Newsletter 127

Rectory Geophys Results

Last month we carried out our first Pseudo-section resistivity survey in the grounds of the Rectory. As you can see the results are quite dramatic but what does it actually mean? The plot represents the electrical resistivity of a 14 metre long by 2.5 metre deep section across the area where we suspect the course of the old Frog Lane to run. Previously we had carried out a standard resistivity survey of this area to get a good idea where to take the section. Unfortunately the results were not exactly as expected, with dark areas representing low resistivity appearing where we expected the high resistivity of the road surface (details on our Forum). Similarly with our Pseudo-section, the result was also not quite what was expected. The purple on the left is indicating high resistivity but where the road should be on the right there is lots of blue, indicating low resistivity. It could be that we are picking up the underlying geology; however there is the possibility that what we're seeing is evidence of the moat lying under the road. If this is the case then it's quite exciting. In the next few weeks we hope to be able to confirm this with selected test pits across the section. If you are interested in getting involved please contact Eric Walter or myself at our next meeting.

EGM

As mentioned in the last newsletter we will be having a short EGM at the start of next month's meeting in order to ratify the proposed changes to our constitution. Incidentally some members have expressed their concerns about the level of funding we are receiving particularly from the local authority. The worry is that it will saddle us with obligations and commitments which may be detrimental to our society. All I can do is assure everybody that these commitments (such as involvement with local schools and with the History Shop) will not impose too much restriction on us and may in fact prove beneficial in raising the society's profile. I'm also confident that the proposed changes will not affect the way in which our society is run and that control and direction will remain with the society.

Exhibition

One of the obligations we committed ourselves to when we received funding for the St William's School excavation project was for an exhibition of our work in the History Shop (as mentioned in December last year). The History Shop is currently undergoing an extensive programme of refurbishment and is only due to open again in April next year. However Brian Parr and I have been having some useful meeting with Lisa Keys at the History Shop to establish the content and format for the exhibition. The Society has been allocated a fair amount of space in the corner of the main hall but Lisa is confident that the material we have supplied so far will be adequate to fill it. Part of the area will be given over to an interactive section for schools and the general public. As part of the build-up for the re-opening of the History Shop, Lisa is planning a "Roman Event" in the Grand Arcade for the 27th and 28th October. This will include a 'Roman Soldier' being on hand to answer questions about the Bathhouse excavations. In the following weeks it is also planned to have a number of half-day workshops for school children, which will feed into the exhibition in April. At all these events we have agreed to provide support and some members have already volunteered to be available.

Next Meeting

Wednesday 2nd September - District Scout HQ (Baden Powell Centre) in Greenough Street, starting at 7.30 pm as usual. This month we have Alastair Vannan from Oxford Archaeology North who will be giving us a talk on the Iron Age in the North West. In our region this period is little understood, however recent discoveries have shown that much more was going than we previously thought. Alastair will no doubt bring it all to light.

Hope to see you there - B.A.