| A venture into the unknown |
| 14/6/2025 |
We have had stands at archaeology-based exhibitions in the past but this weekend we had a venture into the realm of the community-based events, in this case the Arbury Carnival. The intention was to have a presence in a local event to judge what sort of response we might get and hopefully recruit some new members.
We are going to be at the Chesterton Festival this coming weekend, after which we will see if we should carry on at local events | |  |
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| Our last weekend at Ickleton for now |
| 8/6/2025 |
| This was our last weekend field walking as the crop growth at Ickleton had reached the point where surface visibility in some places was very poor. However, the finds kept coming and more flints were collected. An interesting find was the Metropolitan ware handle with its zigzag decoration. This field has produced quite a number of handles, probably more than many other fields. | |  |
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| Continuing work near the Gas Compressor station |
| 1/6/2025 |
| On a fine but windy day we carried on with the field near the Gas Station at Ickleton/Duxford (technically in Hinxton parish). The photograph shows the typical finds we recovered. Lots of glazed and unglazed red sandy ware pottery, even more brick and tile (mostly left in situ) but very little modern pot. The number of handles among our finds is quite interesting but the clay pipe is one of only a few we have found. The oyster shell is also one of only a few from this site. There is a small quantity of the grey ware, mostly early medieval. However, we did recover quite a few worked flints this time - is this because we are getting more practice? The field is covered in broken flint which makes life difficult. | |  |
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| However, the star find was this leaf shaped arrowhead, spotted by one of our eagle-eyed lady walkers. It is only 2.25cm long by 1.28cm wide so really quite small. | |  |
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| More work near the National Gas Compressor Station, Hinxton |
| 25/5/25 |
| This field continues our work on Abbey Farm, Ickleton land. As the photograph shows, we had quite a bit of pottery from all periods, medieval to modern. The large strap handle with thumbed decoration looks decidedly medieval as does some of the gray and red sandy wares. Then there are some Metropolitan slipware sherds, a nice salt glaze stoneware handle and a piece of Blue & White transfer ware. There was also plenty of brick and tile with quite a bit of flint. | |  |
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| Just some of the flints picked up. There are some blade-like pieces along with more primary flakes. The quantity of flint on the ground makes detecting worked flints quite difficult and we may well have left some behind. | |  |
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| Ickleton near the M11 |
| 27/4/2025 |
| First impressions are of a field full of broken flint and masses of small pieces of tile, mostly modern. However, as the photograph shows, there were some interesting bits as well, For example, the spike foot probably from a pipkin and the rim of some Harlow (or Metropolitan) ware. There were also some thin sandy ware that looks medieval plus the inevitable quantities of red glazed wares. This is only part of the finds and more will follow. | |  |
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| Hard work near The Belts |
| 13/4/2025 |
As a result of some geophysics results for fields north of The Belts, the National Trust asked us to carry out field walking on the fields concerned. We had two days of hard work covering the area involved. The suspicion was that the sites were of Iron Age or Roman date, would there be surface finds to determine which (or both) were correct. The evidence is mixed - as the photo shows we have some Roman building material (a tegula) also a possible brick/tile which may be Roman or medieval. There is also some very Iron Age looking pottery. Our final analysis will produce a more refined answer later on.
