A Date with the three Cerne Giants: The When, How, Why and Who of the Giant
On the 27th February Mike Allen is coming to talk to us about the Cerne Abbas Giant.
Mike Allen is a geoarchaeologist and environmental archaeologist who coordinated all the archaeological science for the Cerne Giant excavation. He subsequently completed the analysis, reporting and publication. He is however, better known for examining the prehistoric chalkland land-use and landscapes via land snail, hillwash and soil studies from Sussex to Dorset, Stonehenge to Avebury.
Mike now runs a commercial consultancy with his own purpose-built bespoke laboratory, working on sites from Cornwall to Kent, and as far afield as Malta and Cape Verde.
The Cerne Abbas Giant
About the giant
The Cerne Giant is one of the most famous chalk figures in England and one of only two extant human hill figures. Despite its notoriety and open public display we, as archaeologists and historians, know surprisingly little about him.
Archaeologists are good at characterising sites and knowing their date. However with the Cerne Giant even his date (prehistoric, medieval or post medieval) still eluded us. In 2020 the National Trust team set out to rectify this. The 5 days of excavation resolved the date (eventually) but the ensuing research provided much much more: why, when, how, his disappearance, reappearance and his chequered history on a Dorset hillside.
If you want to visit the Cerne Abbas Giant you can find directions on the National Trust website here.
The NT also has some history about the giant here.
‘The Cerne Abbas Giant is Britain’s largest, and possibly most recognisable, chalk hill figure. Standing at 180ft (55 metres) the Giant is an imposing figure in the surrounding landscape. Being in the National Trust’s care since 1920 has allowed lots of research to be carried out but, still, the ultimate age of the Giant has eluded archaeologists.’
Location etc
The talk will take place in the council chamber in the civic offices on Euclid Street. Admission is £8 for members of the Friends and £10 for non-members.
Mike’s book
A date with the two Cerne Giants; reinvestigating an iconic British hill figure (2024; ed M.J. Allen)
The book is available from Oxbow at £14.95 + £4.95p&p. But you can buy it from Mike at the talk for £20.
It’s also available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Date-Two-Cerne-Giants-Reinvestigating/dp/1914427378
Talks and events
For our full programme of talks visit our website here.
Date/Time
Date(s) - 27/02/2025
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Categories
