Newsletter

Dear All,

The last few weeks have been busy with the Nidderdale Show, showing new folk around the site and generally preparing for our Digging Training Days in October. But that hasn't stopped us from taking a peek under the turf ...

Despite unencouraging weather we managed to open up more of our "flagged floor" on the top field today - it surprised us by stopping abruptly about a metre beyond the posthole (and 120cm behind the western mini hearth). There was a step down from a huge flagstone onto smaller jumbled stones, amongst which were a couple of seriously reddened stones with a some of small bits of charcoal on it (well spotted, Becky!) - so could this be a hint of a hearth? - and there was also a magnetic slag-like piece in a crevice between other stones.

The floor has a layer of sandy silt over it, making a buffer before our customary sooty layer (which is thought to be medieval), so we are looking at an earlier site, possibly (and in fact probably) Iron Age. But there is much more work to be done before anything more definite can be said of this tantalizing and fascinating feature - and the weather conspired to prevent extensive work today. But there's always another day and we shall indeed explore further at a later date ...

Tuesdays October 14th & 28th

Our two training days, led by professional archaeologist, Kevin Cale: come and learn how to excavate, record, sketch, photograph etc on a test pit on our site. Meet at 10am in the lay-by beside the United Reformed Church in Dacre Top. As ever, do remember your lunch, waterproofs, stout footwear and, since our "summer" is now drawing to a close, warm layers of clothes.

Saturday 18th October

 HistoriCAL E vent at Ripley Town Hall, Ripley, Harrogate 10am - 4.30pm

Autumn 2008 marks 20 years of Kevin Cale's business in the archaeological world. To celebrate this milestone, this event will give all the community archaeology groups the opportunity to meet, network and share their research with the public - and, of course, our Iron Age (Nidderdale) Project will have a display there too.

Refreshments will be available and money donated for these will be given to CARET (Community Archaeology Roving Excavation Team) which is non-funded.

Do come along and meet us and the other groups at this sociable and special event.

All the very best,

Gillian Hovell

Secretary, Iron-Age (Nidderdale) Project