The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) will be amongst the first charities in the UK to use its own, unique personalised text code, ARCH11, to raise funds using JustTextGiving by Vodafone. This is a brand new, free service for charities that has no set up or fundraising costs for charities, no network charges for people making donations and every penny donated goes to charity. Gift Aid can also be added to donations. From today, supporters of The CBA can make donations of up to £10 by texting ARCH11 and either 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 to 70070 to make their donation. The text message is free and all of the donation will be passed to the CBA. Cherida Plumb, Head of Development for the CBA said: "This is a wonderful way for us to raise money as it is speedy, simple, and spontaneous. Most people have a mobile phone these days so we expect this to be very popular with our supporters. It is especially important that, in these financially difficult days, we make it as easy as possible for those with an interest in and passion for archaeology to support our work in whatever way the can. If every one of our supporter were to give a little something this would have a significant affect on our fundraising income."
For further information contact Cherida Plumb at the CBA on development@britarch.ac.uk or visit http://www.justgiving.com/justtextgiving
To donate, simply:
* type ARCH11 into a blank text message
* choose the amount you wish to donate to the CBA (£1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10) and add that amount to your text message
* send the message to 70070
* sign up for gift aid! You will receive a thank you text, with instructions on how your donation to the CBA can be increased by 25% with gift aid at no extra cost (if you a UK tax payer)
The second edition of the Dig Deep for YAC update is available to read here.
For a comprehenslve list of fieldwork opportunities in the UK visit http://www.digs.archaeology.co.uk.
Annual subscription £15 per adult, £5 for students Mrs S. Holborn, BAS Treasurer, 6 Riverview Park, Spittal TD15 1QR
Visit www.border-archaeological-society.co.uk.BAS is looking for new committee members
Durham University Museums are delighted to announce a new archaeology club for children aged 7-11 years. Durham Archaeology Explorers (DAX) meets on the first Saturday of every month at the Oriental Museum from 2-4pm. Each session focuses on the archaeology of a different historical period in chronological order, so children get a sense of how society changes and develops. The cost of each session is £1 payable on the day. Alternatively we offer an annual membership (12 sessions) for £10. Places are limited, so booking is essential.
For further details, including information on all future sessions, or to make a booking please contact Charlotte Spink on 0191 334 5691 or email archaeology.explorers@durham.ac.uk
In Maryport, a small town on the Solway coast, where for many years the Romans faced a barbarian enemy across the sea, a battle is being played out between a housing developer, Story Homes, and those keen to preserve an internationally important archaeological site. I am hoping that this might form the basis of a Guardian article, as it touches on a number of sensitive issues, not least that of 'localism', heritage, and the Government's overhaul of the planning system.
Story Homes (a Carlisle-based builder) have applied to build 152 new houses on a green-field site close to the heart of Maryport. The field in question (known locally as the Deer Park) is stiff with archaeology, including a British settlement 'of considerable interest’‚ according to English Heritage, a Roman cremation cemetery ‘of national significance’‚ a Roman road and many other features of, as yet, unknown significance.
The site lies immediately adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Frontiers of the Roman Empire' and no more than a few hundred metres from an internationally important Roman fort established in the first century. Recent excavations by Newcastle University outside the fort (see attached photograph and Current Archaeology, October 2011) have revealed the foundations of a very large late Roman building, confirming that the Maryport site remained important into the fourth century. I have attached maps showing the scale of the proposed development and the relationship of its location to the currently scheduled area.
Locals are up in arms and UNESCO, already concerned about past failures to protect the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site, is likely to get involved. A letter objecting to the plan has been lodged by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments & Sites), which advises UNESCO on these matters, with Allerdale Borough Council, whose planners are to be the arbiters of the site's fate. Archaeologists as far afield as Vancouver have written to protest. The development would funnel traffic down an already dangerous road much travelled, on foot, by hundreds of local school-children (the headmaster has not been consulted!) and destroy a scenic and much-loved approach to the town (see attached photograph).
English Heritage, which one would have hoped would defend the World Heritage Site and its setting, has decided to throw in its lot with the developers. Its North West regional office is actively supporting the plan. If the development goes forward, the developer has agreed to provide access through the Deer Park to a visitor development planned by Hadrian's Wall Heritage Limited, a company established by English Heritage and others. The proposed access would cross the line of the Roman road to the fort and ‘float’ across the site of the Roman cemetery. An alternative access route, not damaging any known archaeology, is available.
EH Chief Executive Simon Thurley, in the October issue of Current Archaeology (which ironically enough features Roman Maryport on its cover), says in reference to the new National Planning Framework: ‘I think readers should be concerned as well. Anyone who cares about archaeology in this country should make their views known. It is incredibly important that individuals express their concerns as well as organisations. The stakes couldn't be higher.’
Meanwhile, the organisation he heads says of the Maryport site, for the benefit of the developers, that ‘the proposed development lies outside the boundary of the World Heritage Site and there will therefore have no direct impact‘. This statement blithely disregards the advice in the 2009 official circular on the protection of World Heritage Sites that ‘it is important to consider carefully how to protect the setting of each World Heritage Site so that its outstanding universal value, integrity, authenticity and significance are not adversely affected by inappropriate change or development.’
Those of us campaigning against the proposed housing development think this is an unholy alliance between the developers, Hadrian’s Wall Heritage and English Heritage against the long-term preservation of the town’s Roman archaeology and the clearly stated wishes of the majority of local people. A petition circulated locally has already secured more than 1,000 signatures and a well-attended public meeting has voted to oppose the development. For further details, see local newspaper reports on the following links:
Simon Thurley (EH Chairman) again: ’All the nicest places to live in, work in and visit are places with a heritage behind them; all the places which work do so because people have a sense of pride in their history.’
I hope that you think this is a story worthy of national exposure.
Let me know if you agree, and if I can help with further details and information.
Best wishes
Peter Greggains
The November newsletter for Ford, Etal, Crookham, Branxton and surrounding areas
North-East History Hub at www.northeasthistoryhub.co.uk
North-East History Tour blog www.northeasthistorytour.blogspot.com
County Durham has a rich and diverse archaeological heritage. The Bowes Museum houses objects up to 6,000 years old which have been found in digs in County Durham ranging from prehistoric cup and ring marked stones, a Bronze Age hoard, to graffiti from Binchester Roman fort. Archaeology and the Arts in County Durham is a new project initially funded until March 2011 (by the MLA through the North East Regional Museums Hub) to engage communities with the archaeology collections at The Bowes Museum. The overall outcome of the project is to create improved access to the collection and opportunities to use the objects in engaging and meaningful ways, whilst considering how this could develop in the future. This project is a partnership between The Bowes Museum and Durham County Council. Keep up-to-date on the project and its developments at The Bowes Museum website and look out for Community Curator, Samantha Belcher, in your area.
Samantha Belcher, Community Curator (Archaeology and the Arts in County Durham), The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8NP. Telephone: 01833 690606 Email Samantha Belcher or visit the Bowes Museum.
Hadrian's Wall: An Archaeological Walking Guide by Clifford Jones
More events for the region at CBA North Events.
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