Hunter Schools Test Pits

 Pupils and staff from Dalton Listerdale School, Rotherham after a good day's digging

Today is the last day of the Hunter Archaeological Society test pits. Children and archaeologists have battled through the rain to dig almost 70 test pits in their school grounds in Barnsley, Dronfield, Rotherham and Sheffield. Almost 150 junior school children between 7 and 11 have had the hands-on opportunity to be archaeologists and dig up their playing fields in search of clues from the past. The excitement of finding objects has led one class to do an 'archaeology is cool' dance at the end of their session. Finds include pottery, clay pipes, bottles and old marbles.

Our educational heritage officer and cartoonist are following-up the test pits with sessions interpreting the finds.

The Sheffield Star has featured in project, despite it mis-identifying Hunter member Martin Waller in the photograph - http://bit.ly/RM5B7S

 

Jim Rylatt with pupils from Dobcroft Juniors, Sheffield

The Hunter test pits are one of our ongoing educational and community archaeology projects. To see completed projects please visit out projects page.

No News Is...

... good news. We hope. My apologies for not posting inHeritage news updates for May and June. We've simply been too busy to find time to update the news section. Which does count as good news.

The highlights of the last two months have been:

Bill toured Scotland for two weeks in May to work on his next book - Walk Into the Dark Ages. He covered hundreds of miles, from Dumfries to Shetland, Aberdeen to Iona, visiting and photographing Dark Ages sites.

The Hunter Archaeological Society Centenary Weekend was a roaring success in mid May.

The Lune Aqueduct Digital Memories project is up and running, and the first oral history interviews should be done this month.

Hope and Castleton historical societies have been making some interesting discoveries in the record offices. The wet weather delayed the landscape survey work, which is now well under way along with the test pits.

The first Calver Weir oral history interviews have been undertaken and the first podcast should be online within the next couple of weeks.

We'll endeavour to keep you updated with July's news as it happens.

Calver Weir Audio Trail

The Calver Weir Audio Trail is now available online to download and copy to your mp3 player ready to explore the heritage and wildlife of the area around the weir and Calver Mill.

The trail takes you on a journey along the River Derwent from Curbar Bridge to Froggatt Bridge and back. On the way you can discover the features in the landscape which tell the history of the mill and its weir. You also encounter the rich wildlife which makes its home along the banks of the river.

To download the trail, visit http://www.calverweir.org.uk and click on the New Audio Trail link on the right hand side of the home page.