Upcoming Lectures
November 3rd, 2025, 6:30-7:30pm - TU-DA Lecture -- Laure Dubreuil and Atsumi Ishida “From Foragers to Farmers: A Ground Stone Perspective on Southwest Asia’s Neolithic Transition”
Trent University Durham GTA - Room A121
Southwest Asia represents one of the earliest and most influential centers of plant domestication. Crops such as wheat, barley, and various legumes were first cultivated in this region. However, due to the generally poor preservation of botanical remains, many questions remain about the pathways that led to the establishment of farming. The study of stone tools used for grinding and pounding can offer crucial insights into this process. In this presentation, we discuss recent methodological advances that help us “make the stones speak,” and we explore, through several case studies, how ground stone tool research contributes to understanding key aspects of the transition to agriculture—including the changing symbolism associated with these tools.
Richard B. Johnston Memorial Lecture (1993-2024)
The Richard B. Johnston Memorial Lecture series was established at Trent University in 1993 to honour one of Canada’s most distinguished archaeologists and to bring leading scholars from around the world to share their visions of antiquity with the University and Peterborough communities. Dr. Richard B. Johnston came to Trent in 1971 and served as chair of the Department of Anthropology through its formative years, from 1975 to 1980. He supervised major archaeological research at the Serpent Mounds site on Rice Lake near Keene, the Le Caron Huron village site near Midland, and the Atherley Narrows site near Lake Simcoe, before returning to Rice Lake to excavate the early Archaic MacIntyre site. He was also heavily involved in the Anthropology graduate program at Trent, where he supervised many students who have gone on to successful careers in archaeology. Prof. Johnston died in 1987 at the age of 56.
Trent University Durham Anthropology Lecture Series (TU-DA)
This lecture series was founded in 2010 in order to provide the same experience to the Oshawa community and Trent Durham as the free lecture series based in Peterborough.
Peterborough Chapter, Ontario Archaeological Society
The POAS has a monthly Speakers Series from September to June, which is open to the public at no charge, and conducted with the support of the City of Peterborough and the Trent University Archaeological Research Centre. Light refreshments will be served. For further information contact Dirk Verhulst, chapter secretary at dverhulst@cogeco.ca.