Archaeology Talks! Ice Age Art Now

Jill Cook 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 Head of the Department of Britain, Europe & Prehistory 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)