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Training Excavation on Eddisbury Hill – End of week 2 (30th July)
The Second week of excavation at Eddisbury Iron Age Hillfort has seen us complete the excavation of one of the hillfort entrances. The work has revealed spectacular preservation, with the stone flanking walls of the entrance still standing to approximately 1.5m in height. We have also uncovered parts of two stone built ‘guard chambers’ on the interior of the entrance and the sockets that would have originally contained the timber gate posts.
During the excavation of the entrance we recovered several artefacts including a large piece of Roman tile and some fragments of a quern stone for grinding cereal to make flour. Whilst some may find it surprising to read of Roman finds from an Iron Age hillfort we have a growing collection of Roman objects from Eddisbury hill including a glass ‘melon’ bead which suggests a Roman phase of occupation. The find of Roman tile is of particular interest as it might indicate a high status building such as a villa or road side inn somewhere close by?
The second week of the excavation has also seen the area of the hillfort known as Merrick’s Hill being investigated by students from Liverpool University. This area has a complex history and so far work has concentrated on re-exposing the building foundations of a 14th century Royal Hunting Lodge which was known as ‘The Chamber in the Forest’. Later building foundations associated with a 17th and 18th century farmhouse have also been revealed.
During the third week work in all areas will focus on the ramparts of the Iron Age hillfort where we hope to excavate sections through the banks and ditches of the forts defences.
For further detaiks contact Dan Garner at dan.garner@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Download the summary of our excavations on Helsby Hill that took place during April 2010, click here for the report.
Newsletter available for download - Summer/Autumn 09
New teacher employed to deliver Archaeology training at Burwardsley Outdoor Education Centre
Habitats and Hillforts are pleased to welcome Martin Kirkman to the Outdoor Education Centres to work on deliverying a series of archaeology and landscape training based at Burwardsley. Martin will be engaging with local schools to develop new teaching packages over the next year. Bring your school to have a go at digging in our mock excvation to unearth the remains of a roundhouse.
For more information contact the team at habitatsandhillforts@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Launch of the Habitats and Hillforts 'Local History Project'
We would like to trace photographs that your parents/grandparents/friends took around the hillforts and to talk to you, and document, the memories of things you did. Our aim is to keep our social history alive for future generations.... We would be delighted to hear from you or meet you over the next year to bring together local finds, photographs, maps, farm records, antiques etc that increase our knowledge of the heritage of the area. More information and contact details.
A celebration and consultation event has taken place to mark the first anniversary of the project to conserve and enhance a string of six important Iron Age hillforts along the Sandstone Ridge between Frodsham and Bickerton. Representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Cheshire West and Chester Council, members from the partnership board of the Habitats and Hillforts project, landowners, parish councillors, local residents and key volunteers attended the celebration held at Peckforton Castle. The event enabled the Habitats and Hillforts Team to gather views, ideas and information.
Click here for more information about the event and to view the feedback.
This piece of film was undertaken by Cross Country Films, a local Cheshire based film Company. Thank you to Dan Garner and Andrew Deadman for taking a lead role. For more information on volunteering opportunities contact Dan Garner dan.ganer@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.
ARCHIVED NEWS
Excavations at Woodhouse
During the whole of July 2009 you may have come accross a team working at Woodhouse Hill.
The excavation was undertaken by not only a team of local volunteers but also students from Liverpool and Chester Universities under the supervision of professional archaeologists directed by Dan Garner (Habitats and Hillforts Archaeological Project Officer). The work served to provide a training opportunity in archaeological excavation for a dozen undergraduate students and in excess of 30 local volunteers, over the 4 weeks.
Archaeological evaluation work was undertaken to provide additional data in order to inform a strategy for the long-term management of the scheduled monument. The site is currently on the Heritage at Risk Register owing to inundation by birch woodland, rhododendron and bracken vegetation.
For more detailed information about what we found follow the link to Hillforts Projects.
Tales..... 'Tales on the Trail' (July 2009)
'Tales on the Trail' - a unique and exciting project in which The Journey Man walked along the Sandstone Trail over four days. Stories were told ontop of 4 of the 6 hillforts along the ridge. Despite poor weather at times during the event everybody enjoyed the interesting and stimulating stories the Journey Man told, especially those about the 'Ridge Worm'!.
Training and Events Programme 2009/10 is now available.
To request a copy of the programme email habitatsandhillforts@cheshirewestandchester.co.uk with your name and postal address.
Habitats and Hillforts Team meet with Heather & Hillforts Team
The Habitats and Hillforts Team recently visited our freindly neighbours just over the border in Denbighshire. The Heather and Hillforts Landscape Partnership Scheme is a similar scheme to Habitats and Hillforts, but the scheme is just over a year in. An enjoyable day out on the hills were had by all.
The Archaeology Volunteers Scheme
As part of the Hillforts of the Ridge programme of work a number of events will be organised over the next three years to enable local people to have the opportunity to get involved in archaeological fieldwork and receive basic training in a number of archaeological techniques. The events will include survey, field walking and excavation at a number of locations on and around the six hillforts covered by the project.
If you are over the age of 16 and are interested in getting involved or would like to be kept up to date about forthcoming events then please contact Dan Garner (Archaeology Project Officer) using the contact details provided on this website.
‘The Official Launch’
The official launch of the scheme was marked with an event held at Beeston Castle, on 8 October, where a beacon was lit by the Chairman of the County Council Steve Wilkinson.