No field walking this coming Sunday as it is the Easter weekend - wishing all a happy weekend. | |  |
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| Even fewer finds at Fox's Hill |
| 30/3/2025 |
| As the wonderful weather continues unabated, we walked the upper part of the field which lies next to the A603 road. The continuing story of less finds as we moved east was maintained, with very few finds recovered. As the photograph shows it was mainly post medieval in date, although one piece looks medieval sandy ware. The small piece of Harlow slipware is a first for this field. Just a small area to the bottom of of the hill to complete this coming weekend. | |  |
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| A clay pipe from Les Bradford's collection |
| 28/3/2025 |
| Among Les Bradford's collection of field walked finds are a number of clay pipe bowls. Unfortunately, it being Cambridgeshire, most have no makers marks on them. However, one looked at recently does - the initials W and B are visible on the foot. This, unfortunately, does not help identify the maker as several clay pipe makers have these initials. The most likely is William Balls who was active in Cambridge between 1813 and 1836. Others with the same initials are William Brabrooks (1851), William Bradley (1871) and William Burchall (1851). The pipe stem bore is 5/64ths, suggesting a date around the late 18th/early 19th C which would point to William Balls. | |  |
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| Yet more time at Foxes hill |
| 23/3/2025 |
| Amazing - three Sundays in a row at Foxes Hill. As we move east from the footpath so the finds are becoming less in number and variety. More glazed redware, of course, and post med brick and tile together with stoneware. Also blue & white transfer ware and clay pipe stems. However there are still early looking pots which may be Roman in origin and for the first time a worked flint. Although next Sunday is Mothering Sunday we hope to carry on and finish the field before crop growth becomes an issue. | |  |
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| Lots more pottery from Foxes Hill |
| 16/3/2025 |
| Apart from the early pottery shown before we had a good collection of post-med wares as well. As the photograph shows there were lots of glazed redwares to be found. There were also lots of different types - stoneware, modern flowerpot, blue & white transfer ware and cream ware. The handle looks like it came from a Staffordshire combed ware vessel. Finally there were lots of clay pipe stems and this single early bowl. | |  |
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| A second day on Foxes Hill |
| 16/3/2025 |
| The weather continues to smile on us, two weekends in a row. As we move east across the field the pottery mix remains pretty much the same. The photograph shows more sand tempered wares that look very medieval, especially the large strap handle with a deep groove running along it. There were a couple of flints that look like primary flakes but the majority of flints appear unworked. | |  |
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| More pottery from Foxes Hill |
| 9/3/2025 |
| Some of the post med pottery from our first walk down Foxes Hill. As the photo shows we had lots of GRE, some Staffordshire combed ware, slip ware from Harlow, salt glazed stoneware, cream ware and quite a few clay pipe stems. We left quantities of post med tile and brick on the field. The disappointment was the upper parts of the hill were covered in flint but not a piece was recognized as being worked or burnt. | |  |
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| SUSAN MAY |
| 16/3/2025 |
We have received the sad news that Susan May, one of the founding members of the group, passed away at home on Wednesday 12th March after a short illness. Sue was a long-time and efficient secretary of the group, a diligent researcher of documents, a careful excavator and enthusiastic field walker who found even the smallest of artefacts.
She will be missed by all. | |  |
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| Finds from Foxes Hill, Orwell |
| 9/3/2025 |
| Our field walking last Sunday produced quite a number of finds dating to all periods. Notable among the earlier finds were the parts of three strap handles that look very medieval in appearance, as shown in the photograph. There was also significant numbers of post medieval pottery and also post med brick and tile. | |  |
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| Hooray - field walking at last |
| 9/3/2025 |
| As the photograph shows we finally got to go field walking in sunny conditions with a gentle warm breeze and dry soil conditions. The hill near the main road at Orwell was just right and 12 people thoroughly enjoyed the conditions, although the walk up the hill was hard work. Who said Cambridgeshire doesn't have hills!!!! Let's hope next weekend is as good so we might finish the field. | |  |
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| Field walking restart |
| 5/3/2025 |
| Message from Mike Coles:
HURRAH
We will be back to fieldwalking this coming Sunday the 9th March, start at 10.00 and should finish about 12.30.
Parking will be at Rectory Farm on the Wimpole NT estate and the field, Fox Hill, belongs to Mr Gadsby. For those who have not walked with us before - just bring suitable footwear and clothing, it could be cold. We will need to walk back along the lane to get to the field, so quite a bit of walking, and the field has a sharp slope to the north which will be a bit of a challenge.
It is possible that there could be roman finds next to the roman road and possibly struck flint on the top of the slope - I cannot guarantee this ! |
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| Still no progress in 2025 for our field walking program |
| 16/2/2025 |
| Visits to Eltisley and Orwell Hill have shown just how saturated the ground is and hence the reason we are still unable to get field walking. We have permission to walk at Orwell Hill and also the RSPB site at Knapwell but the conditions still defeat us. It is hard to remember such a slow start to a walking year, but conditions may be a little better next weekend so keep your fingers crossed. |
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| Presentation of the Val Whittaker prize |
| 5/2/2025 |
| Our new President's first action was to present the Val Whittaker prize to the winning student, as shown in the photograph. Balint Beremenyi from Emmanuel College won it with his paper entitled "The Seal of the Necropolis in the MAA Cambridge". His excellent presentation described the Seal and documented efforts to date it with reference to its iconography and to similar objects. | |  |
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| Our new President |
| 6/2/2025 |
| As we go into our 2025 season, we do so with a new President following Dr. Paul Spoerry's reirement from the role. Stephen Macaulay has links with CAFG going back many years and we welcome him to our group. His role as Regional Manager for Oxford Archaeology (Cambridge Office) enables us to continue using their Bar Hill premises for our finds processing and Wednesday meetings. We also benefit from his years of experience of the local archaeology scene and his leadership of the continuing Jigsaw Community. |
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