Newsletter 94

Community Archaeology at its best

Mellor Archaeological Trust are once again organising a summer season of excavations on their site, which lies just 7 miles east of Stockport (on the very edge of the Peak District). For the last 7 years the Trust has been working towards building up a complete history of the occupation here, which, they believe, may go back as much as 10,000 years. They have been able to do this mainly through the enthusiasm of local volunteers (70 in all), but also with help from the professionals such as the Greater Manchester and Manchester University Archaeology Units.

It all started in 1995 when John and Ann Hearle saw marks on their lawn which carried on into the adjoining farmers field, and wanted to find out what had caused them. In 1997 they approached Peter Arrowsmith from the UMAU who organised a resistivity survey. The results where positive so the following year trial trenching began and it was in one of these trenches that a remarkable discovery was made. On one side, a deep defensive ditch was uncovered about 4 metres wide and over 2 metres deep.

Full-scale excavations followed the next year and it soon became clear that they had discovered an Iron Age Hill Fort surrounded by what is now thought to be a double-ditch system. Finds were also turning up from a multitude of other periods, demonstrating the site's long history of occupation. These range from Mesolithic flints to Post-Medieval pottery, and include this fine Bronze Age DaggerBronze-age dagger, some Iron Age pottery and 4 Roman brooches. Funding for the project has been received from various sources including the Local Heritage Initiative, Stockport MBC and local fund raising activities. Open days are planned for 2nd and 3rd September, but if enough people are interest, they will accept a private visit. If you want to learn more, their website is: www.mellorarchaeology.org.uk

CBA-NW Spring Meeting

Despite some last minute changes to speakers, last month's meeting turned out to be a great success with over 65 attendees. I would like to thank all those who contributed, particularly Tom Glover for chairing the day and Jack Smith for arranging the venue (including a very pleasant visit to Euxton Parish Church). John Rabbitt and Dot Waring presented their searches for the Roman Road in Eccles and Darwen areas respectively, (demonstrating quite adeptly that community archaeology is alive and doing quite well in our neck of the woods as well).

I might be biased but I thought Dot's talk on Darwen Archaeological Society's excursions into experimental archaeology were particularly entertaining. There was more community archaeology in the afternoon with Peter Connolly's talk on the highly successful 'Dig Manchester' project. We will of course be booking all of these for our society talks in the coming year.

Chorlton Fold

John Rabbitt is also pressing on with his plans for an investigation of the Roman Road in the Chorlton Fold area. Last month Mark, Joe and I went down there for a site visit with representatives from all interested parties. John pointed out areas where he thought the road might be found and a way forward was agreed, including some trial trenching and a possible resistivity survey. Whitaker, writing in the 18th century, describes the road turning north at this point toward the A6, on its way to Blackrod (he believed that this was where Coccium lay). Sibson, however, reporting in his early 19th century, refuted this saying the road did not deviate as it went straight through Chorlton Fold on its way to Wigan.

Next Meeting

Wednesday 7th June at the District Scout HQ (Baden Powell Centre) in Greenough Street, starting at 7.30 pm as usual. This month we are having Anne Worsley from Edge Hill college near Ormskirk, whose visit had to be unavoidably postpone last year. Her talk is on the fascinating subject of Forensic Archaeology.

Hope to see you there - B.A.