KAS Committee Round-Up
FIELDWORK COMMITTEE
Excavation
Ringlestone: The Bronze Age gold cup site (see Newsletters no.53 & 57). In 2004, there is to be another season of excavation at this prehistoric site. The excavation will be led by Keith Parfitt of Canterbury Archaeological Trust.
The survival of the base of the barrow mound here has served to trap important evidence of earlier activity below it. Very extensive collections of prehistoric struck flints and pottery indicate previous occupation on the site during both the Mesolithic (c. 8000–4000 BC) and later Neolithic periods. As this site is on arable land, it is most important that it be investigated sooner rather than later.
Much of the excavation work is to be done by volunteers. For members who would like to participate on this dig, or who would like to know more about the site, please contact David Bacchus (see address below).
Recording
Kent Underground Research Group have recently surveyed a chalk mine at Abbey Wood.
A site at Sheldwich: Andrew Richardson (FLO) reported that recovered building debris in this locality indicates the existence of a Roman building. It is hoped that a geophysical survey can be undertaken here.
Equipment
Two augers have been purchased. Members of the Society can apply to use one of them for their fieldwork projects.
Contacts:
Chris Pout
Sunnydene, Boyden Gate, Corner, Marshside Nr Canterbury CT3 4EE
Tel: 01227 860207
David Bacchus
Telford Lodge, Roebuck Road, Rochester ME1 1UD
Tel: 01634 843495
FIELDWORK COMMITTEE
The Committee heard about the opening of the Archaeology Museum at Valley Park Community School, Maidstone, where a laptop provided by the Society is now installed and how the Society’s support of Canterbury Archaeological Trust’s education work has enabled almost 13,000 visitors to see the final phase of the Whitefriars excavations last autumn. The Committee agreed to make a contribution to the History and Archaeology Show in the KAS library in June.
Marion Green (Sec)
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
The Committee last met on Saturday 28 February and will next meet on Saturday 12 June. The forthcoming volume of Archaeologia Cantiana is complete and several other possible publications are making good progress. The Hon. Editor and Professor Killingray have delivered the text of the Historical Atlas of Kent to the publisher and publication is expected in the Autumn.
The Committee is open to suggestions in writing concerning a publication to mark the 150th anniversary of the Society in 2007.
From the Kent History Fund a grant of £250 has been awarded to the Horton Kirby and South Darenth Local History Society towards the publication costs of a book on local schools.
A display of publications will be mounted for the History & Archaeology Show at Maidstone Museum on 5 June 2004.
A sub-committee under the chairmanship of Dr Panton has been set up to explore the possibilities, implications and costs of electronic publication. It will report back to a future meeting of the Publications Committee.
John Whyman (Chair)
CHURCHES COMMITTEE
Entries are coming in for our Essay Competition attracting a prize of £100. Contributions of 500–1000 words on some unusual, interesting, or bizarre feature of any church in Kent should go to:
Mrs. S. Petrie
Sunningly Farm House
Bells Yew Green
Tunbridge Wells
TN3 9AG
Plans are being made for an all-day study Interpreting a Church, with speakers considering aspects of architecture, artifacts, and usage.
Consideration is also being given to a means of focusing attention on Kent’s rich heritage of monastic sites.