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. * September 2021
* 25th November 2021
Rocky Clump Excavations 2021 The Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society have not been out into the field at Rocky Clump, Stanmer since 2019 as a result of the coronavirus restrictions. Now with the easing of those restrictions and with up to 30 people allowed together the BHAS are back at Rocky Clump for another season of digging. Brighton City Council digger driver Gary has removed the top soil from an area of 15 metres by 15 metres so we are already removing the remaining top soil seeking features below. Geophysical surveys using both resisitvity and magnetometry have identified a number of areas with archaeological potential. Excavations in 2018 and 2019 revealed a large enclosure containing large post holes indicating the location of a granary for storing grain for food processing. Adjacent to this feature was a deep depression suggesting that it was a grain storage pit, an area of a worked floor with ephemeral lines of flints suggest a possible threshing barn. The north ditch of the enclosure contained the remains of 4 baby burials and a number of Roman coins. The new season will seek evidence for a possible round house, which should be located not too far from the primary food source, and the baby burials. The geophysical anomalies are circular and large enough to suggest that they could be such dwellings. What we don't know is how much damage has been caused by ploughing in the past. Already there have been finds of pottery, marine shell, nails and animal remains (Fig 1.) The new area is immediately north of the large enclosure which had substantial ditches (Fig 2.) This excavation at Rocky Clump is in the south field, and it is producing pottery from the Late Iron Age. It may be that the small peasant, subsistence settlement originated in this location before moving north of the trees, and expanding during the early and middle Roman periods. Low status sites from the late Iron Age and early Roman periods are quite rare so this will be a great opportunity to reveal where, and how, ordinary people were living and working. The Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society began a new season of digging at Rocky Clump on the 30th June. A good number of diggers have come along including a number of students investigating options for university degrees. A number of new face shave joined the team this year. The trench measure 15 metres square and is designed to investigate a number of circular anomalies noted on passed resistivity and magnetometry surveys. Rocky Clump has revealed a complex of agricultural features in the field to the north of the copse of trees, while previous seasons in the south field have revealed an enclosure containing a granary and grain storage pit. It is obvious that the inhabitants of Rocky Clump, and their dwellings, would be located not too far from their main food source. A number of test pits were sunk seeking evidence for terracing associated with round house on hill slopes, ring gullies and post holes for the large timbers supporting any roof. The investigations have revealed a complex geology with the natural chalk of the South Downs interspersed with discrete areas of clay with flints (solution holes). There is evidence that post holes have been cut into this heavier geology. The west side of the excavation trench is only 30 cm deep, but evidence for a possible beam slotted rectangular stricture have been revealed and a large pit or terrace for a round house. This is currently being excavated, so details of its purpose will need to be confirmed. On the east side of the excavation the test trench depth is at present 60+ cm into what is possibly a very large feature. It is too early to understand exactly what it is at this moment in time. At the north end of the site a deep depression, or 'scoop' has been investigated, and this area appears to be surrounded by a bed of compressed flints. It could possibly be a filled in dew pond? The finds at present consist of Iron Age pottery, fragments of animal bone, and small fragment of marine shells. There have been a number of nails. A number of special finds include 2 coins which are Roman barbarous radiates, possibly dating form the late 3rd century and a fragment of a shale bracelet. The excavations will continue until 30th October, providing there are no changes to the covid rules. The digging season at Rocky Clump ended on Saturday 30th October. The site has now been covered up for the winter. It has been a very interesting season with numerous features revealed, and an eclectic collection of finds with a copper ring, a bone pin and 2 Roman coins among the most exiting items recovered. The site has revealed the location of a possible ancient dewpond, a collection of timber framed rectangular buildings indicated by beam slots, and a very large pit or possible house platform. The most complex area is to the south of the dewpond where a considerable depth of archaeology has been revealed, in what is considered to be most likely location for a round house dating to the Iron Age. The location is immediately north of the large enclosure excavated over past seasons, which provided evidence for a granary building, possibly threshing shed, and deep grain storage pit. The location of any round house will not be too far from the main food source. The eastern section of the excavation where the round house is thought to be is quite deep in layers, and so the area is being excavated using a quadrant methodology. This method will preserve the complex of layers in the remaining section. It would be the finding of large packed post holes which will confirm that a house is located in that area. The season has been well supported by older members of the BHAS field unit and a number of new faces including students. This season there was also training on the new resistivity machine purchased by BHAS. This will be fully used in future geophysical projects. The site was visited by the Young Archaeologist Club 3 times during the shorter season, and Rocky Clump is always popular with the YAC's who even enjoyed digging in the rain on one visit, and they still did not want to go home. In October a visit was made to site by the County Archaeologist. He has approved plans for continuing the investigations in 2022. The season was directed by Pete Tolhurst assisted by John skelton. The new season should commence in April 2022.
Portslade Medieval Manor House In May and June of 2021 the BHAS were invited by local community group Freshstart Portslade to conduct geophysics and test pit excavations in and around the old medieval manor house at Portslade. The house in immediately north of St Nicolas Church. The surveys were of resisitivty and Ground Penetrsating Radar (GPR). The surveys noted a number of interesting anomalies. Test pits in locations both inside the house and the surrounding areas proved interesting. The house interior test pits failed to bottom out on to a medieval floor, and the pits outside of the house failed to find the natural chalk geology. The excavations proved that there has been quite a deposit of rubbish over the centuries, with finds of animal bone, oyster shells, nails and a few sherds of medieval pottery and a single piece of Roman pottery. The excavation did have an open day which was well supported with a number of the BHAS field unit pot washing in an adjacent tent. The joint community venture was visited by the Mayor Mr Alan Robins and councillor Amanda Grimshaw. There are plans for another dig in the not too distant future.
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. Digging is on Wednesdays and Saturdays until late October. There may one week of digging during August with the date still to be confirmed.
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
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 4-30 pm.
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