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Vacancies at Wessex Archaeology: Assistant Archaeologists

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:03:36 +0000

Wessex Archaeology are currently seeking Assistant Archaeologists (Project Assistants) to support a multi-period fieldwork project in Thanet, Kent. This is a joint venture project with Oxford Archaeology.

Find out more via our vacancies section.

Applications close at 12 noon, Monday 16th November 2009.

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Vacancy at Wessex Archaeology: Business Manager (Coastal and Marine)

admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:02:22 +0000

Wessex Archaeology is seeking to appoint a Business Manager to join its Coastal and Marine team.

WA Coastal and Marine is a leading provider of archaeological services to marine developers and public authorities, encompassing a wide range of desk-based research, archaeological diving, marine geophysics, geoarchaeological investigations, and learning and access for schools and communities.

Find out more via our vacancies section.

Applications close at 12pm, Wednesday 11th November 2009.

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New podcast: Archaeocast 13 - Coastal and Marine Geophysics on the North Sea

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:29:29 +0000

The latest episode of Archaeocast, our archaeology podcast, is now online.

Recorded on board the survey vessel "Wessex Explorer", Archaeocast 13 takes a look at coastal and marine geophysics. It was recorded during our investigation of Area 240, one of the most significant sites of Palaeolithic material under the North Sea, and covers the sophisticated array of equipment used to analyse what is on and under the seabed.

Listen to Archaeocast 13 online, or subscribe to Archaeocast with iTunes (this link opens iTunes if you have it installed) to download the latest editions automatically.

Read more about our Coastal and Marine archaeology work.

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Latest publication on the Mary Rose

admin — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:53:25 +0000

May saw the publication of the fourth (of five) volume on the Archaeology of the Mary Rose. The publication programme is being managed for the Mary Rose Trust by Wessex Archaeology, with Julie Gardiner acting as the series editor. The latest volume Mary Rose: Your Noblest Shippe, Anatomy of a Tudor warship, largely written, and edited, by Peter Marsden is concerned primarily with a detailed description of the ship and how she operated as a functional warship.

The construction techniques used in building the original ship are discussed, and her structure as she was in 1545 is described deck by deck, from the Hold up to the Sterncastle. The rigging is described and reconstructed and operational aspects such as steering, mooring, anchoring, the ship’s boats, navigation and the removal of water discussed. A summary of the ship’s armaments is provided and her fighting capabilities considered. Evidence for how the ship was altered during her use, and how she might be reconstructed as a whole, are examined and the nature of and reasons for her sinking reviewed.

Mary Rose - Noblest Shippe cover: a newly commissioned painting by Geoff Hunt

418p, 287 b/w illus plus 15 fold-out sheets of deck plans, elevations, sections and rigging diagrams. The volume is available from Oxbow Books price £45.00 (hardback, boxed set)

ISBN-13: 978-0-9544029-2-1
ISBN-10: 0-9544029-2-8

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Restoration of Grade II Listed Cross at Leigh, Dorset

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:47:05 +0000

Leigh Village CrossIn 2008 Wessex Archaeology was asked by Philip Hughes Associates to make scaled plans and elevation drawings of the damaged Grade II Listed stone cross at Leigh in Dorset.

The measured drawings were used to piece the cross back together and villagers celebrated the restoration of their cross at a blessing by Bishop George Browning on 14th August 2009.

Further information about the cross can be found on the Leigh village website and Dorset Vol. I – West, A Survey and Inventory by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments published 1952.

Plans and elevation drawings of Leigh Cross produced by Wessex Archaeology's Graphics Office

Use the controls below to zoom and pan about the drawing.

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Vacancy: Researcher / Desk-based assessment specialist

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:48:18 +0000

Wessex Archaeology is currently seeking Archaeologists with demonstrable skills in Desk Based Assessment research to support work in both our Salisbury and Maidstone Offices. Researchers and Desk Based Assessment specialists should have experience of working in a professional archaeological practice or consultancy, and ideally be members of the Institute for Archaeologists.

For further information visit our vacancies section.

Applications close at 5pm, 2nd September 2009.

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New book - Hill Hall: a singular house devised by a Tudor intellectual

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:49:44 +0000

Cover: Hill Hall: a singular house devised by a Tudor intellectualWe are pleased to announce the publication of "Hill Hall: a singular house devised by a Tudor intellectual" by Paul Drury and Richard Simpson. The project was funded by English Heritage, and managed and co-ordinated by Wessex Archaeology, who also produced the illustrations and provided the archaeological contributions.

This is the complete history of a building that began as a hunting lodge late in the eleventh century, to its rebuilding in the French-influenced classical style in the 16th century by Sir Thomas Smith, to the building's use as a prison four centuries later, its gutting by fire, and subsequent restoration beginning in the 1980s.

