Archaeology Talks! Ice Age Art Now (A Festival of Archaeology Event)

Dr Jill Cook FSA will talk about the exhibition of Ice Age art now showing at Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley. Dating from between 24,000 to 12,000 years ago, the remarkable images on display are often hidden by academic archaeology rather than allowing them to reach across thousands of years to take their rightful place in art history and reveal their contemporary relevance. She suggests that while of no use to physical survival, art was crucial to the development of strong social bonds based on shared feelings, values, dreams, fears and desires which enriched and sustained communities– just as art does now.


Jill Cook is Keeper of the Department of Britain, Europe & Prehistory at The British Museum and a specialist in the archaeology of human origins, particularly art and beliefs. She has curated several exhibitions for the British Museum and elsewhere.

Part of series of talks that have been arranged by Bradford District Museums and Galleries to celebrate the National Festival of Archaelogy (19th July - 3rd August 2025)

THIS TALK TAKES PLACE IN THE BEACON, in the park

You may also like the following events from Bradford Museums and Galleries:

• This Wednesday, 30th July, 10:30 am, Little Explorers for the Festival of Archaeology in Keighley
• This Wednesday, 30th July, 11:00 am, Festival of Archaeology Family activity: Archealogy and Climate Change in Keighley
• This Wednesday, 30th July, 11:00 am, Amazing Astronomy in Bradford

Also check out other Arts events in Keighley, Festivals in Keighley, Exhibitions in Keighley.