May 2023
Special edition newsletter December 2022
Mosaic mania International interest in East Wear Bay mosaic
www.canterburytrust.co.uk
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Welcome W ith another year’s hard work nearly concluded it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on some of the amazing achievements completed by the Trust’s excavation, outreach and post-excavation teams. We’ve certainly been busy! As I write, there’s just under a week to go before Christmas, yet all our field staff are on-site battling atrocious weather conditions to ensure critical end-of-year deadlines are met. In the office, the processing of finds and environmental material continues unabated, while the hard work of our post-excavation team has ensured report production is maintained, on time and to the high standards for which CAT is renowned. The following articles represent a snapshot summary of some of the work undertaken over the last year as described in our bi-monthly e-newsletters. Issues surrounding client confidentiality mean we are not always able to report on all our fieldwork projects. However, the range of project types undertaken is well represented, with the huge area-excavation at Innovation Park, Medway, at one end and the small yet archaeologically sensitive work at Mint Yard, Canterbury, at the other. It has been a particularly good year for those involved in CAT’s outreach activities, with community digs in Dover and Canterbury and major exhibitions in Dover and Rochester, the success of the latter being aided by the drive and enthusiasm of our new Artist in Residence, Bryan Hawkins. There was also a welcome return to the Roman villa site at East Wear Bay, Folkestone, with evaluation work paving the way to what we hope will be four further seasons of community-led excavation at the site. Numerous research and publication successes over the year have culminated in the completion of ‘Farming, Everyday Life and Ritual’, a publication summarising the results of a large and internationally important excavation carried out by CAT in the late 2000s. Behind all these achievements are, of course, our staff. Space allows the mention of just a few, such as our Environmental Champion, our Schools Outreach staff and our Mental Health First-aider. Without exception, though, all have worked tirelessly to contribute to what has been a very successful year. To all our staff, I give a huge ‘thank you’. Bring on 2023!
In our December issue Contents Page
Mental Health Champions
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All work and no play COP22 motivates CAT to do more
Pre-AD 1300 human bones at
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Dover Market Square Rare opportunity to dig into Dover Mason Dieu’s past Twenty Centuries at Canterbury project Building recording helps vital restorations for Christ Church Gate, Canterbury Cathedral Micro-CT Scanning: Innovations in the recording of cremation burials Suggested wooden superstructure
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Ask an archaeologist
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A leap of faith for King Edward I at Winchelsea Nurturing young talent
Evidence for industrial activity
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Innovation Park Digging success
Reconstructing John of
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Wheathampstead In The Shadow of The Castle: The Story
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of St James’ Dover Community dig no.2
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Alison Hicks, Director
International interest in
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Roman mosaic Return to Mint Yard
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Construction networking success
The Ghosts of Other Things
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An extraordinary Christmas find!
Pictures from CAT
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Editor Mark Houliston Writers Team CAT Design Karen Kelly Photography Team CAT
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January Our collegues Andy Macintosh and Jess Twyman undertook training for the ‘Adult Mental Health, Workplace First Aider’ qualification, a two-day course run by St John Ambulance. The course was aimed at creating competent and confident Mental Health First Aiders who are able to spot the signs that someone might be experiencing a mental health issue and have the skills to respond accordingly. Mental Health Champions
CAT’s very own Frances Morgan became our new environmental champion. Frances is a passionate advocate of environmental protection, motivated by the belief that everyone should do what they can to help protect the planet. She has engaged with staff during 2022 to help reduce the organisation’s environmental impact. COP22 motivates CAT to do more
Frances has focused on:
• Waste reduction – increasing the proportion that’s recycled. • Energy and water usage – monitoring levels and making practical suggestions for reducing consumption. • Impact of vehicles – working with our Vehicle Maintenance Officer, Ross, to help reduce mileage and CO2 emissions. • Responsible sourcing – practical support for those purchasing supplies and subcontracting services.
All work and no play In January, CAT undertook the excavation of fourteen test- pits on the west side of the scheduled monument, Dane John Mound, Canterbury. The excavations were conducted in advance of the installation of a new play park. Historic England advised that test-pits should be hand-dug across the area to ascertain if foundations for the new play park would disturb any archaeological remains. Most test-pits produced evidence for landscaping deposits that correlated with descriptions of those found in the 1981 excavation*. Finds included brick, tile, animal bone, oyster shell and a variety of ceramic fragments. Deposits uncovered in the test-pits dated to at least the 1600s, while some pits showed signs of archaeological features cut into the natural geology. Several interesting finds...Several interesting finds emerged from the excavation. One such item was a metal button depicting three cannons and a cannon ball, which dates to the Napoleonic Wars. *CAT previously undertook an excavation in 1981 at 15A Dane John, which lies c.100m north of the current site. The report for the 1981 excavation (written by Jon Rady) can be found in Canterbury Excavations Intra- and Extra-Mural Sites 1949-55 and 1980-84.
