2018/19 Annual Report
This has proved another very successful year, in which our membership rose to a new high of 124, with nearly double that number of interested people on our mailing list. In addition to our usual programme of events we have launched a new library of books and magazines and introduced regular coffee mornings, bringing people together to discuss all things archaeological in a social environment.
During the year we hosted public talks on Celtic Art and Carved Heads by Dr David Clarke; Old Sheffield Street Names by David Templeman; Excavations at Sheffield Castle by dig Project Manager Mili Rajic; Ice Age Art by Vince Boulter; Archaeology and the National Trust by Rosalind Buck; Sheffield’s Great Deer Park by David Templeman and Roman Routeways of Sheffield and North Derbyshire by David Inglis.
Our field trips included visits to Elsecar Heritage Centre and Hemingfield Colliery; Wincobank Hill; and Creswell Crags, with special access to Pin Hole Cave and a chance to handle finds. A regular programme of walks has included Froggatt Edge; Ecclesall Woods; Birchen & Gardoms Edge; Brown Edge and Bigmoor. Our residential trip this year in September was to North Wales including Chester, the main North Wales castles and the archaeologically rich Isle of Anglesey.
Practical archaeology has included more field walking at Whirlow Hall farm and excavating trenches to examine features found earlier by geophysical surveys. We also undertook test pitting in nearby gardens and we finished installing archaeological information boards and a display cabinet of finds in the farm café. Several members took part in the excavations this year at Sheffield Castle or joined the guided tours. More recently we have been test pitting and undertaking a dowsing survey on the site of an old hall at Over Haddon.
Still with the aim of raising our profile within the wider community we organised or took part in a number of public events during the year. These included the Whirlow Hall Farm Trust Summer Fayre where we set out an excavation area sown with finds for children, and the Sheffield Heritage event held over two days at the Millennium Galleries. Members have also given a number of talks on our work to other local historical and archaeological organisations.
All our events have a strong social element, with refreshment breaks during the talks renowned for home-made cakes. Our annual winter solstice gathering featured Indian food along with a visual review of our archaeological antics this year and our customary table Quiz. Our summer BBQ was held at Whirlow, both events providing opportunities for member’s partners to join in.
Our two special interest groups have operated additional programmes of their own. The Brigantes group has continued its research into the tribe, including arranging visits to related sites and collections. Lastly the Roman Landscape Group has been particularly active, researching the possible routes of Roman roads in the area through study and extensive field visits.
During the year we hosted public talks on Celtic Art and Carved Heads by Dr David Clarke; Old Sheffield Street Names by David Templeman; Excavations at Sheffield Castle by dig Project Manager Mili Rajic; Ice Age Art by Vince Boulter; Archaeology and the National Trust by Rosalind Buck; Sheffield’s Great Deer Park by David Templeman and Roman Routeways of Sheffield and North Derbyshire by David Inglis.
Our field trips included visits to Elsecar Heritage Centre and Hemingfield Colliery; Wincobank Hill; and Creswell Crags, with special access to Pin Hole Cave and a chance to handle finds. A regular programme of walks has included Froggatt Edge; Ecclesall Woods; Birchen & Gardoms Edge; Brown Edge and Bigmoor. Our residential trip this year in September was to North Wales including Chester, the main North Wales castles and the archaeologically rich Isle of Anglesey.
Practical archaeology has included more field walking at Whirlow Hall farm and excavating trenches to examine features found earlier by geophysical surveys. We also undertook test pitting in nearby gardens and we finished installing archaeological information boards and a display cabinet of finds in the farm café. Several members took part in the excavations this year at Sheffield Castle or joined the guided tours. More recently we have been test pitting and undertaking a dowsing survey on the site of an old hall at Over Haddon.
Still with the aim of raising our profile within the wider community we organised or took part in a number of public events during the year. These included the Whirlow Hall Farm Trust Summer Fayre where we set out an excavation area sown with finds for children, and the Sheffield Heritage event held over two days at the Millennium Galleries. Members have also given a number of talks on our work to other local historical and archaeological organisations.
All our events have a strong social element, with refreshment breaks during the talks renowned for home-made cakes. Our annual winter solstice gathering featured Indian food along with a visual review of our archaeological antics this year and our customary table Quiz. Our summer BBQ was held at Whirlow, both events providing opportunities for member’s partners to join in.
Our two special interest groups have operated additional programmes of their own. The Brigantes group has continued its research into the tribe, including arranging visits to related sites and collections. Lastly the Roman Landscape Group has been particularly active, researching the possible routes of Roman roads in the area through study and extensive field visits.