Bank Holiday Monday 25 August 2014

Our final Open Day!

The UWHG Committee assembled early to put up the Displays and the HLF Banner, to lay out the finds and to prepare the refreshments.

Meanwhile Kevin Cale and Janis were preparing their demonstration “excavation” in a large box filled with river sand and 'planted' with various finds including plastic human bones.  Unfortunately no children came to dig, but it proved a huge success for three ladies from Rotherham. These ladies had seen the advertisement on the website and had come to see what our day was all about. 

They spent most of the morning excavating, bagging and recording, in correct archaeological fashion and obviously thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Did this wet their appetites for more in the future, I wonder?

Gina engrossed in digging  (c) Alan Williams

Judging from the look of concentration on her face, it also proved a very interesting experience for Jane's niece, Gina, too.

People of all sorts came – some local, some passers by just out for a day in the Dales, some UWHG members trickled in throughout the morning, with an influx towards lunch-time, and people obviously coming to look at the displays  prior to the afternoon's talks. In total, probably more than 70 people joined us at various times throughout the day.

They showed great interest in the exhibition of the project, in looking at the finds, watching the “excavation” in progress, and chatting about the project.

A cluster of people around the exhibition display (c) Alan Williams

After lunch Roger spoke about the results of both the surveying and from the finds from the excavation, all of which indicated there had been occupation in the area since the late Bronze Age, through to the present. On analysis, the tooth had given a date of late 6th–early 7thC AD although the isotope analysis indicated that the lady grew up to the west of Arncliffe and was not an Anglican immigrant. However, the beads, which were of similar date, did mean that the people in the area at that time had connections with the Anglo-Saxons, prior to the proposed annexation of Craven by Northumbria.

Roger expounding on the Anglo-Saxon presence in the Dales (c) Alan Williams

As our second speaker, David Johnson spoke about several excavations he had conducted in the Ingleborough area, with the Ingleborough Archaeology Group. These proved to be of various buildings, which were thought to be possibly farmsteads or shielings. Charcoal and finds from these excavations gave similar and also slightly later dates to the Arncliffe ones, all of which have considerable implications for other sites in the Yorkshire Dales.

The day concluded, leaving us with much to think about. In the meantime reports have to be written and submitted to various bodies, before we move on to the next project!

The Chairman and the Committee of the UWHG would like to express their grateful thanks to all who have given their support and/or who have taken part in this project, including Kevin Cale, and especially Sarah and Richard Paul of Carr Farm; to the Partners of the Arncliffe Estate and to the Arncliffe Parish Meeting.

Ruth Spencer, UWHG 

Friday 21^st March 2014

Local residents and UWHG members gathered at Amerdale Hall in Arncliffe for an update on the project.

Unfortunately the results from the labs haven’t got back yet, so Roger had to add a caveat to every interpretation he gave on the findings so far. But as always, he proved himself an expert at creating a fascinating lecture using very limited material.

 

Roger calls the audience to order   (c) Jane Lunnon

The historical context of the finds was much discussed, as were the various interpretations which can be applied to the glass and amethyst beads, and the human tooth. He also explained what the lab analysis was going to examine and how this might alter our perception of the significance of the site.

The question of the bronze canister which had prompted the excavation 14 years ago prompted much discussion with the audience over what its function was. If this really was a reliquary the significance for the early history of the Yorkshire Dales is huge. This could help to shed a whole new light upon the Anglo-Saxon period in the Dales, and poses many questions about the role of women as religious figures in remote, rural Northern communities at that time.

Mmm, nice biscuits.....    (c)  Jane Lunnon 

There was quite a buzz after the lecture as people discussed the project over tea and biscuits.

We look forward to getting the lab results back  on the beads and the tooth soon!

Thanks again to Sarah for looking after us, and opening up & closing the hall for us.

Jane Lunnon

11th December 2013

On Wednesday 11 December Roger organised a workshop for members of UWHG to start thinking about writing up the report for the project.

Attentiveness

Eleven enthusiastic members took part at various times of day – there would have been more but Christmas and colds intervened. Roger began the day by informing us as to what was expected for the report and discussed various queries which arose.

Thoughtfulness

Members then divided into groups, each group volunteering to do the various tasks required – washing and recording finds, inking up and scanning plans, discussing illustrations, photographing finds, etc.

Puzzlement

We were fortified throughout the day by coffee and biscuits 

Cheerfulness

and an excellent lunch at the Falcon (even though we had all taken sandwiches!) Time passed very quickly and we completed all the allotted tasks. We look forward to a further day next year, when we will have the results of the geo-phys. and the bone analysis.

Ruth Spencer

Saturday 30th November 2013 

Local residents and members of UWHG were invited to attend a progress update at Amerdale Village Hall in Arncliffe today. 

Despite suffering from man-flu Roger valiantly gave his presentation on what was found during the geophysics and excavation of the site. We are still waiting for the results from forensic examination of bones and other finds, but it does look as if the Arncliffe project is going to be a significant addition to the recent re-evaluation of the Anglo-Saxon period in the Yorkshire Dales. This is an exciting development as new light is being brought to the "Dark Ages" in the early medieval period of our local region. 

