In March the archaeological finds community converged on M Shed, Bristol for Finds Fest 2026! We asked Gulfareen Kamran - Finds SIG committee member, Finds Fest panellist, and trainee Roman pottery specialist with the Archaeology Mentoring Partnership - to share her experiences of this exciting and energising day!
Hi, I’m Gulfareen! I was part of the CIfA Finds Group committee that spent months organising the industry’s first ever Finds Fest. Together we worked incredibly hard to create a space for our sector’s expertise to shine. And I think we succeeded! The venue buzzed with networking and brilliant conversations that lasted until the very end of the day.
If you missed Finds Fest, here’s how the day unfolded!
But first… an important thank you!
Historic England funded a £4450 travel bursary, which was vital for people attending Finds Fest. It paid for 12 AMP grant holders’ travel and enabled 25 more to attend the event ranging from Undergraduate, Post-Graduate, recent graduate, unemployed, early careers and people working in commercial post-excavation departments. Attendees travelled from all over the country from Newcastle to Cornwall and everywhere in-between. The bursary also covered tickets for 15 people who were non-members and/or unemployed or students that would have struggled to attend.
Travel bursaries for Early Career archaeologists were also provided by SLR, who additionally funded our poster competition prizes!
Finds Fest would have looked a lot different without this support – THANK YOU to Historic England and SLR for making this possible.
Now, back to Finds Fest!
CIfA Finds Group: In Our Toolkit Era
Emily Johnson, Chair of the CIfA Finds Group, opened Finds Fest by reflecting on the group’s mission and the development of CIfA Toolkits (and also Taylor Swift). Many of these resources feature significant contributions from our own committee members past and present. From archives to public engagement there are Toolkits covering loads of aspects of archaeological practice. They’re all available online for free - check them out!
Emily Johnson giving her opening talk about CIfA Finds Group and CIfA Toolkits.
Archaeology Mentoring Partnership: A Legacy of Knowledge
Following the opening, Phil Pollard introduced the Archaeology Mentoring Partnership (AMP), providing vital context with figures and facts on the programme's origins and growth. To see the impact of these figures in practice, Imogen Wood and her mentee, Elle Norrish, elaborated on how the partnership works on a day-to-day basis.
Their first-hand account of the mentoring process set the stage for a moving afternoon discussion where seasoned specialists reflected on their own journeys. They spoke of the "tough" but dedicated mentors who gave them the depth of knowledge and the necessary time to master their craft. The consensus among the mentors was clear: passing on this hard-won expertise is the logical next step. For those of us in the early stages of our careers, this commitment to "passing the torch" provides a vital sense of support and professional belonging.
Phil Pollard introducing Historic England’s Archaeology Mentoring Partnership. Photo credit: Gulfareen
First Aid for Finds: From Print to Digital
The digital evolution of a specialist staple took centre stage as Laura Ratcliffe-Warren introduced the new First Aid for Finds (FAFF) website. Transformed with support from Cardiff University, ICON, and RESCUE: The British Archaeological Trust, the platform moves the classic manual into an accessible digital space. This ensures essential conservation guidance is more available than ever for both field and lab work.
Laura Ratcliff-Warren introducing First Aid for Finds website. Photo credit: Gulfareen
Career Journeys: a panel of possibilities
After the break I was up at the front myself as part of a Career Pathways panel! The session was hosted by Rachel Cubitt (Small Finds Specialist and Post-Excavation Project Manager at Historic England) and included AMP Mentors Lorraine Mepham and Matt Law, who specialise in Post-Medieval Pottery and Molluscs respectively (among other things!).The session was a clear highlight, with one attendee noting they “really enjoyed the panel show section - really insightful to hear from people at different stages of their careers”.
During the session a way to maintain the day’s incredible momentum emerged. Delegates highlighted the usefulness of online 'Teabreak' sessions: short, digital meetups for sharing research, lightning talks, or simply catching up with peers outside the lab. This modern solution would keep our community connected and supported year-round, and is something I know the Finds committee are hoping to run a bit more regularly.
Keynote session: Career Pathways. From left: Gulfareen Kamran, Matt Law, Lorraine Mepham, and Rachel Cubitt. Photo credit: Phil Pollard
Discussions, Discoveries, and ‘shopping’ at the Finds Marketplace
After lunch Finds Fest became more … freeform. Themed discussions took place based on suggested topics from delegates at the start of the session. These included Finds and Archives, Finds Careers, and more, discussing common hardships with a focus on solutions. There was also a meeting of the AMP Mentors and Mentees, and an opportunity to view posters by Early Career archaeologists which showcased innovative projects from the next generation of specialists.
Alongside this, the room was transformed into a high-energy Marketplace. From Zooarchaeology to Conservation, experts were on hand to share practical insights, career stories, and their enthusiasm about their specialism. Delegates also got the opportunity to look at some lovely finds on display!
Elle Norrish on the marketstall of prehistoric pottery.
Bridging the Gap: Finds and Fieldwork
One of the most significant discussions of the day regarded the gap between finds specialisms and fieldwork. The point was made that many specialists enter the field specifically because they cannot, or choose not to, engage in traditional "boots-on-the-ground" excavation, whether due to personal preference or disabilities. However, many job descriptions for post-excavation or finds specialisms still list fieldwork experience as a mandatory requirement. While an understanding of excavation practices and stratigraphy is incredibly useful, it could be that by making fieldwork an essential requirement we sideline specialist talent without such experience.
Our discussions clarified that the real requirement is often data literacy: the ability to read context sheets and GIS information, and manage large datasets. The suggestion that was made for a CIfA Toolkit to bridge this gap would be a massive step toward a more inclusive and accessible sector.
A Fulfilling Success
Thank you to everyone who came to Finds Fest. And thank you to those who have filled in our feedback form! The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with one delegate calling it "truly the best conference I have attended." From newcomers inspired by the "passion brought by everyone" to veterans energised by new connections, it seems that everyone - including myself - left with fresh insights and a renewed sense of purpose.
Co-organising Finds Fest was a labour of love, made possible by the support of our sponsors SLR and Historic England and the dedicated time and effort of each member of our committee. This event proved that when we bring the finds world together, we aren't just processing the past; we are actively building a brighter, more connected, and more inclusive future for our profession.
Imogen on her prehistoric pottery market stall
Historic England table
Ruth Beveridge showcasing Small finds on her SLR stall.