Welcome to the Group's website.


Who we are

The Archaeological Leather Group promotes the study of leather and leather objects from archaeological and other contexts. Members come from a variety of disciplines and include archaeologists, historians, scientists, scholars, conservators, artefact specialists and leather workers.

What we do

The Group aims to provide a focus for the investigation of leather, bringing together a broad range of knowledge and experience both practical and academic. Information which adds to understanding of leather is explored, including its manufacture, function, context, processing, recording, conservation, care and curation.

The Group normally meets twice a year. We usually organise one scholarly meeting in the spring, and visit a museum, working tannery or other place of leather interest in the autumn. The Archaeological Leather Group Newsletter is published twice a year, and we maintain a comprehensive and still expanding leather bibliography.

Publications from conference proceedings are produced on a regular basis:

Leather in Warfare: Attack, Defence and the Unexpected was published in 2017, Why Leather? The Material and Cultural Dimensions of Leather was published in 2014, Leather Tanneries: the Archaeological Evidence in 2011, In the Saddle: an exploration of the saddle through history in 2004, Leather Wet and Dry: Current Treatments in the Conservation of Waterlogged and Desiccated Archaeological Leather in 2001 and Leather and Fur: Aspects of Early Medieval Trade and Technology in 1998.

Membership

We like to keep the membership fee low, currently £10 a year. If you are interested in joining the group, please use the top link on this page to obtain a membership form.