2023
We are looking forward to our first new electric van in 2023 which re-enforces our commitment to CAT’s Environmental Policy. For updates look out for news on www.canterburytrust. co.uk/news
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For further information of the site go to: Newsletter 15
Pre-AD 1300 human bones at Dover Market Square
We maintained a watching brief while groundworks were carried out. A few new fragments of walling revealed further elements of the lost c .17 guildhall. Before the marketplace with its guildhall was established, antiquarian tradition asserts that the area had been part of the graveyard of the great Norman church of St Martin-le- Grand, ruins of which are still exposed a short distance to the west. Excavations in early December 2021 revealed an important stone- built medieval tomb. It falls on the axis of St Martin-le Grand church, some 8 metres outside its east end. This burial was of someone quite
important – but not so important that they were buried inside the church. We were able to rapidly record this structure before it was reburied for protection. The structure thus still survives for someone in the future to fully excavate. The tomb was not on its own and had, itself, been cut into a series of earlier burials. Some articulated skeletons began to show in the base of the excavation. We left these untouched, but we have salvaged a considerable amount of loose bone. The precise date of these bones is not certain but current thinking suggests that they could all be pre- AD 1300.
February
Rare opportunity at Dover Mason Dieu The closure of the Dover Mason Dieu, town hall complex allowed a rare opportunity to undertake archaeological investigations inside the working building. The building with a very long and complicated history, is designation as both a Grade 1 Listed Building and a Scheduled Monument. Three community excavations were planned outside the area of the main building in the hope of discovering more about ancillary structures associated with the complex.
For further information of the site go to: Newsletter 16
Twenty Centuries at Canterbury
Evidence of Romano-British roadside activity next to Watling Street, was revealed during an excavation (2m by 2m test pit) which runs through West Gate Gardens, Canterbury. The site of significant historical importance for the city’s development, supports Canterbury Archaeological Trust’s ‘Twenty Centuries at Canterbury’ project. The base of the trench revealed typical river
lain deposits of silty clay as seen in previous excavations nearby. A sherd of late Iron Age imported fineware was retrieved from this material, which is in keeping with the current understanding of the late prehistoric occupation of the floodplain. The earliest cut feature was a late Iron Age/Romano-British ditch, on the same alignment as many of the field boundaries that underpin the topography of early Durovernum.
You can find out more about the project and Canterbury Archaeological Trust’s excavations at: www.canterburytrust.co.uk/20-centuries. Or you can purchase ‘An Historic Map of Canterbury’ for only £9.99 from bookshops and online and support the next phase of the project.
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Building recording helps vital restorations for Christ Church Gate, Canterbury Cathedral
Christ Church Gate, a Grade I listed building, was analysed, and recorded in some detail by the Trust in anticipation of its restoration. The gate, completed c 1520, forms the main entrance into the cathedral precincts and is one of Canterbury’s most celebrated and photographed buildings. A watching brief, was maintained by the Trust and formed part of the works, in order that any new evidence for the construction and development of the gate, that might be revealed, could be recorded. Restoration has now been completed and is on display to the public. For more information go to www.canterburytrust.co.uk/post/ christchurch-gate
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For further information of the site go to: Newsletter 16 there were two roughly parallel metalled linears that seem to have initially formed as pairs of shallow ruts. These were consolidated to establish two flint-cobbled trackways. One appearing to have been in use into the post-medieval period. A series of medieval ditches and pits formed part of a field system running parallel and perpendicular to the alignment of Melbourne Avenue. In addition to the field system Suggested wooden superstructure Excavations at Melbourne Avenue, Newington, Ramsgate have unearthed pairs of shallow ruts later filled with flint and then further filled with flint and then further consolidated to establish two flint-cobbled trackways. The most northerly trackway would appear to have been in use into the post-medieval period with evidence of clinker lining and brick debris, the southern may have been earlier. The most significant feature comprised of a sunken feature structure approximately 5m long by 2.9m wide with ‘clunch’ built walls on three sides. An upturned limestone mortarium was recovered along with a small number of recovered iron nails perhaps suggestive of a wooden superstructure.
