking needed.
Suggested donation: £2 for non members of the Friends of Canterbury Archaeological Trust.

Roman villas, Iron Age activity and a clifftop site facing the sea. Andy will share what recent excavations have shown about East Wear Bay and why the site keeps changing how we understand this part of Kent’s past.

All are welcome.

Christ Church University Archaeology Programme

Address

92A Broad Street
Canterbury
CT12LU

Telephone

+441227462062

Website

http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/

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