Kidderminster & District Archaeological & Historical Society

On January 27, Simon Buteux will give his annual presidential address to the society. His title this year is "Destroying Ancient Civilisations".

The destruction of ancient buildings and the looting of artifacts, often on religious or ideological grounds, is not new. However, the scale of the destruction and looting in ancient Mesopotamia, the birthplace of civilization, since the Iraq War of 2003 and the subsequent rise of Islamic State, is shocking. In an illustrated lecture, Simon will outline what has happened and why, and what the response has been from those concerned about our cultural heritage.

Simon is an archaeologist by training and has been Director of Birmingham Conservation Trust since January 2013. Until 2007 he was a Research Fellow in the Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity at the University of Birmingham, where he was a Director of Birmingham Archaeology and, from 2002-5, Divisional Leader for Archaeology and Heritage Management. From 2008-11 Simon undertook the repair and conservation of the Reader’s House, a Grade I listed early 17th century building in Ludlow, and in 2012 he managed the construction of a school/community centre in Borneo, using a mixture of traditional and modern techniques. Since starting at Birmingham Conservation Trust, Simon’s main project has been Newman Brothers, a late Victorian coffin fittings works in the Jewellery Quarter, now a multiple award-winning mix of innovative museum and let units. He is now moving onto a range of new projects. Simon is a member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

The meeting following will be on February 3, when Richard Perrin will speak to us on the history of Bewdley.