Newsletter, March 2010

Dear All,

Well, it's been quite a winter. Quite a cold and difficult winter for archaeology. And yet that hasn't prevented us from tramping around our site and stretching our knowledge of other neighbouring sites - we now can confirm that prehistoric settlement certainly continued along the ridge, (as did activity from every age between then and now, it seems).
 The half term Family Fun day's Big Dig for Little Kids went very successfully - we unearthed a variety of goodies and did some very real metal detectoring and scraping with trowels: we have some excellent young archaeologists with a natural talent in our midst.
 The last few weeks have seen us digging again and the news is very exciting. A closer look at the DIAS (Dacre Iron Age Smithy) Roundhouse has begun to reveal more evidence of Iron Age activity: fresh red, solid slag and a beautiful hand grinder stone (see pics). Plus the first real proof that medieval iron workers later used the same site and, just last week, a large, strange, flat-bottomed, curved and marked broken stone (see pic - suggestions welcome!) and the discovery that the curving roundhouse rubble wall is laid on top of a smarter piece of walling: much more work to be done here - but let's hope that the hints of Spring warmth continue while we're investigating this great feature.
 
The Project Events Diary has already been active this year: it has been wonderful to share our findings with the Darley Women's Forum and the Cleveland Industrial Archaeology Society (in Middlesbrough) as well as (as you may have seen in the local paper) having a display in Northallerton Town Hall at the County Records Office open day on 13th March and meeting so many great folk there.

Our next events are:
Feature Dig: Monday 10th May & Tuesday 11th May, 10am onwards. All are invited to help us uncover a major feature on the site (probably the Triple Furnace).
Prehistoric Dacre - A Guided Walk, will be given on Tuesday 20th July 10am-1pm. Booking essential.
Tuesday 27th July 7.0pm: Prehistoric Dacre - A presentation at the Schoolroom, Dacre Top. With refreshments. Come and have a virtual tour of the prehistoric world that's on your doorstep.

All events are free, thanks to our Heritage Lottery Fund grant and new members are welcome any time, whether you wish to come along and dig with us on Tuesdays on a regular or occcasional basis, or to simply keep in touch.

We are always happy to receive invitations to give talks and presentations.
 
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.