Micro-CT Scanning: Innovations in the recording of cremation burials
CAT collaborated with the School of Anthropology and Conservation at the University of Kent on an exciting project to scan four potential cremation urns from Thanet Parkway and a Roman pot from Slatters Hotel, Canterbury. The newly acquired a micro-CT scanner at the University of Kent’s ‘Imaging Centre for Life Sciences’ was led by Prof. Mathew Skinner, the Director of the lab and Adelina Teoaca from Canterbury Archaeological Trust. Preliminary scans provided us with some good visualisations and 3-Dimentional volumetric models. Due to the lack of established methodological standards the images required multiple scans with various exploratory settings. This was the first time such dense material was being scanned using the micro-CT scanner, therefore, further calibrations would be needed for clearer imaging. Further use, regularised CT scanning of potential cremations would prove beneficial in various aspects: • without causing damage to fragile cremated human bones
during excavation. • It can provide an excellent and accurate view of the concentration and distribution of materials within the urn – with exact location, depth, and measurements of each isolated fragment. • The texture of the materials can also be visualised in detail, which would be essential for assessing the nature of the burnt bone (animal or human). Such accuracy will allow for lesser chance of bias in data collection and subsequent statistical tests. Additionally, scanned empty vessels would not require excavation, saving precious time and effort. CT scans are a non-destructive imaging procedure whereby slices or sections of the material being scanned are obtained using high- resolution X-rays. This pinpoints, with certainty, the position and expanse of the materials within the vessel. Furthermore, specific components of interest within the scan can also be isolated and visualised as a 3-D object, that reveals the textured details of its surface.
For further information of the site go to: Newsletter 16
For the full story go to www.canterburytrust.co.uk/post/ct-scanning
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March and April
In March, Andy Macintosh and Frances Morgan attended two schools in Rochester, Temple Mill Primary and St. Andrew’s, to talk about what it is like to be an archaeologist, as well as the recent CAT excavations in the area. The event aimed at children in Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 8), focussed on the Bronze and Iron Age enabling the children to handle original and replica items from CAT’s education collection. Frances, dressed up as an Iron-Age lady – a surprisingly comfortable outfit, especially the shoes (carbatinae)! This helped the children visualise life from this period. The visit included a ‘design your own coin’ workshop, based on a silver Iron Age coin found at Frindsbury. We look forward to doing more school visits in the future!
At the end of July, Andy and Frances were back at Rochester to attended a one-day joint event with the Guildhall Museum, Rochester, supported by Medway Council. People were invited to bring in finds of their own and ‘Ask an Archaeologist’
Between 21 and 24 March, CAT archaeologists excavated four test-pits at Amerique, Castle Street, Winchelsea. The medieval heritage of the town was immediately apparent. The new town of Winchelsea was built to a fairly regular grid plan in the 1280’s, on a hilltop, to replace Old Winchelsea which was submerged during successive storms in the thirteenth century. The site investigated was located within the north-eastern corner of the town, half-way along Castle Street. Approximately 25m to the north-west of the site, a house named King’s Leap marks the spot where King Edward I, in 1297, is said to have come to Winchelsea to view his fleet, lying in the harbour below the walled escarpment, preparing to sail for Flanders. The king’s horse, disturbed by the grinding noise of a windmill, refused to move until prompted with whip and spurs, sending horse and rider over the wall and cliff edge. In a miraculous display of horsemanship, the king managed to remain seated after skidding to a muddy halt. So, it was with a ‘leap of expectation’ the excavations commenced.
A leap of faith for King Edward I at Winchelsea
For further information of the site go to: Newsletter 17
Nurturing young talent: Barton Court Grammar School Careers Fair The CAT stand aimed to inform students of the different aspects involved in a career in archaeology, provide information about the skills needed, and answer questions about the job itself and career pathway options.