As Roger's voice began to fail he wrapped up his talk and was followed by Jane with her presentation on "What documents can tell us". In a bid to encourage local residents to follow up UWHG's archaeological investigations with their own local history research, Jane offered a whirlwind introduction to a selection of different types of documents that can be used for local historical research, and explained how they can be analysed in several ways to reconstruct the social and economic structure of the parish in the past.

After the meeting some local residents seemed very keen to take up the challenge - let's hope they can get together and start the ball rolling soon. Jane offered to run some workshops in the spring to help them get started. 

Jane Lunnon, UWHG

Friday 18 October 2013

Our final day on site, but a busy day!  Ruth & Ann began by photo-cleaning the southern end of the trench, while Lynne & Peter continued where they left off yesterday – levelling off the central area and finding yet more bone suitable for dating.  Meanwhile Maggie was photo-cleaning the northern end.

We were joined mid morning by Chris Gaffney and 6 students from Bradford University, who having looked over the site, began to survey the area in the northern field, which had revealed some interesting features on the geo-phys. 

Lots of activity - cross-section planning, discussion & geo-physics (c) photo by Ruth Spencer

Apparently Chris has some new equipment, which he wanted to try out – the glimpses of their activities which we had from our trench all looked very intriguing!

Gently does it, Ruth! (c) photo by Lynne Primmer 

Vena and Vera arrived at noon, and were quickly persuaded to do some drawing, Roger having finished his photography. Vera and David recorded the profile of the west side of the trench, while Vena, and Alison plotted the cross wall. 

Measurements were taken by Ann, Lynne and Maggie – all done in rotation, while everyone took a short break for lunch.

Maggie demonstrates the relaxed art of cross-section plotting (c) photo by Ruth Spencer

This all having been done to Roger's satisfaction, we began the process of back-filling and re-turfing. Alison & Ruth volunteered to retrieve the pegs and return the stones used to build the cairns for these, to the edge of the two fields. Why did we use so many large stones for this........?

As the rain had started mid afternoon, and gradually became heavier, by the time we had finished, Alison commented that we all looked as if we had mud-wrestling!

Cold? Noooo-oooo....  (c) photo by Lynne Primmer  

Finally everything was packed away in the land-rover, Vera and Peter very nobly volunteered to help Roger unload at the other end so all that was left was the hole in the wall, waiting for the stone-waller.

So that is it for the field-work – reporting, etc, still to come. 

Many thanks to all the volunteers who have taken part in the surveying and the excavation with great good humour and in all sorts of weather. Also our grateful thanks to Roger for his guidance and tolerance in what I trust has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience for all.  

Ruth Spencer

Thursday  - 17 October

Our penultimate day and a very select gathering – only 3 of us and Roger. As it was a beautiful day  - warm and sunny, our first task was to dismantle the tent and lay it out on the field to dry – a much easier job than it was to erect it!

We then continued with further excavation – Peter & Lynne in the top of the bank and Ruth in the trench on the southern side of the wall. As it was the last day of digging and finds always appear on the last day, Roger had explicitly stated "No finds today!"  So Lynne & Peter thoroughly enjoyed themselves throughout the rest of the day finding large pieces of bone, suitable for dating. I don't think Roger was too upset, though!

Happy as a dog with a bone!  (c) photo by Ruth Spencer

Ruth meanwhile had to make do with cleaning down to the natural grit at the base of the trench, which proved very elusive. 

Archaeology with style and nonchalance  (c) photo by Lynne Primmer 

Roger later joined her to expose even more stones, but still very little grit.

Packing up  (c) photo by Ruth Spencer

The day finished with us sorting out equipment and packing it into the land rover – our last day tomorrow, so planning and back-filling to look forward to ............  

Ruth Spencer

Friday 11th October 2013 

 

Things are winding down now. 

 

This morning Ann, Ian, Lynne, Hugh, Alison, Maggie and Vera backfilled the two smaller trenches and replaced the turf.  

Meanwhile, Ruth and Peter continued digging at the southerly end of the main wall trench.  Here the base of the wall was gradually uncovered to reveal a very carefully laid underground section, very different to the jumble of stones that make up the mound under the wall at the other side.

 

The backfilling finished, Ian and Lynne moved over to help in the main trench whilst Alison instructed the rest of us in drawing an accurate section of the trench side, showing the different levels of the field surfaces, the base of the plough soil and the stony mound.  This proved harder than it looked. 

But the spirit level doesn't lie!  (c) photo by Ruth Spencer  

The base line that looked perfectly horizontal with a spirit level was proved by the Total Station to be MASSIVELY out (well, 10 centimetres).  But at last it was done.

 

Lively discussion with Jo and Michelle  (c)  photo by Ruth Spencer  

In the morning we welcomed Jo and Michelle, bone specialists from Bradford University, who carefully examined the pieces of bone that have been recovered.  They worked with us into the afternoon, observing the trench operations.  Thankfully they saw the funny side of long discussions, and some considerable confusion, about defining the various archaeological contexts. 

 

It was a COLD day.  The easterly winds blew over a number of small flocks of returning fieldfares, fresh from Scandinavia (well done Alison and Hugh for noticing).  The swallows, so numerous so recently, have all gone.  It was definitely autumn.

 

Vera Brearey