YAC grows in 2001
If the good folk of Kent’s past had been blessed with foresight, I wonder how they would have viewed some of the events of AD2001? Would it ever have occurred to them that some of their commonplace activities would provide our children with archaeological activities?
In March 2000 the inaugural meeting of the North Downs Young Archaeologists Club took place. The leaders, usually a configuration of Susie Lee, Lyn Palmer, Janet Donald, and Kate Kersey, were slightly uncertain just how many children would turn up. Worries vanished as children came in eagerly, keen to join (and even more keen to dispose of parents). We even had a couple of parents admit whose children were unable to come that day but who were desperate to register their interest!
Attendance figures at subsequent activities have banished any lingering queries as to whether there really is a surge of interest in archaeology by youngsters. For some the initial spark is generated by television programmes such as Time Team and Meet the Ancestors. Others are inspired by work encountered through the National Curriculum. What is obvious though is that the interest is genuine and providing it is treated properly and respected, should be life-long.
North Downs YAC is organised under the umbrella of the Council for British Archaeology but with as much local input as possible. We have around 25 children attend meetings, aged between 9 and 16. Meetings are usually held on Saturday mornings, roughly once a month, and our "base" is at Maidstone Museum. All children have to be members of the national YAC before they join our local branch. We conform to the CBA’s regulations for YAC and to designated safety codes and have fully qualified First Aiders within the leadership team.
Archaeology is a diverse term and YAC acknowledges this by encompassing many activities. Although it is not always possible to provide excavation experience (top of the children’s wish-list!), we do try to provide practical ‘hands-on’ activities.
We have experienced the joys of field-walking and glorious mud at Thurnham as we have become friends with the KCC archaeologists involved in the development of the new White Horse Wood Country Park. We then washed our finds and discussed the lives of our Thurnham ancestors, whose relics spanned at least 5000 years; from a Neolithic polished axe to modern ploughshares, the children were fascinated by them all. On National Archaeology Day in July, we celebrated in costume in medieval manner at Thurnham’s motte & bailey castle.
One of our most outstanding and enjoyable events was the resistivity survey at Otford Palace, where the children were able to reveal the presence of a further range of buildings through geophysics, electronic trickery, and computer imagery. They also learnt to use a theodolite and produce digital images of finds. A great mix of the practical and technological!
Over the past 18 months we have built pyramids in the grounds of the museum, visited the Medway Megaliths and Dover Boat and been shown round the Time Team Live excavations in Canterbury by one of YAC’s Presidents, Mick Aston. Our Christmas party 2000 was enlivened by Phil Harding showing us how to knap flints for unique Christmas presents!
We have also examined manuscripts in Canterbury Cathedral Library, visited the Big Dig and have pretended to be Brother Cadfael whilst holding a "whodunit?" meeting with osteoarchaeologist Trevor Anderson and his bone collection. The evidence of some methods of despatch appealed to the boys… At an aerial photography event, we assembled the kit to grow our own cropmarks, which should be busily sprouting evidence in many conservatories by now. The children have learnt about the SMR and looked up the data near their home addresses, have found out about the history and restoration of Flintlock pistols and fired miniature cannons, and have listened to the gruesome and grisly history of the Tower of London before trying on some of the (smaller!) armour from there.
We were privileged to be given a ‘behind the scenes’ tour at the Natural History Museum by Andy Currant; the wonder on the children’s faces whilst examining bones from Darwin’s own collection will stay with me for a long time.
Our plans for 2002 include a visit to The Map Room at the British Library, an exploration of Oldbury hillfort, and our long-postponed visit to Avebury and Stonehenge, cancelled due to foot and mouth last year. In March we hope to help in the clearance of castle walls at Thurnham.
Naturally, all this achievement has taken much time and planning. Already we have an immense number of people to thank. We are very grateful to the Kent Archaeological Society and individual members for all their support and enthusiasm. We would also welcome the opportunity to hold joint YAC meetings with other Kent groups.
We are always keen to hear from any KAS member or archaeological contact that has a special interest or enthusiasm that we might use for a meeting. Perhaps your interest in archaeology was developed because someone on an excavation, in a museum or library took the time to talk to you? Unlike school activities, our YAC children attend because they really want to be there, are genuinely interested and ask the sort of questions that occasionally stump our experts!
Kate Kersey
Assistant Leader North Downs YAC