We are pleased to announce the schedule of the British Epigraphy Society’s upcoming Spring Meeting in Durham, which will take place at Durham University on Saturday 18 April in the Ritson Room, Department of Classics and Ancient History (38 North Bailey, Durham, DH1 3EU).
The event will feature:
- Academic presentations on papers and posters on epigraphic topics (see the schedule below)
- A visit to the Durham Museum of Archaeology to view the Lanchester Military Diploma and other inscriptions in the collection
- An optional excursion to the epigraphic museum at Chesters on Hadrian’s Wall on Sunday 19 April.
All are welcome to attend! There will be no charge for attendance, but it would be appreciated if people who plan to attend could register by emailing christopher.de-lisle@durham.ac.uk by 13 April 2026. Please notify us of any dietary or accessibility needs, so that we can be sure to cater for these.
The optional excursion to Chesters on 19 April 2026 will cost £10.00 / person including transport and places are limited, so please register for this by emailing christopher.de-lisle@durham.ac.uk at your earliest convenience (ideally in March).
Applications to present papers are closed. However, two spaces remain for the poster session. Please email christopher.de-lisle@durham.ac.uk, if this is of interest.
Accommodation can be booked from the University for the evenings of 17 April and/or 18 April at a rate of £72 /night. See here for details.
Some financial support for transport and accommodation costs is available from the British Epigraphy Society for postgraduates, ECRs, and independent scholars. Details of the terms and conditions and how to apply can be seen here. The deadline for applications to this fund is 28 February.
Schedule 18 April 2026
9:30-9:45: Registration
Session 1
10:00-10:30: Katherine McDonald & Nick Zair, Five new Oscan inscriptions from Rossano di Vaglio
10:30-11:00: Michele Bianconi & Gavin Blasdel, Inscriptions in contact: the case of Messapic and Latin at Grotta Poesia
Coffee break
Session 2
11:15-11:30: Anna Sitz, What to Do with ‘Bad Poetry:’ Reading a Grave Epigram from Byzantine Cappadocia
11:45-12:15: Colton G. Siegmund, The Epigraphic Fossilization of Cultural Heritage in Cuneiform
12:15-13:00: Lunch break & poster session
13:00-14:30: Visit to the Durham Museum of Archaeology, hosted by Gemma Lewis
Session 3
14:30-15:00: Ilaria Bucci & Ted Kaizer, A Palmyrene Triad at Hatra? A dedication by a strategos from Palmyra
15:00-15:30: Tom Sale, The Steppe Gods? Reframing Divine Conception in the Palmyrena
Coffee break
Session 4
15:45-16:15: Matt Evans, Greek Inscriptions and Image-based Machine Learning: Digitisation Methodologies and Initial Results
16:15-16:45: Thea Sommerschield, New Inscriptions from Himera, Sicily
Schedule 19 April 2026 (Optional excursion to Chesters’ Lapidarium, early registration essential, cost: £10.00)
9:00: Meet for pickup in Durham outside the Odeon Theatre (Unit 15, The Riverwalk, Millburngate, Durham DH1 4SL)
10:30: Arrival at Chesters
12:30: Depart from Chesters
14:00: Drop-off in Durham
Note: this is not a Classical Association event – please contact the organisers directly with any enquiries.