WANHS Archaeology Field Group

WAFG Facebook - please join us

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:19:00 +0000

If you are on Facebook also, please add yourself to the Wiltshire Archaeology Field Group's page, news updates and photos will also be posted on there - http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/Wiltshire-Archaeology-Field-Group/17497361251783

Social Event - Friday 20 December

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:18:00 +0000

Come and meet the Experts Yatesbury Social Event at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes Thursday 20th December from 7pm. This is a social evening with drinks and nibbles during which we will be showing some of the finds from this year's field work and talking about the project. Experts from the team will be discussing some of the various finds - from aeroplane parts, to German POW buttons and even some Roman and Medieval finds! Please bring drink and nibbles if you want, and afterwards a pint and mince pie shall be had afterwards at a fine pub. Time to indulge and get festive!

Join us at Bedwyn Brails this weekend.

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:32:00 +0000

Let's hope the rain stays away!

An aerial photograph taken in 1946 shows what appears to be a rectangular feature in an area of the brails to the north of the conduit house which at that time was open ground but is now wooded. This feature may be a woodland bank or something similar, but as it is on the projected line of the exit pipe from the conduit house is worth a little more investigation.

One of the Longleat Thynne papers transcribed by Graham Bathe referring to the pipe from the conduit house says “I doubt not to have water running in the base court (of the house) or at least within iii feate whear it is best to make the mortar heapes because the water runneth ther and the lyme kiln not farroff.” The purpose of this weekend is to survey the area using plane table and/or tape and offset, and to look for evidence of lime kilns. We hope to have magnetic susceptibility equipment to look for evidence of burning, and an auger to investigate the nature of any buried features revealed. Test pits may be hand dug over anything needing further investigation.

We will be working from 10am to 4pm on both Sunday 6th May and Monday 7th May - with a break for lunch. Please bring your own refreshments. Meet in front of the large barns at Hill Barn, but we may park in the bowser field if ground conditions allow.

Contact - Brian Clarke at brianclarke.wanboro@tiscali.co.uk or telephone 01793 790158 or on 07732 486108 on the day.

AFG Spring Social

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Friday 27 April 7pm start. Come along and meet more of the group, enjoy some refreshments. A representative from English Heritage will be giving a presentation about a project in the Vale of Pewsey they hope the AFG will participate in.

YATESBURY FINDS IDENTIFICATION

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:15:00 +0000

Tuesday 27 March at the Museum

A Finds Identification evening at the Museum starting at 7.30pm. This will include looking at the wonderful myriad of bits and pieces (and hopefully identifying them), some of the nice stuff already identified and a catch up of what we have done and what we plan to do this Spring and in September at the airfield and POW camp.

Nibbles and drinks will be served on the night.

If you are interesting in coming, please let us know - e-mail wanhs@wiltshireheritage.org.uk.

SAT 17 MARCH - FINDS SORTING

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:15:00 +0000

At the Museum 10.30am. Newwcomers welcome.

AFG event Saturday 4 February

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Robert Skinner will talk to the AFG on the subject of the West Woods Environs Project, at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 4 February at Wiltshire Heritage Museum, starting at 10.30am.

Following that will be a sorting and recording from the 2011 digs.

Everyone welcome.

See the Moot list below (as at 30 January), there are still gaps, any volunteers? As usual any mistakes in the list, please let me know.

Moot Site, Remarks

1, Bishops Cannings,
2, Alderbury,
3, Amesbury, Done
4, Blagrove,
5, Bradford,
6, Branchbury, Complete – No identification possible
7, Cadworth,
8, Calne, Complete
9, Cawdon,
10, Chippenham, In hand but looking as not poss?
11, Cicementone, In hand
12, Cricklade,
13, Damerham, In hand
14, Dolesfield, Complete – No identification possible
15, Downton, In hand
16, Dunley,
17, Dunworth, Complete
18, Elstub, Done Panorama Req
19, Frustfield, Done
20, Heytesbury, Complete
21, Highworth, Complete
22, Kingsbridge, Complete
23, Kinwardstone,
24, Melksham,
25, Mere, Complete
26, Ramsbury,
27, Rowborough,
28, Scipa, Complete
29, Selkley,
30, Staple,
31, Startley, Inhand
32, Stowford, Complete
33, Studfold,
34, Swanborough, Complete – req writing up
35, Thorngrove, Complete
36, Thornhill, Complete – No identification possible
37, Warminster, Complete
38, Westbury, Complete
39, Whorwellsdown, Complete
40, Wonderditch.

Shaun

Finds Sorting - beginners welcome

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:13:00 +0000

There is a finds sorting (beginners welcome) at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 7 January at 10am with Lyns. Shaun will also be there starting on the consolidation of the Moots project. All welcome, please pop in.

