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Issue 68December 2002ContentsnewsScatness dates push back history of brochs 'Londoners' stone sheds light on city's cosmopolitan ways Ivory plane from Roman settlement in the North East Wealthy trading suburb excavated near Roman fort History from pig fields, beaches and back gardens featuresRoman Britons after 410 Bear pit to zoo Great sites lettersRoman roads, talismans, animal bones and Tolkien (again) issuesGeorge Lambrick on the pillage of the warship 'Sussex' Peter EllisbooksCBA updatefavourite findsBill Putnam on a World War II fork in a 'prehistoric' ditch
ISSN 1357-4442 Editor Simon Denison |
CBA updateCampaigns and reports from the CBAProgress on archaeology in educationThe CBA has been campaigning for a number of years to widen the teaching of history to include the whole of the human past (writes Don Henson). In particular, recent efforts have focused on trying to get more medieval history taught at 14+. In support of this, the CBA recently organised a meeting of educational and historical organisations, chaired by Sir Patrick Cormack FSA, MP. There was widespread agreement that current history teaching at this level focuses too much on modern history, especially that of the 20th century. The meeting was told that the United Kingdom is the only country in Europe that does not make history a compulsory school subject at 14+. It was agreed that the CBA and the Historical Association would work together to coordinate further action, including the development of specifications for medieval history GCSE, the Schools History Project and a new hybrid vocational/general GCSE. The CBA has submitted its response to a consultation on changes to the Northern Ireland primary and secondary school curriculum. The proposed changes would see a subject-based curriculum replaced by one organised around cross-curricular themes. History as a separate subject, with its own curriculum orders, would no longer exist. If adopted the new curriculum would have serious implications for the use of archaeological evidence in teaching. While primary school teaching has long favoured a cross-curricular thematic approach, the CBA has called for more balance in secondary schools, retaining traditional subject knowledge while strengthening appropriate cross-curricular skills. ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, is beginning work to develop an international charter on the presentation and interpretation of heritage, at the initiative of the Ename Heritage Centre in Belgium. The CBA has been invited to take part in the formulation of the Ename charter through membership of a working party on education and training. The new Charter would be put forward for adoption by ICOMOS in 2005. The CBA's involvement will help to ensure that the Charter contains strong recommendations on the value of heritage education. Young archaeologists on televisionMembers of the CBA's Young Archaeologists' Club have had several contacts with national media over recent months (writes Alison Bodley). James Thorniley-Walker, aged 9, of the York branch, interviewed Two Men in a Trench stars, Tony Pollard and Neil Oliver, for the Young Archaeologist magazine. James did an excellent job, asking detailed probing questions. YAC members are encouraged to keep up to date with new developments, and most archaeological TV personalities and experts are keen to work with the Club in some way. Young archaeologists from the North Downs branch were recently featured on the BBC digital programme Xchange, while the Northampton Branch showed the BBC Radio 4 children's programme Go4IT! how to excavate, and how to dye clothes using autumn fruits. The programme is also featuring this year's Young Archaeologist of the Year Award, when the winning entries of the 'plan a feast fit for a king' competition are cooked at Norton Priory. YAC celebrated its 30th birthday this year, while the longest-running individual branch, the Oxfordshire branch, celebrated its 25th. Run by the Oxfordshire Museum, the branch has been led by Carol Anderson for many years, inspiring children with activities from the prehistoric to modern day and from excavation through to experimental archaeology. Long may their success continue. Developments at CBATHE CBA now has an online shop (writes Mike Heyworth) through which people can join CBA/YAC and subscribe to 'British Archaeology' and 'biab' through a secure online payment system using credit/debit cards, see www.britarch.ac.uk/shop. We plan to extend this shortly to other areas, such as book sales. Anyone wishing to make a tax efficient donation to the CBA online can now do so using their credit/ debit cards through the charity giving site at givenow.org. Follow the links from the appeal page on the CBA website at www.britarch.ac.uk/cba/appeal.html. We also now have a link with Amazon.co.uk so that anyone going to their web site from our online advert at www.britarch.ac.u/briefing/books.html, and buying books and other products will result in a percentage of the cost of their payments coming to the CBA.
Success of National Archaeology DaysThe weekend of 20th and 21st July this year saw over 90,000 people attend events all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland as part of National Archaeology Days (writes Jan Cox). This annual event, organised by the CBA, is offering people of all ages and levels of interest the opportunity to get involved in archaeology. In all, 161 sites took part, with a variety of events and activities including site tours, excavations, pottery making, combat displays, flint knapping, museum quizzes, finds washing, Celtic jewellery making, woad body painting, wattle and daub wall building, heritage trails and walks - to name but a few. Chelmsford Museum held a 'Roman day' where you could make your own mosaic floor, try on a toga and play Roman games. At Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery visitors could see a team of archaeologists pit themselves against the Territorial Army in a challenge to recreate a piece of ancient technology using junk. Other sites provided the opportunity to experience hands-on archaeology. Visitors to Bignor Roman Villa in Sussex were able to have a go at geophysics and metal detecting, while the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth laid on a simulated underwater dig. Re-enactment took place all over the country. At the Corinium Museum in Cirencester, the Sealed Knot were in action as part of a Civil War day, while a Roman re-enactment group was out in force at the British Museum. Next year, National Archaeology Days will be held over the weekend of 19th and 20th July. Any organisations interested in running an event are invited to contact Jan Cox at the CBA on 01904 671417 or email jancox@britarch.ac.uk. The wreck of the warship 'Sussex'As a result of the CBA's press release about the wreck of the Sussex (Issues, page 26), the matter was taken up by Lord Renfrew in a House of Lords debate(writes George Lambrick). He said: 'At a time when the historic wrecks of the world are being plundered by all kinds of piratical companies, why do the Government give every appearance of behaving in the same way?' The MOD had hailed the deal as 'an important step in the development of a "partnering" approach to deep sea archaeology', but in responding to Lord Renfrew, Lord McIntosh of Haringey seemed to back-track, describing it as the 'least bad solution.' He added that 'any items of heritage significance - a significance other than simply being gold or silver coins from the 17th century - will be kept aside and made available for museums in this country'. With this, he appeared to dismiss out of hand the potential numismatic and heritage interest of any coins and bullion that might be recovered. The CBA has written to the Chancellor and three relevant Secretaries of State on this matter. As we go to press, their response is awaited. Condition of England's heritageThe CBA has made a major contribution to the first report on the State of the Historic Environment which was launched in November by Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for DCMS. We gave information about research, education, social inclusion, listed buildings, information services, local groups, and TV coverage of the historic environment. We showed that educational interest in archaeology is rapidly growing, and that the CBA's Young Archaeologists' Club is doing well in reaching some of the more economically deprived parts of Britain. As measured by TV coverage, interest remains high - of 78 archaeological series or individual programmes on archaeology last year, one or more were in the top 30 viewing figures in 48 weeks of the year. Using evidence from our listed buildings casework, we pointed out that pressure on listed agricultural and industrial buildings is far higher than on listed buildings as a whole, and this is getting worse for the industrial heritage. (GL) StonehengeWith the Government about to decide on the tunnel options for the A303 at Stonehenge, the CBA has published a statement saying that none of the short tunnel options would adequately deliver the improvements needed - see Stonehenge pages for details. |
CBA web:British ArchaeologyFebruary 2000 CBA BriefingFieldwork CBA homepage |
