NOTES FROM THE NORTHERN ARCHAEOLOGY
GROUP (NAG)
6TH AUGUST 2002 MONTHLY
MEETING
1.
Chairman Mike Hodgson formally opened the meeting and gave: -
- An outline of the evening’s contributors,
- An
update on the likely development timescale of the former Vaux Brewery site
in Sunderland, expressing continuing related interest in NAG undertaking an
archaeological excavation of the cleared location,
- Comments
on some of Sunderland’s recent building demolition and site development
activities,
- No
new update on the Local History Forum was available,
- A
fresh view on the [earlier reported] Saxon burial, where it is anticipated
the landowner may look favourably on a NAG archaeological excavation of the
site.
2. Secretary Brenda
Ludvigsen followed, reporting that: -
- Tempus
Publishing had sent the Group another special offer book ‘Prehistoric Rock
Art in Cumbria’ by Stan Beckensall. It was available for viewing.
- At
George Chaplin’s request NAG had attended/contributed to a recent Time
Team Forum event held at the George Hotel, Piercebridge. The divers had put
on a display of the treasure recovered from the river there, and two videos
were shown; ‘The Forgotten Stones’ & the BBC programme about the
earlier NAG dig of the roman road on the south bank approach to the true
roman bridge site.
- There
is a History Day event at the Copt Hill pub on Saturday 21st
September and NAG has booked a table. There is a requirement for a display,
finds etc and a talk/presentation. Suggestions and offers of assistance to
the Secretary please.
- Field
research continues every Sunday. A group (mainly the Excavation Team) has
been walking and examining known/suspected roman roads in the Edlingham/Alnwick
area of Northumberland as part of Ray Selkirk’s ‘Operation True Line’.
The objective is to clarify the correct routes of the Devil’s Causeway and
the Bremenium roman roads here, particularly around Low Learchild where the
OS map records these crossing each other. Last week we were in the vicinity
of Snipe House exploring potential routes towards the coast.
- next
weekend we are extending that line to research roads and paths in the
Shilbottle/Alnmouth area. All members are welcome - meet at Shillbottle
church 10.30am Sunday.
-
Pottery from the winter rescue dig at Carlbury Vale,
Piercebridge continues to be washed and sorted. Two pieces of particular
interest, a dish and an incense burner, were passed around for examination.
- The
annual NAG Piercebridge Roman Convention will again be held at the George
Hotel, Sunday 22nd September 10:00am – 4:00pm. Usual format.
3. Education
Officer Ray Selkirk gave: -
- An
overview of how the field research is providing a valuable learning
opportunity in understanding landscape archaeology, identification of likely
roman roads and some minor excavations.
- A
report on the good work being undertaken in the Borders by our Scottish
contingent.
- And
how Cedric in Cumberland is having similar, though limited, success in
winning over local academics and historians. He continues to locate roman
water navigation, aqueducts, roads and iron smelting sites.
- An
update on the sales of his/NAG’s book ‘Chester-le-Street and its place
in History’.
4. Treasurer Ken
Brown stated: -
- That
in response to a question from the floor, he would contact the books
publisher and provide the current sales/financial position at next month’s
meeting.
- Tony
Cunningham had won this month’s book prize draw.
5. Vice
Chairman Tom Wright provided: -
- A
presentation/slide show about the recently excavated roman wells at the
Cheapside Bathhouse site in London. This had been sourced from the
associated Time Team programme and this month’s Current Archaeology. He
focused in particular on the design of the wooden boxes (with his own
model), chains and links. An interesting debate considered different
construction and methods of use.
- A
slide of a recent geophysical survey of Carvoran roman fort was shown.
Detail was good and there was now clear evidence of a much larger and
extended civilian settlement (vicus) at the site.
6. Chairman Mike
Hodgson thanked all participants for their contribution to the evening and
formally closed the meeting prior to the customary tea and biscuits.
Action Items
Para 2. Suggestions
and offers of help to the Secretary re the forthcoming History Day event at the
Copt Hill pub.
Para 4. Ken
Brown to provide a current sales/financial position of the book at next
month’s meeting.