West Woods Sunday 2nd January, 10am at SU165 668, providing there is no snow or high winds, this is a new meeting place to kick off this seasons fieldwork and a chance to work off festive excesses.
We have now surveyed over 50% of the woods, with some surprising results. We will revisit one of those surprises this year, a structure which we interpreted as an explosives store and now are having second thoughts about. Also a site interpreted by Peter Fowler as a Brickkiln which we now think may be something else. Ben Lennon has kindly provided LiDAR for this part of the woods and there are some tantalising features shown.
No experience needed - this is an excellent starter project. Anyone can participate!
Lynn
Wednesday 22 December 2010
Thursday 18 November 2010
Finds Recording and Sorting
Next weekend is indoors, finds sorting and recording.
At the Museum Saturday 27th Nov, 10:00 to 16:00 (bring lunch), though if you can't do the whole day please come along for a couple of hours.
The finds to be sorted are from the Calne dig and there will be reference samples for comparison, beginners very welcome and you will also be taught how to catalogue the finds.
There is plenty to do and Lynn promises no pot washing, so you won't even get your hands wet.
Come and see what we found at Calne Castle.
Please reply to afg-wanhs@gmx.com
At the Museum Saturday 27th Nov, 10:00 to 16:00 (bring lunch), though if you can't do the whole day please come along for a couple of hours.
The finds to be sorted are from the Calne dig and there will be reference samples for comparison, beginners very welcome and you will also be taught how to catalogue the finds.
There is plenty to do and Lynn promises no pot washing, so you won't even get your hands wet.
Come and see what we found at Calne Castle.
Please reply to afg-wanhs@gmx.com
Fieldwalking in Calne
Katie Hinds, the Wiltshire Finds Liaison Officer, is hoping to carry out some area marking etc for field walking on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th (weather permitting) beginners welcomed and encouraged! If you would like to attend please contact Katie direct.
Tel. 01722 332151, direct line 01722 820544, katiehinds@salisburymuseum.org.uk
Tel. 01722 332151, direct line 01722 820544, katiehinds@salisburymuseum.org.uk
Fieldwalking on 20 November
Update at 10am, Friday 19th - Jim (AKA the weatherman) had said this weekend's field walking is a goer!
Sat 10 - 4 and Sun AM only - even if you are attending the lecture at the Museum on Saturday afternoon we would love to see you for a few hours.
Beginners welcome, where possible you will be paired up with a more experienced field walker.
Parking will be at the farm buildings on the north side of the Devizes - Alton Barnes road, opposite the the 1st right turn into Stanton St Bernard when coming from the Devizes end, grid SU090627, there is plenty of room.
Bring lunch, warm and wet proof clothing.
Jim is on 07919022309
Be early to find the best bits! Please reply to afg-wanhs@gmx.com
Original post:
On Saturday 20th November under the leadership of Jim, we are going to field walk an area just south of the Devizes - Alton Barnes road near Stanton St Bernard. It is planned to do this with some of the villagers of SSB and field walkers can hopefully expect to see prehistoric and Roman material.
This will be weather dependant, please check the web site on Thurs/Friday or phone Jim on 07919 022309 or 01793 731974.
Beginners welcome, where possible you will be paired up with a more experienced field walker.
Please come along, field walking is one of the first practical stages of any archaeological project and a skill easily learnt.
Parking will be at the farm buildings on the north side of the Devizes - Alton Barnes road, opposite the the 1st right turn into Stanton St Bernard when coming from the Devizes end, grid SU090627, there is plenty of room.
Bring lunch, warm and wet proof clothing.
Meet at just before 10am at the farm buildings; half day/day, whatever you can do will be most appreciated.
Normal Health and Safety rule will apply.
If anyone can make Friday to help set out the grids please contact Jim on the numbers above.
Come and get your hands dirty who knows what you'll find!
Please reply to afg-wanhs@gmx.com
Sat 10 - 4 and Sun AM only - even if you are attending the lecture at the Museum on Saturday afternoon we would love to see you for a few hours.
Beginners welcome, where possible you will be paired up with a more experienced field walker.
Parking will be at the farm buildings on the north side of the Devizes - Alton Barnes road, opposite the the 1st right turn into Stanton St Bernard when coming from the Devizes end, grid SU090627, there is plenty of room.
Bring lunch, warm and wet proof clothing.
Jim is on 07919022309
Be early to find the best bits! Please reply to afg-wanhs@gmx.com
Original post:
On Saturday 20th November under the leadership of Jim, we are going to field walk an area just south of the Devizes - Alton Barnes road near Stanton St Bernard. It is planned to do this with some of the villagers of SSB and field walkers can hopefully expect to see prehistoric and Roman material.