Future Date to note: 4th Feb:
Robert Skinner will talk to the AFG on the subject of the West Woods Environs Project after which there will be sorting and recording from the 2011 digs.

Marden Field Walking - 4 December

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:08:00 +0000

This will be the final day so one last big push will finish the job. We have already picked up some interesting finds.

The main aim is to look for traces of prehistoric settlement in the Vale in the area surrounding the Henge at Marden. When a similar exercise was undertaken to the north of Stanton St Bernard in 2009 the big surprise was the amount of Romano-British pottery that was found.

If you are interested just turn up at the Meeting Point (SU084566) on the day or phone Jim Gunter on 01793 731974 for more details. Come for the day or part of the day.

Yatesbury fieldwork - 7/8 October

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:45:00 +0000

The beans are now in and the dig/field walking in the trench and POW camp areas delayed from 2 weeks ago is set for this weekend 7/8 Oct.

Meet at the village hall car park 10:00 Saturday and Sunday.

This coincides with the WANHS AGM and lecture on the Saturday and the Downland walk in memory of Shaun Ogbourne on Sunday. It means that for once there is plenty of choice to suit everyone's tastes so I hope everyone will come out to at least one of these events.

If you wish you can go to Yatesbury for just a morning or one day or both that will be fine. If you are going please let Dan Miles know by email: arqueotrad@yahoo.es

DOWNLAND ROCK ART WALK

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Sunday 9 October. As a memorial to Shaun Ogbourne who had identified many blocks of sarsen on the Marlborough Downs that appeared to have been humanly modified, with cup marks, possible polissoirs, and even carvings, it would be fitting if his work was continued. A walk has, therefore, been organised across the Downs to give everyone the chance to look at, examine, and comment on the individual stones as well as taking in other sites along the way. It is intended to have the walk in conjunction with members of Shaun’s family and his Wessex Dowsing Society. This is the start of Rock Art Wiltshire, an ongoing project to fully document and publicise all such stones identified anywhere in the county.

Date: Sunday 9th October.
Time: 10:30 – 16:00 (bring lunch and appropriate gear for the weather)
Venue: Manton car park (directions – see map below)
Map Ref: SU159699
Contact: Jim Gunter on 01793 731974 or uncledigger@btinternet.com

A map is available on request - wanhs@wiltshireheritage.org.uk

Yatesbury fieldwork postponed

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:34:00 +0000

The fieldwork planned for this weekend (24/25 September) at Yatesbury has been cancelled as the farmer has still not been able to get his crop in! Watch this space for details of the rearranged date - or subscribe to the afg e-mail newsletter - contact wanhs@wiltshireheritage.org.uk and include AFG in the subject line.

We had a great turn out last week and lots of fun - the RAF Yatesbury Society has already put some photos on their website.

Kennet Valley Mesolithic study

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:41:00 +0000

Abby George has started the fieldwalking, augering and test pitting in West Overton (North Farm) as described in an earlier email. Work is being interrupted by rain so will continue this week and into next week (w/c 19th September).
Contact: Abby on 07919 230721 or artdept@btinternet.com
Date: from 12th September 2011
Time: 10:00 – 16:00 each day
Venue: North Farm, West Overton
Map Ref: SU133685

Stanton St Bernard - sorting and analysing finds

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:39:00 +0000

Following the successful weekend excavation of the post-medieval buildings at Home Cowleaze conducted jointly with members of the SSB History Society now comes the task of sorting and analysing the many finds. This has been planned to be a joint exercise again with the local society.
Contact: Brian Clarke on brianclarke.wanboro@tiscali.co.uk
Date: 24th September 2011
Time: 10:00 – 16:00
Venue: Stanton St Bernard village hall
Map Ref: SU092624

Yatesbury WW1 Airfield

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:31:00 +0000

Slight change of plan/dates.

The target area covers 2 huge WW1 airfields. The original plan was to start in one part of the eastern airfield where what looks like training trenches – but might actually be target practice trenches for aircrew - and a POW camp. Later we were going to move to another part where there were hangars, recreation areas and target practice areas.

However, due to bad weather the farmer has been unable to bring in the crop in time for the 17th September in the first area. The plan now is to start in the hangar area but only on 17th September. The farmer is confident that he will clear the first area before the following weekend. The work in that area is now reprogrammed for the weekend of 24th and 25th September.

Members of the Yatesbury History Group and the RAF Society will be joining us.
Contact: Jim Gunter on 01793 731974 or uncledigger@btinternet.com
Dates: 17th and 24th/25th September 2011
Time: 10:00 – 16:30 each day
Venue: Yatesbury village hall, The Avenue (next to the church)
Map Ref: SU064716

Archaeology at Yatesbury WW1 airfield

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:25:00 +0000

With the Centenary of the outbreak of World War One approaching there is a rising tide of interest in the archaeology of the period. Research by WANHS members Dan Miles and Richard Broadhead (with MoD archaeologists) has identified Yatesbury as a very important site. It was the training base for aircrews from UK, NZ, Australia, Canada, South Africa and even included some pre-revolution Russian crews and later some US crews. It was a vast operation with 2 airfields next to each other.