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Work was undertaken at Burleigh Farm, Charing, from early April, with a site strip and excavation being undertaken in advance of sand quarrying by the client Brett Aggregates Ltd. The work was commissioned by their consultant Andrew Josephs Associates and follows previous phases of work undertaken in 2016 and 2021. The site, over 4 hectares, contains a range of features dominated by shallow pits and ditches. The features seem to range in date from the late Neolithic/very early Bronze Age to the post medieval period with sherds of decorated late Neolithic/early Bronze Age, Romano-British, medieval and post- medieval pottery recovered together with worked flints. Evidence for industrial activity At Burleigh Farm excavation
For further information of the site go to: Newsletter 18
A large intercutting pit complex may reveal more evidence for this industrial activity. Many of the features contain large quantities of charcoal, though their function presently remains unclear. May and June
Innovation Park A four-month strip, map and sample excavation at Rochester Airport was completed in May 2022. The archaeological works were commissioned by Medway Council and monitored by consultants, WSP Cultural Heritage and Archaeology. The works were undertaken in preparation for the development of the land as Innovation Park Medway, a state-of-the-art hub for technology, engineering and manufacturing businesses. Archaeological features, largely
representing boundary ditches, pits and post-holes, were identified across much of the site. Analysis of the results is yet to take place, but we think that the earliest activity may date to the late Bronze Age to early Iron Age period, with activity continuing into the early Roman period. We hope that post-excavation analysis will shed more light on these discoveries and contribute to a wider understanding of prehistoric and Roman land-use in this area. Follow our series of blogs: www.canterburytrust.co.uk/news
Digging success Volunteer archaeologists working alongside CAT’s Keith Parfitt and Andy Macintosh discovered a host of exciting finds during Dover District Council’s recent History Diggers community excavation at the town’s Maison Dieu. Mini dig finds included a pig jawbone, repro Roman statue and Victorian toothbrush.
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July and August
Reconstructing John of Wheathampstead
Who was John Bostock? Abbot John was elected to his post as abbot of St Albans twice during his lifetime. An education at Gloucester College, Oxford inspired a love of learning. He was recorded to be a man respected for his intellect but also for his ability to meet the needs of the community in his role as abbot.
For further information of the site go to: Newsletter 19
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On Saturday 30 July, the reburial of John Bostock (born c 1390), better known as John of Wheathampstead, a fifteenth century abbot of St Albans Abbey took place at St Albans Cathedral. It marked the end of a journey for the abbot which began with the discovery of his remains in 2017 during archaeological excavations prior to construction of the new cathedral Welcome Centre as part of the Alban, Britain’s First Saint Project. A window into John Bostock’s health Osteological analysis by Dr Emma Pomeroy (The University of Cambridge) demonstrated contemporary accounts of an elderly man in failing health at the time of his death. Evidence was recorded for the ossification of the cartilage of the ribcage and thyroid which, although not unusual in an individual of his age, was extensive and likely to have led to some restriction in his breathing. Also present was evidence for bruxism (tooth grinding) that may be consistent with historical allusions to the abbot being of a nervous disposition, or could potentially be related to stress, though it is not possible to know the cause for certain. He had also suffered significant tooth loss, perhaps related to a rich monastic diet. In general, however, he was in relatively good health for his age, with only minor signs of joint degeneration, and was of slightly above average stature for the time at 172cm, 5’6” tall. Facial
In The Shadow of The Castle: The Story of St James’ Dover
A major exhibition of material recovered during CAT’s 2015 to 2017 excavations in the St James’ area of Dover area of Dover took place between July and September. It comprised of cases of beautifully presented finds and environmental material. The suburb of St James, the area located between the eastern banks of the Dour valley, the high ground dominated by the castle and the sea, is known to have been continuously occupied since at least 1150 AD. The exhibition took the visitors on a journey back in time, drawing a distinction between the period covering the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, when fine houses were first built in the area, and the earlier medieval period, when it was characterised by small wooden houses occupied by poor families working in the fishing industry. Visitors could learn more
reconstruction The high level of bone preservation also enabled facial reconstruction to be carried out by Face Lab, led by Professor Caroline Wilkinson (Liverpool John
about the town’s major role in both World Wars, and the 19th century construction of buildings such as an orphanage, a gas depot, houses and workshops.
Moores University), best known for the facial reconstruction of King Richard III. Who was John Bostock? To find out more about John Bostock’s life as an abbot go to: www.canterburytrust.co.uk/post/the- reburial-of-john-of-wheathampstead-at- st-albans-cathedral
Community dig no.2 Work resumed at Dover’s medieval Maison Dieu hospital complex at the end of July when the second of three community archaeology excavations were undertaken as part of Dover District Council’s History Diggers project.