This will be weather dependant, please check the web site on Thurs/Friday or phone Jim on 07919 022309 or 01793 731974.
Beginners welcome, where possible you will be paired up with a more experienced field walker.
Please come along, field walking is one of the first practical stages of any archaeological project and a skill easily learnt.
Parking will be at the farm buildings on the north side of the Devizes - Alton Barnes road, opposite the the 1st right turn into Stanton St Bernard when coming from the Devizes end, grid SU090627, there is plenty of room.
Bring lunch, warm and wet proof clothing.
Meet at just before 10am at the farm buildings; half day/day, whatever you can do will be most appreciated.
Normal Health and Safety rule will apply.
If anyone can make Friday to help set out the grids please contact Jim on the numbers above.
Come and get your hands dirty who knows what you'll find!
Please reply to afg-wanhs@gmx.com
Wednesday 10 November 2010
New AFG newsletter - Calne Castle revisited!
The puzzle continues! Did the AFG find Calne Castle? Read the latest newsletter to find out ...
Friday 8 October 2010
Castle Hill - excavation follow up
From Thursday 28 to Sunday 31 October inclusive, test trenches across some of the ditches that surround the castle site to establish their dates and what they are. Times: 10am to 4pm (with a one hour lunch break and tea and coffee breaks - but bring your own). As before for clothing, H&S rules and general archaeology procedures. Directions to site also as before; parking in Station Road, Patford Street and the parking lot behind Barclays Bank (50p for 4 hours) - Note: there is neither parking nor access to the site in Castle Street. Castle Hill is located in Castlefields Park, entry to the park is on Station Road.
Everyone is welcome whatever level of expertise.
Everyone is welcome whatever level of expertise.
Monday 27 September 2010
Wednesday 15 September 2010
Friday 10 September 2010
Wednesday 28 July 2010
Calne Castle newsletter now online!
Find out about the results of the Calne Castle excavation - the new AFG newsletter is now online!
Monday 28 June 2010
Calne Castle excavation - information now on AFG webpage
The latest information about the excavations at CalneCastle are now on the AFG webpage. It promises to be an interesting excavation!
Friday 30 April 2010
Calne Castle
Calne Castle project ready to start
The Archaeology Field Group project at Calne Castle Hill Site project can now get under way, as approval for the first stage has been received from Wiltshire Council. The project aims to find archaeological evidence to show whether a castle ever existed on the site. There are 29 current or now disused local place names containing the word 'castle' which strongly suggests that there was a building, motte and bailey or hill fort of some importance on the site.
A small working party has been busy applying for a Challenge Fund grant from the Council for British Archaeology, obtaining licences, organising field work, and site protocols and has completed a Project Design. The first million brambles have also been cleared on the 10 x 10 metre site.
Initial survey work will carried out jointly with the Bath and Camerton Achaeological Society between 4 and 5 May 2010. In the expectation of stage 2 licence being granted excavation work has been scheduled for 5 to 19 July 2010 with public Open Days on 17 and 18 July to coincide with the first weekend of the Festival of British Archaeology.
Project details below
For further information please contact either of the Joint Site Directors: Robin Holley: 01249 815998 (mobile number on application) email or Wendy Smith 01249 812396, .
Calne Castle Hill. The site is situated at the top of Castle Hill in the Castle Fields park at Grid Reference ST39967552 – 17088572. It lies to the west of Patford Street, south of Castle Street and north of Chaveywell and can be reached near the A4 from Marlborough, Chippenham or Swindon. On street parking is available in Patford Street and Station Road. There is free parking at the lower Sainsbury car park and paid parking (50p for 6 hours) behind Bank House. All of these are a short but steep walk from the site and will be signposted with the AFG trowel.
Excavation, recording, photography, section drawing and finds washing. Every level of experience is welcome. There will be hands-on opportunities. Start time is 9am for 9.30am to 4.30pm daily, mornings, afternoons or whole days. Advance notice of intention to take part is required; members will not be welcome to just turn up. Please make your intentions known to either Robin or Wendy.
Obviously dress for the weather and bring own refreshments. There will be a Portaloo on site. Health and Safety forms to be signed by all members and Risk Assessment information will be available.
The Archaeology Field Group project at Calne Castle Hill Site project can now get under way, as approval for the first stage has been received from Wiltshire Council. The project aims to find archaeological evidence to show whether a castle ever existed on the site. There are 29 current or now disused local place names containing the word 'castle' which strongly suggests that there was a building, motte and bailey or hill fort of some importance on the site.
A small working party has been busy applying for a Challenge Fund grant from the Council for British Archaeology, obtaining licences, organising field work, and site protocols and has completed a Project Design. The first million brambles have also been cleared on the 10 x 10 metre site.
