Founded 1906
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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. * added 22nd July 2024 * added 4th Nov 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.
Rocky Clump 2024 The digging season at Rocky Clump ended on the 28th September. The season has been been quite fruitful in both features and finds. The turf and top soil was removed by hand and revealed a curving arc of fill. It was hoped that this large feature it would prove to be the elusive roundhouse that the Society has been seeking. As the digging progressed it became apparent that it was not am round house but yet another large midden or rubbish pit. It was a large anomaly noted in the geophysics. Due to the depth of this feature and the production of numerous finds of pottery, marine shell and animal bone the area was not completely excavated, and digging will continue in 2025. One of the features appears to be a possible trackway, hinted at in the geophysics, coming in from the west to the midden pit, this feature was mainly left in-situ. A number of large flint packed post holes were among the features investigated, and the north/west corner produced a couple of post holes and large stone post pads which could be an entrance into something? This area also produced a considerable number of finds including a broken loom weight. On the east side of the site a pair of dig burials were found, and these were carefully excavated. In the same same location were a couple of potential large post holes, with gullies running north and south away from them, is this another possible entrance? The site has now been covered up for the winter and the team hope to return in April 2025. The excavations were lead by Andrew Fanning and Simon Cooper, with Mark Peck in support. It was their first time at directing, and they did an excellent job in a very busy and productive year. Work has now begun on post excavation, and most of the finds have now been washed at the Culver Project facilities at Bridge Farm. We would like to thank Rob Wallace, David Millum and Andrew Symonds for allowing us access. After Christmas the finds will be sorted, and where required marked ready for sending to specialists. This will take place at the Patcham Community Centre, and the dates advertised in the BHAS newsletter and on the BHAS regular updates.
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