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Archaeological investigations at East Wear Bay , Folkestone, were carried out during late August and September. International interest in Roman mosaic
For further information of the site go to: Newsletter 20
The Roman villa At the main Roman villa site overlooking East Wear Bay, the mosaic floor in Room 40 - the grand summer dining room at the centre of the villa complex - was re-investigated. The mosaic was first discovered and fully exposed in 1924 but it was covered over in 1957 and, accordingly, has not been seen for more than sixty years. The work here in 2022 was designed to determine what, if anything, survived of the mosaic. Eyewitness accounts from the early 1950s suggested that the floor was in a very poor state when it was reburied, but the new work established that some reasonable amount of the floor remains, and it was found to be in a rather better
state than expected. In reply to an email update from Keith Parfitt, Steven Cosh, one of the leading authorities on Romano-British mosaics, noted: My understanding is that the mosaic dates to the later second century - it certainly does by style. In this it is one of very few mosaics indeed still surviving from a villa of that period (there are many more urban examples, of course). I can’t off-hand think of another in south-east Britain, unless one counts Fishbourne which is scarcely typical. As you are well aware, there were several other exceptionally large villas in second-century Kent, including Boxted, Farningham 2, Minster and Eccles (and others in SE Britain) but none of their mosaics
survive. Fragments of exceptionally fine quality were found at Eccles and fine ones at Minster, but only at Folkestone have they been found in situ and still survive. Therefore, if regarded as a work of art rather than merely a floor design, it is one of the earliest examples of sophisticated art in Kent. When the open villa ruins were covered over in 1957, ash from the municipal incinerator was used as backfill. This material is dry, loose and dusty and tends to blow about in the wind when exposed. As a consequence, our diggers were required to wear full overalls, face masks, gloves and goggles to protect them from the dust when working with the ash. Intense summer heat made
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Return to Mint Yard The King’s School, Canterbury CAT staff returned to the Mitchinson’s House, Mint Yard as part of a watching brief to monitor groundworks associated with services for the new building and ahead of installation of a new paved walkway. Foundations of the Almonry Chapel built in c 1317–18 had been recorded and subsequently removed during construction of Mitchinson House in 1980, however the recent works exposed further surviving elements of this structure. This has included at least one phase of the southernmost wall of the chapel, built using stone and flint, with evidence for a number of buttresses extending from the outer face. The stonework included the reuse of earlier architectural fragments within its make-up and showed evidence for post-medieval brick refacing of the internal wall at the western end, along with other later brickwork additions inside the building. In some places the structural remains lay less than 0.2m below the existing ground surface. The presence of significant archaeology surviving at such a high level complicated the build as Historic England (HE) indicated that the structural remains were to be preserved in situ. Following consultation with HE, The King’s School and Coniston (the principal contractor), preservation in situ of the wall was achieved, though much of the site was excavated down to formation level. One area revealed a glimpse of what appears to be an early paved surface, perhaps contemporary with construction of the chapel, whilst others exposed patches of a much later post-medieval cobbled surface with a built-in drainage channel that pre-dates the modern tarmacked driveway which now extends from The Borough through to the Green Court.
this an especially arduous task, and we are grateful to everyone who assisted. Supplies of custard creams and chocolate biscuits went some small way towards to keeping everyone going! Trenching by the students from the University of Kent outside the villa to the north-west located undisturbed stratified Roman deposits. Finds from these layers included a CLBR stamped tile, a fourth century coin, painted wall plaster and Roman pottery.
Copt Point Overlooking the Roman villa site from the south stands the rising ground of Copt Point. Was there activity here in ancient times? One point of particular interest was a mound visible on the summit, surrounding the Coastwatch lookout bunker. Was this the remains of a prehistoric or Roman barrow overlooking the villa, which had been extensively remodelled during the Second World War, when the bunker was first built? In order to assess something of the archaeological potential of Copt Point, a series of hand-dug trial trenches was cut across the area. Trenches 1 and 2 produced a light scatter of prehistoric flintwork and one or two pieces of prehistoric pottery. Trench 3 confirmed that the existing earthwork was in part the product of modern soil dumping but also suggested that the basis of the mound was a heap of earlier stone rubble that included some Roman building material and tile. Futute funding The clay cliffs upon which the site stands are not stable and continuing coastal erosion means that everything will slowly fall into the sea over the coming years. If work is to continue at this crucial Kent site substantial sums of money will need to be raised to finance any future investigations.
Construction networking success CAT attended two construction industry exposition and networking events, the Kent Construction Expo near Maidstone and the South East Construction Expo near Crawley. Both provided great network opportunities and chances to engage with fellow professionals working in the construction industry. Many of the architectural practices, planning consultancies, small building firms and major construction companies were there and provided a good opportunity to connect.