Initial survey work will carried out jointly with the Bath and Camerton Achaeological Society between 4 and 5 May 2010. In the expectation of stage 2 licence being granted excavation work has been scheduled for 5 to 19 July 2010 with public Open Days on 17 and 18 July to coincide with the first weekend of the Festival of British Archaeology.
Project details below
For further information please contact either of the Joint Site Directors: Robin Holley: 01249 815998 (mobile number on application) email
Calne Castle Hill. The site is situated at the top of Castle Hill in the Castle Fields park at Grid Reference ST39967552 – 17088572. It lies to the west of Patford Street, south of Castle Street and north of Chaveywell and can be reached near the A4 from Marlborough, Chippenham or Swindon. On street parking is available in Patford Street and Station Road. There is free parking at the lower Sainsbury car park and paid parking (50p for 6 hours) behind Bank House. All of these are a short but steep walk from the site and will be signposted with the AFG trowel.
Excavation, recording, photography, section drawing and finds washing. Every level of experience is welcome. There will be hands-on opportunities. Start time is 9am for 9.30am to 4.30pm daily, mornings, afternoons or whole days. Advance notice of intention to take part is required; members will not be welcome to just turn up. Please make your intentions known to either Robin or Wendy.
Obviously dress for the weather and bring own refreshments. There will be a Portaloo on site. Health and Safety forms to be signed by all members and Risk Assessment information will be available.
Monday 19 April 2010
Cumberwell – Roman Site - 24/5 April and 1/2 May
Excavations will be continuing at Cumberwell for 2 further weekends. For details, see main page.
Monday 29 March 2010
Cumberwell – Roman Site - 2-5 April
The excavation at Cumbewell will be continuing each day over the Easter holiday. For more details - see the main part of the page.
Tuesday 9 March 2010
New AFG newsletter now online - Cumberwell excavation
A new edition of the AFG newsletter is now online with information about the excavation of a possible shrine at Cumberwell.
Cumberwell – Roman Site
On Saturday 27th February, Project Leader David Rider, organised a day to sort and wash the copious amounts of pottery and bone and view the small finds discovered in the dig at this Roman site so far. The site is earmarked for development for golf courses.
As the dig has progressed, rather than giving greater clarity to what it is, the picture has become more complex and interesting, with it ranging from some sort of farm building (mill or penning stock) to the possibility of a shrine or cemetery. The walls exposed are between 1.5 metres to 2 metres wide extending for some 38m to the south and 16m to the north.
Further digging planned for this year at the site has been hampered by the incredibly cold winter period with snow and frozen ground making any excavation impossible. The land owners are being very co-operative and we thank them for their support and assistance.
David hopes that the weather will take a turn for the better and that he intends to be at the site every Saturday from the 20th March through to Easter with a final dig over the long Easter weekend.
Please come along and support him in his endeavours to identify this interesting Roman or Romano-British site
As the dig has progressed, rather than giving greater clarity to what it is, the picture has become more complex and interesting, with it ranging from some sort of farm building (mill or penning stock) to the possibility of a shrine or cemetery. The walls exposed are between 1.5 metres to 2 metres wide extending for some 38m to the south and 16m to the north.
Further digging planned for this year at the site has been hampered by the incredibly cold winter period with snow and frozen ground making any excavation impossible. The land owners are being very co-operative and we thank them for their support and assistance.
David hopes that the weather will take a turn for the better and that he intends to be at the site every Saturday from the 20th March through to Easter with a final dig over the long Easter weekend.
Please come along and support him in his endeavours to identify this interesting Roman or Romano-British site
Wednesday 3 March 2010
30 April - AFG meeting and social evening
APRIL meeting and social evening is to be held on the 30th April, come along and hear about what’s been going on and what is to come!
At Wiltshire Heritage Museum, 6.30 to about 9.30 please bring food and drink. Tea and coffee are provided.
At Wiltshire Heritage Museum, 6.30 to about 9.30 please bring food and drink. Tea and coffee are provided.
Cumberwell and Westwoods - new dates
New dates have been confirmed for Cumberwell and Westwoods excavations
Monday 1 February 2010
Saturday 27 February - Cumberwell Finds Processing
From 1000 onwards, tea and coffee provided, bring your lunch if you wish.
On February the 27th Saturday, we will be sorting and washing the Cumberwell Roman Site finds.
On February the 27th Saturday, we will be sorting and washing the Cumberwell Roman Site finds.
Saturday 13 February - Pewsey Vale fieldwalking finds processing
Dear members, we are having a second session of flint and other finds identification from the Pewsey Vale field walking project on 13th February, Saturday at Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes. From 1000 onwards, tea and coffee provided, bring your lunch if you wish.
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