Saturday 28^th September 2013.

On a beautifully sunny day (it would have been perfect for digging!) 13 people, including several local residents, assembled in Amerdale Village Hall, Arncliffe, where Dr Jo Buckberry of Bradford University gave us an excellent presentation on what human bones can tell archaeologists. 

Jo with the plastic cast bones  (c) photo by Jane Lunnon  

Her talk was well-structured and highly informative, with fascinating insights into the science of osteoarchaeology.

Handling the casts (c) photo by Jane Lunnon 

Jo had also brought along some plastic casts of human bones which we could have a close look at, including a couple heavily scarred or deformed by disease and trauma.

And then of course there were Ruth’s sheep bones! 

Vena and the boys looking at Ruth's sheep bones  (c) photo by Jane Lunnon

A few years ago she decided to sweep up the skeleton of a dead sheep which had been lying on the hillside at Chapel House Wood, take it home, disinfect and bleach it clean. Odd hobby, this archaeology….

  

Jane Lunnon, UWHG  

Monday 23^rd September 2013

Five turned up on this rather beautiful soft grey, misty morning.

Disappearing into the mist (c) photo by Jane Lunnon

Intrigued by curious geophysics readings from previous days, Roger had decided we should go over the most interesting and confusing areas with the geophysics again, but this time using a higher resolution of ½ metre sampling instead of 1metre.

Work started well in Field 1 as the first four squares were covered.

Roger heading the cows off  (c) photo by Jane Lunnon

Meanwhile another grid of 4 x 20metre squares was laid down in Field 2 – which was full of freshly deposited cow pats. The curious little herd of heifers and calves cautiously moved towards the tapes, but Roger’s slow advance and face-off convinced them to back away.

A little later, and it was David’s turn to herd them back away from the geophysics drum and probes.

The calls of the bull in a neighbouring field soon brought them back, this time to a huddle around the gate, from where they loudly exchanged calls.

As Roger put it, we “tip-toed through the cowpats” with the frame, through the second half of the morning and into the afternoon. The farmer arrived on his quad bike with his sheepdog to herd the cows out into another field, and soon returned with a flock of sheep in their place.

Peter cleans Jane's probes! (c) photo by Ruth Spencer 

It all felt very leisurely today, but we easily covered the area allocated to us for the day. By the time Vena arrived from her morning at work, we were getting a little de-mob happy, making very silly jokes – far too much hilarity going on!

Peter develops his technique in the fine art of peg cleaning (c) photo by Jane Lunnon

Vena valiantly took over as the rest of us were wilting from doing the double step ½ metre measurements. We were finished by 3pm.

Roger and David tip toe through the cowpats (c) photo by Jane Lunnon 

Since we are still waiting for final approval from one of the authorities, we do not yet know when we will be back on site. Those of you who have expressed an interest in joining will be notified if and when we get the go-ahead!

Jane Lunnon, UWHG. 

Photos by Lynne Primmer :

Confused workers

A happy worker

Thoughtful workers

A Busy worker

Saturday 21^st September

Day 6

Late start today 10am in the village hall with a cup of tea, eleven people heard an excellent presentation from Roger of progress to date. 

Lively chat after the presentation (c) photo by Jane Lunnon  

There was an awe inspiring LIDAR 3D picture of part of the village and surrounding fields which had us all oohing and aahing. Roger outlined to us various interesting possible interpretations of the results of the geophysics so far- work in progress. We are agog to see how this develops.

Yet more geophysics - this time in Field 3  (c) photo by Jane Lunnon 

Afterwards seven enthusiasts went up to the fields to do more geophysics  in field 3 and Roger did a large area of arm breaking gradiometry having removed all his metal parts

Tired at the end of the day, but pleased with the progress made  (c) photo by Jane Lunnon  

Ann Thake

Friday 20^th September

Day 5

Sadly Day 4 was cancelled due to weather (wet)

Today the forecast was much better. Sunshine promised and so twelve intrepid folk arrived for a good days work. 

It was great to have such a range of people of different ages and experience all working hard together and enjoying themselves. 

Lauren and Lucy setting up the grid  (c)  photo by Jane Lunnon 

Little Paul’s weather forecast was not entirely accurate but the sun did appear mid afternoon. 

Keep going, lads! (c) photo by Jane Lunnon 

Today we worked in field 2 and we made excellent progress laying out ever more 20 metre squares to submit to the geophysics machine, negotiating tricky wall angles and the slopes of the field. 

