Calpe Conference 2011

The Strait of Gibraltar: Bridge or Barrier in History?

First Appeared 17.06.11

This year’s Calpe Conference will focus on the history of the Strait of Gibraltar, from its origins to the present day. The conference promises to hold something of interest to many and a lot to those who are keen historians and geographers. The panel of speakers has been selected to represent the top specialists in their field and the key note lecture will be delivered by Professor David Abulafia of Cambridge University, an eminent historian who has just published his latest book which is a history of the Mediterranean. From 5-million year old cataracts to the cold war and current immigration issues across the Strait, this conference promises to be a landmark event.

The conference will be formally opened by the Honourable Edwin J. Reyes, MP, at 0930 hours on Thursday 22nd September at the John Mackintosh Hall.

Registration is free for residents of Gibraltar who are encouraged to attend. Registration details may be obtained from the Gibraltar Museum or online.

For further information please contact Professor Clive Finlayson at the Gibraltar Museum, or visit the Calpe Conference website.

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2011 Gibraltar Museum Open Day

The Gibraltar Museum will be joining museums all over the world in celebrating International Museums Day on Saturday 21st May, 2011. This is the tenth year that the Gibraltar Museum is hosting this event and this year’s international theme is "Museum and Memory". Museums serve as “Memory Stores”, that help preserve as well as keep the past alive, through its collections.  The objects they showcase are fundamental to the memory of the communities we live in, and are an expression of our natural and cultural heritage.  Join us on Museum’s Day to discover, and rediscover, our individual as well as collective memory!

International Museums Day has been celebrated in Gibraltar since 2002 in the form of an open day which continues to increase in popularity within the local community. The Day promises to be fun-filled with plenty of activities, primarily aimed at young people, but also for the young at heart.

This year the event will again be supported by GBC’s Radio Roadshow, which will provide music, interviews and other entertainment throughout the day.

There are also a number of ‘hands-on’ activities which include a ‘Journey down Memory Lane’, and ‘What am I?’, together with some regular favourites such as ‘fire-making’ demonstrations, street theatre performances of Aesop’s Fable ‘The Milkmaid and her Pail’, as well as the ever popular face-painting. Finally, a treasure hunt is sure to set many young history detectives off exploring the many galleries in the Museum.

Make a note in your diary to visit the Gibraltar Museum on Saturday 21st May between 10am and 6pm. It promises to be a fun day for the whole family!

Entrance is free.

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Gorham’s Cave draws collaborative project between  Gibraltar Museum and Oxford University

As part of its drive to establish collaborative projects with researchers and institutions at the highest academic level, the Gibraltar Museum is pleased to announce the establishment of a medium to long term archaeological project with the School of Archaeology of the University of Oxford. The work will involve all future archaeological excavations at Gorham’s Cave and associated sites within the potential Gorham’s Cave Complex World Heritage Site. As part of the agreement Dr Francisco Giles Pacheco, former director of the Museo de El Puerto Santa Maria (now retired) and long-established archaeologist at the project, will continue in a leading capacity within the team. 

The Oxford team will be led by Drs Michael Petraglia and Nicole Boivin. They have visited Gibraltar previously and have undertaken preliminary work with two draft papers in the process of submission for publication. These have drawn on museum-based research and pilot excavations. One is on a re-evaluation of the Neolithic and Bronze Age of Gibraltar and the other on Mousterian (Neanderthal) stone tool technology from all the caves. 

Both archaeologists are respected leaders of international projects. As part of a 5-year European Union grant, Dr Nicole Boivin is exploring ancient trade and exchange between populations across the Indian Ocean Rim. She is presently excavating sites in East Africa, India and Sri Lanka. Dr Michael Petraglia is currently investigating the movement of populations out of Africa.  He is excavating Palaeolithic sites in Arabia and India, which have now been dated to between 70-80,000 years ago. 

Commenting on the collaboration, Professor Clive Finlayson of the Gibraltar Museum expressed his delight and satisfaction: “We are always trying to bring the best researchers to work with us in what are sites that are among the best in the world. This collaboration will ensure stability and continuity of the archaeological dimension of our important work in Gorham’s and is especially welcome now that we are moving towards World Heritage Status. With Nicky and Mike will come a great team of researchers and students and a window will open for international funding to support the Gibraltar Government’s long term commitment towards us.”

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