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Volunteers are invited to join the BHAS Field Unit with or without experience, training will be given for those lacking in archaeological techniques.
** NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY **
** ALL TRAINING WILL BE GIVEN **
** NO TOOLS ARE REQUIRED **
The Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society Field Unit is a group of people dedicated to the research and investigation of archaeological sites around the Brighton and Hove area and along the South Downs.
The unit conduct research programmes of surveying, field walking and geophysical studies looking for new sites. Limited excavations of sites, at week-ends only, allow participation in all aspects of archaeological investigation.
The training in the techniques undertaken in the correct and accurate recording of archaeological sites is part of the educational programme promoted by the Society. Finds processing, including washing, marking and the cataloguing of finds are enhanced by educational day schools in the identification of archaeological artifacts.
BHAS Winter Programme 2010
Finds Processing
Finds processing days are held at the Patcham Community Centre, Ladies Mile Road, Patcham from 10-00am till 3-00pm. This season the days designated for finds processing are:-
Saturday 13th February
Saturday 27th February
Saturday 27th March
We will be marking and cataloguing finds from the excavations at Rocky Clump and Ovingdean. This will give people a great opportunity to have hands experience of Roman pottery, medieval pottery and tile and other finds including flint work and marine molluscs. The group is a diverse mixture of people of all ages and they are a mixture of social and working events. We may also be the opportunity to mark and catalogue quantities of the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age flint work from the Bronze Age barrow at Peacehaven. The examination of the finds gives one a good insight into what the pottery and flintwork looks like, which is very useful when field walking.
Field Walking at Ovingdean
A good number turned out for field walking at Ovingdean in early February 2010. The field lies north of fields previously walked in 2000 and 2002 and the results from this project will allow a greater overview of a number of fields around Ovingdean and Roedean. It is hoped that the field walking will provide information for concentrations of artefacts for Prehistoric, Roman and medieval sites that are suspected are located in this area. The field walking this year produced significant finds of oyster shell and fire-cracked flint. A ploughed out fire-cracked flint cairn is believed located in the field located north of the A259 at Roedean. Among the finds this time were flint flakes, scrapers, a number of flint cores, one possibly of Mesolithic date and both Roman and medieval pottery. The finds will now be cleaned and identified and a series of dot density diagrams created. The new diagrams will be attached to the dot density diagrams produced in previous field walking projects and a greater panoramic perspective created. It is hoped that the larger picture will be able to identify more specifically locations for possible investigations through excavation some time in the future.
Winter Walks
This year there have been a number of walks of archaeological interest. It was not possible to publish the details in the 'Flint Newsletter' due to the high possibility of them not taking place. Walks that have taken place have included a joint BHAS/ Sussex Archaeological Society walk around the archaeological sites of Stanmer and a very leisurely walk to Thundersbarrow Hill. This walk was led by BHAS secretary Charlotte Riding.
If you would like to be added to twice weekly update list issued by the BHAS Archaeological Co-ordinator John Funnell please e-mail him at walks@brightonarch.org.uk and he will ensure that you receive up to date details of walks, talks in Sussex and other events as they are published.
Summer Excavations
A number of excavations are being planned for this summer. Among the locations are the Roman farmstead at Rocky Clump, investigations into the Bronze Age landscape around Varley Halls (subject to permission being granted) and a return to the excavation of the Bronze Age barrow at Peacehaven. Other rescue projects are likely to take place. Excavations will begin in early April, details to be published in the next edition of the Flint Newsletter.
If you are interested in joining any of these projects please contact John Funnell on 0844 5888 277 (eves after 7-00pm) or email from our Contact Us Page.
You must be a member of the Society to participate, and be covered by the Society insurance. Membership is only £12. You must also have a current tetanus. Tools and equipment will be supplied.