Is the tape straight? (c) photo Jane Lunnon

There were hiccups: one square had to be repeated due to a “deletion” malfunction. There was even time and manpower to lay out more squares in field 3 in preparation for more shoulder breaking geophysics tomorrow.

David & Alison analysing dry stone wall structures (c) photo by Jane Lunnon 

Meanwhile Alison and David were having a recce for interesting wall and features, lumps and bumps, in the surrounding fields.

Ann Thake 

A Newbie's Perspective

I first heard about a dig going on from my son who is at Upper  Wharfedale School, as their history teacher had organised a school outing for year 8 up onto Grassington moor for taste of archaeology, which I have always wanted to be involved in, yet not had a opportunity to do so.

 I popped up to see my son on the dig and asked if I might be able to join in. Much to my delight and surprise Roger ( the lead archaeologist )  said I could. He gave me a trowel and a bucket and set me off to work. Well I must be honest I was thrilled. I thought Roger a little mad setting me loose on his well structured dig, but I did as I was told and was given advice and help right from the off ! It was wonderful.   I learnt so much and there is so much to learn it’s like being back at school but in a fun way ! 

Roger advises on how to avoid obstacles (such as portaloos!) when geophysing
(c) Photo Jane Lunnon

There is something very satisfying about digging into the earth and seeing something, no matter how small, which no one has ever seen before or at least not in some cases for thousands of years; it may only be hundreds, but it make no difference, it's a thrill and the more you do it the more you want to uncover.

Being part of a team of people who are so dedicated to the work they under take is a privilege. I have since done a few digs and just want to carry on doing more, so I will be working as much as I can with The Upper Wharfedale Heritage Group in Arncliffe and hope I can be of some small help.

As I live in Littondale to discover my local past will be fascinating to re-trace the history of our dale and rediscover our long forgotten past, is something I truly want to be involved in. 

2 UWHG members teach Vena how to use the geophysics "zimmer frame"
(c) photo Jane Lunnon

I have been welcomed with open arms by the members which I have met so far and want to become a member of the team which I will do, in the meantime I look forward to been part of something special and in a small way reliving history almost as it was made. Thanks for having me.

Vena Rogers

Wednesday 18 September 2013

Day 3 – our numbers swelled to 10 today, including Roger. Again we began with Roger showing us the draft results of our previous work in both fields and discussing what further surveying he would like us to do.

Trying to understand the mysteries of geophysics  (c) photo Jane Lunnon 

 We then divided into small groups – Alison was delighted to investigate the changes in the structure of the field walls; Pat & Phil recorded the established positions of the corners of the grids, with the help of our old friend "Bob".

For those of you who have not met him, "Bob" is a Total Station, who records data such as OS reference points and heights, etc  - all you need is for someone to hold the prism over the point to be recorded, while another person presses "Bob's" correct  buttons! The tricky thing is knowing which are the correct buttons to press!

Roger's moment of inspiration fails to impress everyone (c) photo Jane Lunnon 

Pat and Phil (again with Bob's help) then made a detailed record of both sides of the wall dividing fields 1 and 2. This was followed by further recording important points on the wall as noted by Alison – 15 to date, but more to come.

Meanwhile a further 17 grids, beyond the ones we did yesterday, were laid out, and geophysed, each of us taking turns with laying out the ropes and using the 'zimmer frame'. This means that we have now geophysed almost (but not quite) half of field one.

The tricky problem of geophysics around the portaloo (c) photo Jane Lunnon 

We were delighted to welcome a visitor Peter Longbottom this afternoon, who came to see what we were up to. He showed great interest in the surveying and was also able to answer one or two of Roger's queries about the area. 

We are always pleased to see anyone who is interested on site. I believe we are back to field 2 tomorrow for more of the same.

 Ruth Spencer,     UWHG

                                                                                                            

Tuesday 17 September.

Day 2 - seven of us this morning (three new faces) and Roger of course. Yesterday's wind had dropped and it wasn't raining, which made life much more pleasant!

Roger showed us the initial results of yesterday's efforts – all very interesting!  We were in the nearer field today (Field 1) and while Roger was sorting out his dGPS, the rest of us proceeded to lay out 3 x 20m squares along the side of the wall, separating this field from the adjacent field (Field 2).

Ann on her first geophysics ever (c) photo by Jane Lunnon 

We then took turns in geo-physing the 3 squares and at the same time instructing the 2 volunteers who had never done this before – a very good exercise to ensure that not only the 'old hands' were doing everything correctly, but they could also explain why they were doing it!

