Parham 2009.

Details of the latest work at Parham are posted on the Parham reserach site.
http://parhamresearchgroup.blogspot.com

Joe Barrow.

It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that our past chairman Joe Barrow passed away over the last weekend.

Many newer members will not have known him, but many will, Joe remarried only a few weeks ago, this brought him great happiness I know.

Joe's funeral is on April 22nd at 11 40am at Worthing Crematorium.

"ave atque vale."

Summer 2009.

The dates for Walberton are Saturday 22nd August to Sunday 5th September.

Membership fees are now overdue, you cannot attend events unless you have paid your fee, as you wil not be covered by our insurance.

Southwick Roman Villa.

New finds from Southwick Roman Villa

Following an archaeological dig with Manor Hall Middle School children near the Southwick Roman Villa site during National Archaeology Week in July, Giles Standing, an archaeologist from Shoreham, will be running an Open Day at the Southwick Society’s Manor Cottage Heritage Centre on Saturday September 20th. Finds from the dig will be on show and members of the public are also invited to bring along their own finds from gardens in Southwick for identification by experts from the Sussex Archaeological Society and the Portable Antiquities Scheme, particularly objects that might be Roman and from the area near the site of the Villa – Southwick Street and Manor Hall Road.

Southwick Roman Villa was an important 1st century AD country residence and has been described as a scaled-down version of Fishbourne Roman Palace, with glass mosaics with gold leaf and a central Italian-style garden. It was excavated in the 1930s and was mostly covered by Southwick Methodist Church in 1965. Giles would also like people to bring in old newspaper cuttings relating to the Villa, or any old photographs or plans they may have stored away. He would like to meet anyone who may have objects from the previous excavations, particularly the 1930s dig, from which a lot of excavated material has gone missing.

The day will be suitable for all ages and will give the opportunity to see and handle real Roman objects from the current excavation in Southwick. The Heritage Centre is in Southwick Street and the event will run from 10 am to 4 pm, admission free. For further information ring Giles on 01273 440114.

Update on current excavation.

There are updates on current excavation at Blacksmiths Corner on the excavation site.click here.

Sponser.

'Our Sponsors for the excavation at Blacksmiths Corner.

May Gurney.(link) is proud to assist Worthing Archaeological Society in their dig at the Roman Villa excavation, Blacksmiths Corner, Walberton.'

Please note.

Some of the links, ie, Binsted, Warminghurst are at present down, they are being migrated to a new host.

Lecture.

A lecture worth watching on burials.given by Dr John Moreland, BA, PhD Reader in Medieval Archaeology click here.

Plus the workers live seen working, new store.Click here now.

New field work.

Field work.
WAS FU have been asked to participate in a professional excavation being undertaken as part of the extension of the hospice in Titnor Lane.
The aim is to undertake a 2 week excavation starting on 8th Sept, within the overall site. The area assigned to WAS will be 20m x 20m and trial excavations have revealed multi-period activity from BA to post-Roman.
We would be undertaking the work under the guidance of the Professional Unit (still at tender stage) and members of the public will be invited to take part (having taken temporary membership of the society).
I appreciate that this follows on very shortly after our summer excavation - but thought it too good an opportunity to turn down. So if you are interested and would like more information - please let me know.
Also, the project team is trying to get together 10 metal detectorists to go over the area - probably in early August - but needs to be confirmed. So if you would like to volunteer then please again let me know.
Many thanks, reply direct to Field unit director Keith Bolton.
keith

Blacksmiths Corner.

This August we will be continuing our excavation of the Roman site at Blacksmiths corner.
Dates are from Saturday the 16th August until the 31st of August.

There is an open weekend on the 23rd/24th of August. 11am till 3pm each day.

There will be a collecting bucket for donations, which will be used to offset the cost of the two week excavation. Soft drinks will be available on the open days for visitors.

Please advise the dates you are able to attend.

If you are unable to dig, no problem lots of other work to do, finds processing, washing finds on site, talking to visitors, etc.

More details to follow very soon.

Beedings update.

The last Neanderthals of Britain revealed through new study.

New archaeological excavations in West Sussex, funded by English Heritage, have thrown new light on the last Neanderthals hunters of Northern Europe. The site, situated on a sandstone ridge near the town of Pulborough, is emerging as important in explaining the extinction of our closest ancestors.

The team, led by Dr Matthew Pope and Caroline Wells of Archaeology South East based at UCL, is undertaking the first modern, scientific investigation of the site since its original discovery. This occurred in 1900 when construction of a monumental house known as ‘Beedings’ revealed some 2,300 perfectly preserved stone tools from fissures encountered in the foundation trenches.

Only recently were the tools recognised for their importance. Research by Roger Jacobi of the Leverhulme funded AHOB Project showed conclusively that the Beedings material has strong affinities with other tools from northern Europe dating to between 35 - 42,000 years ago. The collection of tools from Beedings is more diverse and extensive than any other known from the region. It therefore offers the best insight into new light on the technologically advanced cultures which occupied Northern Europe before the accepted appearance of our own species in the region.

