October's lecture on Manerba in Italy deals with a site occupied almost continuously from the Neolithic to the 17th century. Why was it occupied in the first place - was it purely for defence or was it a visible symbolic location for exchange and social control? Certainly later, during the Iron Age and Roman period, its use was ritual. We have similar problems with the interpretation opf Neolithic causewayed camps in Britain and Roger Mercer, as a leading authority in Britain on this subject, is the person to explain them (February's lecture).
Alex Jones will talk about the most recent campaigns of archaeological work at Birmingham's Roman fort at Metchley. Here, evidence for occupation for a period of at least 150 years has been found, together with an associated civilian settlement (vicus), which is the earliest site yet excavated in Birmingham.
Roy Sladden has a Europe-wide interest in the history of castles - and especially those of the West Midlands - as well as in the nature of the architecture of settlements in general (November).
Continuing on a local theme, Nicholas Thomas will talk about Bredon Hill and Iron Age Hillforts of the West Midlands (March), while the programme comes up to recent times and also takes a broader national perspective with the final lecture in the series by Michael Anderton, formerly of English Heritage, who will talk about the recetly completed survey of 20th century monuments of war (April).