Roger! What was it you said about dummy logs?  (c) photo by Jane Lunnon 

It was again a bit tricky as we worked along the curve of the wall and as yesterday, several lanes had to be redone! Our excuse today was that as it was getting near lunch time our blood sugar levels were low, which did not help with our maths calculations!

Ruth wishes it was time for lunch (c) Photo by Jane Lunnon

However all was finished to our satisfaction, lunch was eaten and a further square laid out and roped up, when the rain began in earnest. As the results of geo-physing following a change in the weather are not so satisfactory, we decided to call it a day.

                                                                                            Ruth Spencer                                                                        UWHG

Monday 16^th September 2013.

Day One of fieldwork, and the weather was horrible. No wonder we archaeologists are obsessed with weather – there we are, getting soaked to the skin in the persistent rain and blustery autumn winds – but do we give in? No, of course not!

Infernal machine!!  (c) photo by Jane Lunnon

We received our instructions from Roger in the black art of geophysics, and then took our turns with the “zimmer frame”, stoically marching up and down the transepts of our grid – neatly marked out by a series of ropes, set up against a base tape and fixed reference points. It all has to be elegantly choreographed – the ropes being moved on, one by one, ahead up the grid, to create the next square, as the machine is taken up and down the lanes, completing the readings of each transept. Throughout the day we covered 9 X 20 metre squares, battling the wind and the rain, while bemused sheep watched us nonchalantly from a safe distance.  

Ruth leads Roger on a merry dance (c) photo by Jane Lunnon

There was some confusion in the corner of the grid where it is cut through by the drystone wall – the series of “dummy” or blank readings we had to log, representing the readings we couldn’t take because they were on the other side of the wall became very mixed up, and ropes that had been taken up had to be put back again. Several lanes had to be started again from scratch – but never mind, we got there in the end.

Vena enjoys her first geophysics experience (c) photo by Jane Lunnon

So tomorrow is more of the same - geophysics on the other side of the wall in the neighbouring field. Looking forward to meeting those new people who have promised to come along at various times throughout the week - Everyone is welcome, so if you are a local resident do come and give it a go!

Jane Lunnon,  UWHG 

Friday 13^th September 2013 

The project was launched this evening at Amerdale Village Hall, in Arncliffe. We were quite pleased with a turnout of about 28 people – including a good number of local residents of the village, as well as some UWHG stalwarts. It was also good to see Kevin Wood, the metal detectorist who had made the original find of the Anglo-Saxon workbox or reliquary, and human femur bone way back in 2000. It was he who had alerted the authorities to the potential of Carr Field as a significant archaeological site, and had brought archaeologist Kevin Cale in to carry out the first archaeological investigation in that same year.

Launching the project  (c) photo by Roger Martlew

Kevin gave us a very interesting presentation explaining how the 2000 excavation had take place, and what had been found. Raising more questions than answers – that’s so often the way of archaeology! – like Kevin Wood, he is very pleased that UWHG have decided to carry out follow-up work on the site, and that local residents are being invited to join in.

He explained how the original excavation revealed a curious stone structure of “cells” at the base of the linear earthwork which runs through Carr Field. That one of the large stone making up this structure was a “beehive” quern fragment was particularly intriguing as these are normally associated with Romano-British sites.  But the mystery of the bones is even more intriguing. That human and animal bones should be similarly fragmented and scattered within the earthwork is very strange indeed.

Kevin’s introduction was followed by welcome cups of tea and coffee – this interval generated a lot of chatter as people milled around, catching up on news, asking questions and discussing what we’d heard so far. Our chairman, Ruth, found it quite difficult getting everyone to take their seats again for the second half.

Roger Martlew then introduced himself as the archaeological consultant who will be directing the archaeological fieldwork for the project. He explained that much of the practical work in Carr Field will take place over the next fortnight, starting with geophysics. The main hope is to find dateable material from the site.

Supporting the fieldwork there will be a mix of daytime, evening and weekend workshops, presentations and open days. Although we aim to complete the bulk of the fieldwork before the winter weather starts to close in, documentary research will continue throughout the colder, wetter months into the spring.

Everyone is welcome to join in no matter what their level of experience. We asked for volunteers to sign up, and got a good response – they queued up to put down their names, and indicate whether they were interested in fieldwork, documentary research or simply being kept in touch with the progress of the project.  We were able to chat informally with several of them, and were very pleased at the enthusiasm they showed.

So it all kicks off on Monday morning at 9.30am. Let's hope the weather is kind to us!

Jane Lunnon, UWHG