The Royal Observer Corps: A History and Archaeology of a Classic British Voluntary Organisation
Wednesday 29 May 2013
Lecture Theatre 5W 2.3
The Royal Observer Corps was primarily a voluntary organisation allied to the Royal Air Force and, later, Home Office. It has a rich heritage spanning 70 years, all of it focussed on the protection of the British mainland from attack from the air. During the Cold War period aircraft recognition was all but abandoned in favour of fallout warning and reporting. The archaeology and material culture of this organisation is now the focus of study, demonstrating that the process of volunteering displays complex behaviour. And just what happens to a nuclear bunker once it is redundant? This illustrated talk reveals how, through current research, the abandonment process is helping us understand human behaviours and attitudes towards structures connected with the archaeology of mass destruction.
For more lectures, see the full GULP programme.
Mr Robert Clarke, University of Exeter
Bob Clarke is a practicing archaeologist and lecturer; his research interests include the archaeology of 20th century arms races. He is currently focussing on the archaeology of mass destruction connected to the Cold War as part of his wider PhD research with the University of Exeter. He has published nine books on a wide range of subjects including Prehistoric Wiltshire, The Archaeology of Airfields and Britain's Cold War.