This section contains the latest news from the Field Unit, as and
when it occurs. New sections are added as and when to show the
progress the Field Unit are making during the year.
* Original Information 6th March 2024
* added 22nd July 2024
BHAS excavations at Rocky Clump 2023, and Post Excavation
Excavations at Rocky Clump in Stanmer, near Brighton commenced in
April and continued until October 2023. There was a week long dig in
August. The excavations focused on a large pit which had produced
some Middle Bronze Age pottery in test pits. The large pit was
excavated by removing 2 quadrants in the north/west and south/east
sections. The finds from the pit included more Bronze Age pottery and
numerous struck flint flakes. A barbed and tanged arrow head was also
found in an area close to the pit, it had been broken during
manufacture. The excavations continued northwards up the hill
covering an area 17 metres north to south, and 8 metres wide. The
excavations revealed a number of linear shallow ditch features, post
holes and a number of stake holes. At the north end of the site a
number of shallow pits began to produce significant amounts of finds,
including pottery, metal work, with copious amounts of ancient nails,
marine shells and glass. The season saw a good number of new, younger
people along, some travelling long distances. There was training in
all aspects of the BHAS archaeological resources, including the
setting up and use of a total station, and geophysics. Among the
diggers in 2023 were people, from Hungary, Australia, America and
Norway, so quite an international group.
During the winter the BHAS Field unit have washed the finds from 2023
at the Bridge Farm facilities, and we would like to thank both David
Millum and Rob Wallace for access. In early 2024 finds processing
continued with finds sorting, and marking at the Patcham Community
Centre during January and February. There have also been a number of
day schools on flint identification, environmental archaeological
recording and a study of post Roman pottery. The 2023 season was very
busy with director John Skelton now standing down from leading the
team. New site directors will be taking over that role in 2024, with
training in all aspect of archaeological recording a key undertaking,
to train up younger people for leadership and specialist roles.
Excavations at Rocky Clump 2024
Excavations at Rocky Clump began in late April.
It was decided not to remove the top soil this season as last year
there were so many finds in those upper layers. A new area has been
opened up north of last season, measuring 16 metres by 8 metres. The
area has ben divided into 2 metre square grids. The first task was to
de-turf an area ready for digging, and this process has gradually
uncovered most of the area to be excavated. A number of small
sections were cut to determine the depth of soil, and the location of
the natural chalk. There is a variation in depth over the site with
some areas much deeper than others, indicating the location of pits
or post holes. An area of compact flints has ben exposed on the west
side of the site, which could be a floor or wall. The finds have been
forthcoming in large numbers. The finds include pottery, animal bone,
marine shells, Roman roofing tile, and box flue tile, and special
finds of a bone pin and a Roman coin. The coin is a barbarous radiate
from the 3rd century AD. Among the pottery have been a good number of
decorated pieces including a fragments of a large Dragendorff bowl
with an interesting motif of the human form. The excavations have ben
very well supported with many new faces enjoying their first
experience of digging. Andrew Fanning is the new site director. The
site has been visited by the Worthing Archaeological Society and the
Surrey Roman Studies Group. The Young Archaeologists Club will be
visit again the next few weeks. The dig wil continue until the end of
September. New faces are always welcome.
The Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society is
open to all whatever your experience. You will need to be a member to
participate, which is £20 full or £10 student, and have a
current tetanus. You can join via John Funnell at
john.funnell@brightonarech.org.uk or contact the Society through
their website brightonarch.org.uk
Digging is on Wednesdays and Saturdays until
late September. There is one week of digging during August starting
from Monday 19th to Saturday 24th.
You will need to bring refreshments, sun factor
and wet gear, as the site is exposed and you can get wet. BHAS supply
tools and training You will be able try your hand at anything within
our archaeological resources.
We meet at 9-45 am at the Upper Lodge car park
in Stanmer, and finish on site at 4-00 pm so back at the car park at
about 4-15 pm.
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