Newsletter

Dear All,

Welcome to another year that is already racing ahead. The seasonal weather has meant a somewhat slow start to our year but we're back in action now and looking forward to a packed programme and lots of exciting archaeology.

Despite the weather, a new furnace has already been opened up and, despite being well-demolished in its time, it still yielded up quantities (and varying qualities) of slag, an intriguing couple of pieces of metal and scraps of leather preserved at the edge of the furnace - the bellows maybe? We shall return to this feature to find out more.

Fieldwalks since the New Year have revealed that neighbouring sites have more prehistoric roundhouses, more evidence of mining and quarrying and even a possible Dark Age settlement and the (substantial) remains of a blast furnace. We hope to be able to report further on these later in the year.

Watch this space for the yet-to-be-confirmed dates of another two-day Feature Dig - The Return to the Triple Furnaces. There are many questions and much to be learned from this site. All will be welcome to join us and we'll let you know the dates as soon as we have them.

BUT FIRST: Following the success of last year's Half Term Family Fun Day, we shall be holding another Big Dig for Little Kids day on Tuesday 16th February. Come along with the children to enjoy a walk with us around the site, 'charge' a prehistoric fort and wield a metal detector. Wellies are adviseable after the recent weather and wrap everyone up really warm and in waterproofs just in case. Please note that children will be the responsibility of their accompanying adult at all times. Meet at 10am at the site and bring a picnic to fuel yourselves up at lunchtime.

Saturday 13 March 2010: As in previous years, we shall have a display at the North Yorkshire Central Records Office event in the Town Hall in Northallerton. (This is the Historic Environment Day in a new guise). We shall have more details to give you soon - we'd be delighted to see you there.

Although we can't forecast what the archaeology will unearth next year - that's a surprise that's just waiting to be unwrapped! - our Project diary is already receiving bookings for this year as far afield as Middlesbrough and Reeth and as close as Darley and Harrogate. We're always very happy to be invited to give illustrated talks - just drop us a line,

All the very best to you all for 2010,

Gill

Gillian Hovell

Secretary, Iron-Age (Nidderdale) Project

As ever, may we remind you all that the site is on an exposed hillside and waterproofs/suncream and stout footwear are definitely required.

May we stress that the site is on private property with no public right of way - access must be accompanied by a group leader at all times.