Surveying at Boarstall duck decoy

Five members braved a foggy March morning to help National Trust archaeologist Gary Marshall survey earthworks. The duck decoy is a large pond with several inlets (known as 'pipes') leading from it: originally covered with netting on a frame, these get smaller as they go away from the pond. Ducks were enticed along these 'pipes' until easily caught at the narrow end. Originally ducks were trapped for the table, more recently for ringing. Decoys were once common, but few now remain and Boarstall is one of the best preserved.

The pattern of pipes and ponds has changed over the years, and there is evidence of former ridge-and-furrow. Our task was to map the various earthworks. Recent rain had left the site soggy, so there were cries of 'Hurry up - I'm sinking!' The wooded site also has vicious brambles, so once in position, getting out was often harder. But the sun came out.

A further session will complete the survey on 1 April (an appropriate date) but this may need only half a day.    Pauline Hey

Hobbs Hill earthworks survey drawing completed

The group's survey team has completed work on the earthworks at Hobbs Hill  -  here (left) is the first survey drawing. Section drawings are to follow.

Its origins are unknown... Within two kilometres of Hobbs Hill are remains of a Neolithic barrow, Iron Age enclosure, Roman villa and Norman motte-and-bailey castle. So the Hobbs Hill earthwork could be almost anything. Next task: find out!

Cholesbury Remote Sensing results

Jean B racing down the track

Herts Geophysical Survey have posted a super blog post on the results of the
work they did with BAS Active Archaeology Group and Chess Valley Archaeological and Historical Society at Cholesbury before Xmas.

Pics include Kris with his Santa hat!

Do have a look. Click on the link below and it should open in a new window.



https://hertsgeosurvey.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/cholesbury-buckinghamshire/

Happy New Year!
Barbara

Geophysical surveys at Cholesbury

PHOTO BY STUART KING

Twelve volunteers gathered in a field next to the Iron-Age Cholesbury Camp on Monday 14 December to conduct no fewer than three different geophysical surveys. This included a 'first' in Buckinghamshire: Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR).

There were two questions to answer: Did the outer ditch of the camp continue, now filled-in, beyond the edge of the scheduled area? And what might be causing the rectangular parch-marks noted in dry weather along the field's eastern edge?

Five of the 12 volunteers were AAG members. Others came from Chess Valley and Hertfordshire archaeological societies. The survey was led by Kris Lockyear from University College London.

First results came from metal-detecting by Stuart King: a George I farthing, a broken buckle (possibly Tudor), and a metal strap link, probably from a harness and potentially iron-age. Initial GPR results were disappointing: Kris reported 'land drains, two bonfire sites and some molehills'! Results from the Resistivity and Magnetometry surveys are awaited... 

Members now active on six projects

The BAS Active Archaeology Group is a hive of activity this Autumn and Winter, with six projects on the go across Buckinghamshire: 

Hobb's Hill, a small earthwork on the Chiltern escarpment just south of Monks Risborough, is the current target for an earthworks survey which is due to be completed in January. Hopefully the results will add to our knowledge of the surrounding Iron Age landscape. 

Our report on the geophysical surveys at Hogshaw Knights Hospitallers manor and deserted village site has now been completed and submitted to Historic England. The site will be the subject of an exhibition in the County Museum in 2016.

Three former nurses who are members of the group have been gathering regularly at the County Museum Bones Store recently. What they've found, and what this might tell us about the people of Buckinghamshire past, will be the subject of the group's evening meeting on Tuesday 19 January.  

Next to the Iron-Age Cholesbury Camp, another group of members are helping to survey a field where parchmarks have been noted during dry weather. For the first time our geophysical survey, led by Kris Lockyear of University College London, will include Ground-Penetrating Radar.

Northchurch World War I practice trenches are the site of a survey led by the National Trust, with help from six of our group members. The commons there were the site of a large training camp in WW1 and the landscape still bears the marks - if you know where to look. 

The sixth project will be at Cheddington Airfield in the New Year, when four members will be surveying what was an American Air Force bomber base during the Second World War. This is part of a project styled 'The 8th in the East' which is surveying former American airfields across eastern England.

• IF YOU'RE INTERESTED in joining any of our projects, eMail us at bucksasaag@gmail.com to find out what's happening and when.

Roman iron smelting in the Chilterns?

Hobb's Hill survey day 1 - a new project

Sixteen members of the Active Archaeology Group converged on Hobb's Hill, near Princes Risborough, on Sunday 1 November for the first day of our survey there. 

The site is a ditch and bank running along the crest of a high spur of the Chilterns escarpment. Its date of construction is unknown, but other earthworks nearby are known to be pre-Roman. The aim of this new AAG project will be to establish where Hobb's Hill fits in.


In brilliant sunshine one team measured the earthworks, a second measured levels to obtain profiles of their shape, while a third explored the surrounding woodland to establish the context of the site. Others off-site will research local finds and reports from other local archaeological sites.

This being autumn, the local 'natural history' also drew our attention, with a notable profusion of different fungi in evidence - though at lunch we stuck to our sandwiches!

Another survey is planned in late November.

PHOTOS: Stuart King.