Marden Field Walking - 4 December

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

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

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

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

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