archaeology essex uk geophysics enthusiastic archaeologists searchers

Amateur Archaeology Association

Tel: 01268 457784 Email:
Ages AAA Amateur Archaeology Association projects, field walks About Ages-AAA amateur archaeology association in Essex Archaeology Events Local Heritage Initiative Archaeological links Join Ages AAA Amateur Archaeology Association, Essex, UK


PROJECT HADLEIGH

Projects main page
Hadleigh In 1939 from Aerial Photographs showing unusual crop markings, a site was listed in the Salvation Army Fields in Hadleigh. This is presently listed as a Roman Fortlet, however speculation now abounds amongst some professional archaeologists that this might be an Iron Age settlement. Be it settlement or fortlet we do not know but in time we hope to prove what the site actually is.

The site is in a unique field where historic records show that there have been Tudor and Edwardian buildings a Victorian Brick Works, World War II gun emplacements and accommodation. Farm labourers over the years have ploughed up Roman and Chinese artefacts that have been identified by reputable museums. Most recently a park Ranger whilst out walking discovered a flint hand axe. Some years ago parts of the field were sold off for housing development and upon their construction Essex County Archaeology unit found an Iron Age ditch with related finds.

In 2003 on the August Bank Holiday for the first time ever the Farm Owners/Manager allowed Ages-AAA to do an initial "Field Walking exercise". This was a great first for our Association. All the people that took part had fun BUT more importantly learnt the techniques of field walking and how to set up a "grid" and align it to map coordinates, following the prescribed requirements of the County Archaeology unit.

Regrettably the weather whilst good and sunny worked against us. The preceding weeks had been dry with little rain. Thus on arrival at the field site the Farm had not been able to newly plough the field (the ground was to hard). We had to work with corn stubble and residue of powder/fertilizer and granite like earth. The completed report for 2003 did not result in giving any evidence of what we had hoped to achieve and we covered less that 15% of the whole field.

The Farm Manager advised that the "field" has now gone organic and no further permission for field walking would or could be granted until an acceptable crop rotation presents itself, current estimate for this 2006/7.

CURRENT PROJECT STATUS:

On hold till 2006/7 then we hope to do another "Field Walking Exercise" on the whole field.


Phase 1 = Field Walking Friends and Members on the August 2003 Bank Holiday Weekend.


Hadleigh Hadleigh Hadleigh Hadleigh



1 2 3 4 6 8 9 10

Ages-AAA, Amateur Archaeology Association, Essex, UK
Copyright © Ages-AAA. All rights reserved