Finds Sorting - beginners welcome

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.

DOWNLAND ROCK ART WALK

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

Kennet Valley Mesolithic study

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

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

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

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.

Test Pits in the Kennet Valley

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

Summer Digs

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.

Sat 15th Jan - Finds Sorting and Recording

There is a finds sorting day this Saturday - 15th January - starting at 10 am in the Museum’s lecture room. We'll be working on the Stanton St Bernard assemblage. Come, keep warm, enjoy the company and hopefully learn a little. Beginners are most welcome.

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.