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November and December
An extraordinary Christmas find! This extraordinary find, recovered during the December 2022 Office excavation (Site code: EX MAS 22), is a beautiful example of a Clausimus coin Clausimus coin (Estimated date: 3 days BC*) from the Late Christmas period. The fine markings and colour distinguish it from the Early Christmas period, when it was generally expected that the widely distributed Chocolate coin was used.
For further information of the site go to: Newsletter 20
Image: courtesy of Rochester Art Gallery
We were delighted to announce the opening of an exhibition ‘The Ghosts of Other Things’, created by CAT artist-in-residence Bryan Hawkins. Archaeological investigations conducted in 2021/22 in advance of the development of the new InnovationParkMedway near Rochester Airport formed the basis of this exciting exhibition. Expanding beyond the archaeology and history of site, visitors were invited to explore Rochester’s history and its ‘ghosts’. The exhibition at Rochester Art Gallery runs until 14 January 2023. Don’t miss it! For further details go to medway.gov.uk/arts The Ghosts of Other Things AN HISTORIC MAP OF CANTERBURY Only £9.99 available online and instore
Discovered in the Canterbury Archaeological Trust chimney, experts have identified the coin as being of the venerated, once ruler of Lapland, Santa I. From all at Canterbury Archaeological Trust, have a very happy Christmas and a safe New Year. *BC: Before Christmas
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What a year! We end December with some snowy scences from our sites around Kent and beyond. What a fabulous team! Want to know why our team spirit is so successful? Then read more... www.canterburytrust.co.uk
Connect with us and keep up-to-date with our latest news and blogs
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Books and publications
The development of an industrial site from prehistory to present Archaeological work at Sittingbourne Paper Mill, 2011–12 By Jon Rady MCIfA, Damien Boden and Peter Seary An archaeological evaluation followed by open area excavations, was undertaken by Canterbury Archaeological Trust on part of the former Sittingbourne Paper Mill site just north-west of Sittingbourne town centre. The occasional papers are available to download: www.canterburytrust. co.uk/occasional-papers
Bringing order to CAT’s paperwork archive After finishing an extensive project on the Finds Archive, work continued on the paperwork archive – nearly fifty years of CAT sites! The material currently held at Wincheap is now fully labelled, recorded and reorganised to be completely searchable for anyone carrying out research into the sites that CAT has worked on, from 1975 to the current day. From small evaluations in small, neat folders to nearly a hundred files from long-running urban excavations, the files should be easy to find and clearly labelled to modern standards.
Farming, Everyday Life and Ritual By James Holman, Robert Masefield, Jonathan Rady and Jake Weekes Sixty centuries ago, someone placed a large broken bowl in a pit at Thanet Earth. Handfuls of wheat from the homeland followed, and fragments of saddle quern for grinding it, and more pottery, and flint tools, and ancestral bones... These were some of the first farmers in the British Isles, pioneers of a revolution that would affect everyday life for ever, and ritual too. Farming, Everyday Life and Ritual continues this story as it develops over millennia at Thanet Earth, the previously unknown story of lives lost to history, rediscovered through their archaeological remains, the evidence unearthed during excavations in the late 2000s by Canterbury Archaeological Trust.
The Lower Lines By James Holman a nd Peter Kendall The Lower Lines formed a key part of the defences of Chatham Dockyard during the early part of the nineteenth century. While they were never used in combat, they became the focus for siege training during the later part of the century, and for the development of innovative new military technologies by the Royal Engineers. Latterly they were repurposed during the Second World War as part of the land defences for the Nore Command.
The archaeological work undertaken between 2005 and 2009 focussed on two sites, at Mid Kent College and the Black Lion Leisure Centre. This work allowed study of the defences, but also provided an opportunity to investigate how the Royal Engineers were using the area. They constructed elaborate siege exercises, involving many hundreds of men while also experimenting with new technologies such as electric searchlights. The archaeology together with contemporary records allow an intimate picture of what was taking place on the site throughout the nineteenth and into the twentieth centuries.
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Finds showcase The
Why not visit our Finds Showcase! It presents items discovered by Canterbury Archaeological Trust which have the power to connect us to the past. Amongst this collection of iconic and interesting finds from Kent we can see wealth and influence, the functional and the personal, all the items revealing something about their owners or the past. Spanning thousands of years, the items are an eclectic mixture of finds, each special in its own way and together demonstrating the broad range of material which is discovered when exploring the past.
www.unlockingourpast.co.uk/finds-showcase Look for the new edition to our Finds Showcase The Stone Griffin
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