On the afternoon of Saturday 14 October a programme of talks brought together specialists in geology, archaeology, cultural geography, film-making and traditional artisanal skills.

Dr Caitlin DeSilvey, Professor of Cultural Geography at the University of Exeter, presented Making Monuments: The Tolmen Stone – a brief history of heritage legislation in England, told from the perspective of a giant granite boulder.

Prof. Caitlin DeSilvey is a geographer whose research explores the cultural significance of change and transformation, with a particular focus on heritage ecologies and climate futures. Caitlin is based at University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus. She has worked with artists, archaeologists, environmental scientists and heritage practitioners on a range of interdisciplinary projects. She often uses visual imagery and story-telling to engage people in imagining changing environments and places, and look to patterns from the past to try to understand what the future might bring.

The talk was filmed by Cris and Molly of CM Productions.

Water and Stone/Dowr ha Men was made possible by the support of Falmouth University, with FEAST, Cornwall Council, Arts Council England, Cornwall Community Foundation and Helston Town Council. The project was also part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.