Find out more in our Books section.

Plans, sectional elevations and period plans of Hill Hall can be downloaded from the Archaeology Data Service.

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Archaeologists tackle impacts of climate change

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:42:43 +0000

Wave action on the south east coastThe effects of climate change, including rising sea level and coastal erosion, as well as other factors such as coastal development and shoreline management initiatives, constantly threaten archaeological sites along our coast. The destructive power of the sea is at its most visible during heavy storms when archaeological sites can be rapidly revealed or buried in thick sediment. However, steady change, such as the gradual erosion of the cliffs of Dover, can also bury, reveal or destroy archaeology. From 500,000 year old hand-axes to military aircraft lost during the Second World War, the archaeology of the coast of England is likely to represent every period and theme in archaeology.

A new study commissioned by English Heritage will examine archaeology along the south east coast of England, from Totton in Hampshire to Kingsgate in Kent. This Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey, conducted by Wessex Archaeology, will produce a detailed review of archaeology on the coast, in order to determine the sites most at risk from the impacts of climate change. Coastal sites are particularly important, as some site types are unique while others exhibit levels of preservation not generally found in terrestrial equivalents. Data will be collated from the National Monuments Record, the relevant county and local Historic Environment Records and Sites and Monuments Records, along with various other local and national sources. As part of this assessment, tens of thousands of aerial photographs will be analysed, and visible archaeological sites will be digitised to contribute to the National Mapping Programme. Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Surveys have already been undertaken in many other areas around the coast of the UK as part of a wider English Heritage initiative. While the South East is one of the last areas to be studied, English Heritage expects all of the archaeological surveys around the coast to be completed by 2013.

Fieldwork in Chichester HarbourAn understanding of known sites will be combined with a review of coastal change from the end of the last ice age 12,000 years ago to the present in order to identify coastal areas with archaeological potential. Armed with this knowledge, archaeologists will review models of future coastal change to identify the archaeology at risk. The results of this study will provide a sound basis for developing management priorities, such as areas requiring further survey, and will be incorporated into Shoreline and Estuary Management Plans.

A project Liaison Group has been established to bring together representatives from stakeholder organisations, including English Heritage, the Environment Agency and the National Trust, as well as archaeologists from the Hampshire, East Sussex, West Sussex and Kent County Councils and the Southampton, Portsmouth and Chichester City Councils.

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Festival of British Archaeology 2009

admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:03:33 +0000

The Festival of British Archaeology (formerly National Archaeology Week) is your unique chance to discover and explore the archaeological heritage of the United Kingdom. During this two-week archaeological extravaganza, which will run from Saturday 18th July to Sunday 2nd August, you can take part in excavation open days, hands-on activities, family fun days, guided tours, exhibitions, lectures, ancient art and craft workshops and much, much more.

The aim of this annual event is to encourage everyone, including young people and their families to visit sites of archaeological/historical interest or museums, heritage and resource centres, to see archaeology in action and to take part in activities on-site.

Our involvement

We are helping to organise an event for the Festival of British Archaeology:

Fabulous Food and Gruesome Grub
Saturday 18th July 10.00-16.00
Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum

Free activities and demonstrations. Explore the world of eating and drinking from the Bronze Age to the Victorians. Bring your artefacts to be identified. Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum with Wessex Archaeology and Salisbury Cathedral.

Telephone: 01722 332151 Email: museum@salisburymuseum.org.uk

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Wessex Archaeology opens new office in Maidstone, Kent

admin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:24:51 +0000

Wessex Archaeology is delighted to announce the opening of a new office in Maidstone, North Kent. We have a long track record of working in the South East of England and our aim is to build on that success.

Covering the counties of Essex, Kent and East Sussex, the initial focus of the Maidstone office will be on evaluation and excavation work. However, the complete range of services will be available covering historic buildings and landscapes, excavation and publication, coastal and marine: the full spectrum of archaeological and heritage consulting and contracting.

The new office signifies a strengthening of the strategy of regional centres providing professional and community services with local delivery and critically, access to the extensive resource base that size can bring.

Find out more about our Maidstone office on our Professional Services blog.

Contacts

Richard Greatorex, Senior Project Manager, Maidstone (Email: r.greatorex@wessexarch.co.uk)
John Dillon, Business Development Director (Email: j.dillon@wessexarch.co.uk)

Wessex Archaeology Maidstone

The Malthouse
The Oast
Weavering Street
Maidstone
Kent
ME14 5JN
Tel: 01622 739381
Email: Richard Greatorex: r.greatorex@wessexarch.co.uk

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