“Dr Jacobi’s work showed the clear importance of the site. The exceptional collection of tools appears to represent the hunting kit of Neanderthal populations only a few millennia from complete disappearance in the region.” says Dr Matthew Pope. “Unlike earlier, more typical Neanderthal tools these were made on long, straight blades. Blades which were then turned into a variety of bone and hide processing implements as well as lethal spear points.”

“The real possibility that they were left by some of the last Neanderthal hunting groups to occupy northern Europe is an exciting one, and the impression they create is of a population in complete command of both landscape and natural raw materials with a flourishing technology - not a people on the edge of extinction.”

“At Beedings we’re building on the earlier work carried out by Dr Roger Jacobi to reveal as much as we can about the original site,” said Dr Pope. “Our excavations, allowed only through the generosity of the current landowner, have proved beyond doubt that the material discovered here was genuine and originated from fissures within the local sandstone. A further surprise has been the discovery of older, more typical Neanderthal tools, found deeper in the fissure. Clearly, Neanderthal hunters were drawn to the hill over a long period time, presumably for excellent view of game-herds grazing on the plains below the ridge”

The excavations suggest the site may not be unique. Similar sites with comparable fissure systems are thought to exist across south east England. The project now aims to prospect more widely across the region for similar sites.

Barney Sloane, Head of Historic Environment Commissions at English Heritage, said: “Sites such as this are extremely rare and a relatively little considered archaeological resource. Their remains sit at a key watershed in the evolutionary history of northern Europe. The tools at Beedings could equally be the signature of pioneer populations of modern humans, or traces of the last Neanderthal hunting groups to occupy the region. This study offers a rare chance to answer some crucial questions about just how technologically advanced Neanderthals were, and how they compare with our own species.”

The project, which has been running since February 2008, has been directed by Dr Matthew Pope of UCL and Caroline Wells of Sussex Archaeological Society, working closely with specialists and the Worthing Archaeological Society.

Blotting House

Members of the society enjoyed a walk around Chithurst , just over a week ago, despite it being a slightly wet day , but warm it was enjoyed by all, on our visit to Iping we came across the name on a house called Blotting House., Plus another called the Mill house, and yes the mill did make blotting paper. According to Stidder and Smith -
Watermills of Sussex, in the late 19th century white and colored blotting
paper was made on a single 60 inch machine. It looks as if blotting paper
was made there until the mills were destroyed by fire in 1925.more information click here

Thought this may be of interest.

Spring/Summer programe

Summer Programme.

March/April, surveying and geophysics/ recording work, at Parham, and Slindon plus, Saddlescoombe farm.

May 24^th – 26^th inclusive. Site, Parham medieval village.

June, Beedings, date to be announced, possible over a period of 2/3 weeks.

June /July surveying/ recording , Moot mound, Gumber airfield site, plus various other sites on the Slindon estate, including Round Barrows.

Stane Street, at Gumber farm end to be recorded, this is to compare the damage by Badgers, since last survey two years ago.

August.16^th / 31^st, Blacksmiths Corner, continuation of last year’s excavation, Roman site.

Please make note of above dates, and please let me know the dates you are able to attend, as far as you can.

Walks.

This is the link to society walks. click here.

New site.

A new web site is in the process of being built, so its only in Beta stage at present, it will cover the archeology of Sussex over the past 100 years or so, work covered will include,the work of John Pull, Con Ainsworth, Fred Aldsworth,. The main basis of the site will be the connection with Worthing Archaeological Society which was formed in 1922.

Sussex Archeology. Link. note links underlined on new site are not working at present.

Loftus Saxon Treasures

This is very interesting the link below will take you too the full discussion.

click here.

Westminster Hall debates

Tuesday, 22 January 2008

A site to visit.

This is very interesting, really bringing a excavation alive, Wessex Archeology Roman burial.click here.

For those of you who have heard the recent news of the discovery of a Roman
stone coffin at Boscombe Down, near Amesbury in Wiltshire, we have just
released a video of part of its excavation.

Internet T.V.

Check this out, well worth a view.www.archaeologychannel.org

Interesting museum in Brighton. http://www.oldpolicecellsmuseum.org.uk

Parham.

Parham link, click here.

Tutankhamun exhibition.

Sold out.

Tutankhamun Exhibition

The Boy King is Back

For more than 3,000 years Tutankhamun's treasures lay unseen beneath the Egyptian sands. When they toured the world in the 1970's they were the ultimate 'must see' event. Now Tutankhamun returns to London, in a spectacular new exhibition of 130 priceless treasures from the tombs of Tutankhamun and his royal ancestors.

There are only a few tickets now left for this exciting exhibition, date Saturday the 23^rd February 2008, tickets cost £28. This covers travel and entrance to the exhibition.

If you have reserved tickets please pay now, if you want a ticket apply now direct to me as numbers left are limited. Please ring me or email first to avoid disappointment.

Start time is 9.30 am from Worthing, arrive central London Midday approximately for lunch, not provided. Arrive at the 02 arena at 2pm for timed entrance to the exhibition, you will have 3 hours to tour the arena and take tea etc.

Leave at 5pm for return journal to Worthing, arriving back at 7pm.

Field unit .

Rodney