Two specific areas have been identified for an initial weekend of work. One, based on aerial photos seems to have the only known straight line trenches left in Britain. These were training trenches probably dug just before the outbreak of hostilities. They were quickly found to be death traps when attacked and zigzag trenches very quickly superseded them in the field. Our plan is to geophys the area to identify these trenches, one of which will then be excavated.

The second area is the site of a large POW camp. As we only have the one weekend this area will be geophysed, fieldwalked and metal detected all
in the same grids. If you have a metal detector bring it along.

There is some speculation that the straight trenches were backfilled in 1918 with material from the POW camp, which make fir plenty of finds.

It is planned that the AFG will take the lead on this site but (hopefully) involvement by the Yatesbury History Group and the RAF Society. Based on this one weekend’s results it should be possible to plan a much bigger project for 2012 (and beyond).

The exploratory work will be over the weekend of 17/18 September 2011. If you are interested in taking part please contact us.

Bedwyn Brails: the continuing hunt for a Tudor Mansion

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:34:00 +0000

Bank Holiday weekend - Saturday 27 to Monday 29 August.
Come along to assist with the continuing hunt for this Tudor Mansion.
Meet at Hill Barn Farm at 9.30. Finish 4pm.

Range of activities:
One area has already been geophysed and some targets identified which might be the foundation trenches. These will be excavated – on the hard “clag” with the aid of a digger; test pits would be dug in the cultivated areas; another area will also be geophysed and processed overnight to identify further possible targets for excavating on Sunday. Use will be made of the digger to continue following the line of the pipe found coming out of the Conduit House.
Monday will be used to finalise any “interesting” trenches and for fieldwalking – Bronze Age, Roman and Medieval pottery was found whilst geophysing.

(contact Jim Gunter 01793 731974; uncledigger@btinternet.com)

Test Pits in the Kennet Valley

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:32:00 +0000

Volunteers are being sought to assist with the Kennet Valley Mesolithic Environment project. Please contact Abby George if you are willing to help with digging test pits at West Overton in the next few weeks.
Contact Abby on 07919 230721 artdept@btinernet.com

Moot Project

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:54:00 +0000

We are holding a 'moot drop in' on Saturday 16 July at Wiltshire Heritage Museum from 2-4pm. Come along for a chat, compare note and 'hopefully' get some advice.

Summer Digs

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:52:00 +0000

This year we have two excavations planned one at Stanton St Bernard and another at Bedwyn Brails.

Home Cowleaze, Stanton St Bernard - Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th August (9.30am to 4.30pm). This site is now pasture but early maps indicate that properties were here. The project was initiated by the Stanton St Bernard History Group but this dig will be undertaken jointly with the AFG. The project will use test pitting to locate any buried remains of two of the properties and recover any evidence which may indicate the use and date of these buildings. Please contact brianclarke.wanboro@tiscali.co.uk or mike.mcqueen@ntlworld.com if you would like to get involved.

Bedwyn Brails - Bank Holiday weekend 27-29 August. Further details will be posted when available.

Castle Elusive exhibition at Calne Heritage Centre

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:47:00 +0000

Find out about the Castle Elusive exhibition now on at Calne Heritage Centre. A newsletter all about the exhibition is now online.

Castle Elusive exhibition opens

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:12:00 +0000

An exhibition about the Archaeology Field Groups work to locate Calne castle has opened at Calne Heritage Centre and runs until 8 May.

More information, including opening hours, is available here.

Castle Elusive exhibition opens 1 April

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:30:00 +0000

Come along to Calne Heritage between now and 8 May to learn more about the archaeology field group's efforts to locate the site of Calne Castle. On display will be artefacts found during the excavations on Castle Hill and also photographs of many more.

Calne Heritage Centre is located on New Road, Calne and is open Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 2pm to 4pm. Entry is free.

Saxon Moot Project - 2 April

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:27:00 +0000

Meet at Bouverie Hall carpark, Pewsey at 9.45am, from where we will travel to the moot site. We should be back in Pewsey in time for lunch!

One from each team should attend this event if possible, where there will be an opportunity to ask Paul Tubb questions about the project.

If you are not in a team and interested in the project, please come along too.

If the weather is forecast to be wet - please bring suitable clothing!

See you Saturday.

WEST WOODS SURVEY

noreply@blogger.com (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:33:00 +0000

The surveys scheduled to take place on Sunday 6 and Sunday 13 March, have unfortunately been cancelled. See you all again later in the month.