Why we have an Active Archaeology Group
The aim of the Society’s Active Archaeology Group is twofold: to enable interested but archaeologically unqualified members to undertake archaeological activities, and to provide information about archaeology in Buckinghamshire to anyone who wants to know.
To provide the first, the group organises archaeology projects – surveys, investigations, even excavations supervised by a qualified archaeologist – where members work together to investigate and record the archaeology of Buckinghamshire. This may be by fieldwork, the study of known monuments, or through documentary sources.
To provide the second the group organises monthly evening meetings between September and May. These are open to all, on a variety of archaeological subjects. There are also occasional outings to archaeological sites.
SOME OF OUR PROJECTS
The group’s first project, in 2013, was at Stoke Mandeville’s ruined old church and churchyard, now under professional excavation ahead of complete demolition by the construction the HS2 high-speed rail line. Here a dozen members of the group conducted a geophysical survey guided by National Trust archaeologist (and BAS member) Gary Marshall.
This was followed by a hillforts survey, research and surveys of the deserted village of Hogshaw and a variety of other projects. The group has been so busy that a queue of reports is waiting to be written!
The group’s recently completed 14th project has been industrial archaeology: the excavation of the former steam-generating boilerhouse at Three Locks on the Grand Union Canal.
HS2 ARCHAEOLOGY CONFERENCES
Archaeologists who are excavating along the HS2 high-speed rail have told us of their work and discoveries at five HS2 Archaeology Conferences so far, organised by the society.
The excavation phase of HS2 is now largely complete and a concluding conference has been suggested for Autumn 2022.
WATCH OUT FOR DETAILS.
Activities start here
The group’s outdoor activities vary, including field walking, surveys and excavations. Our current project is the weekly excavation of a ha-ha in Great Linford which, although itself 18th-century, has proved to follow a much earlier ditch and bank.
Anyone with an interest in archaeology is welcome to come along; prior knowledge and experience are by no means essential.
PLEASE EMAIL bucksasaag@gmail.com for more information.
TALKS
Our monthly Thursday evening meetings are continuing on-line during the epidemic. Recent subjects have been Roman discoveries near Aylesbury, an Iron-Age Broch in Scotland, and Anglo-Saxons in the upper Thames valley.
CLICK HERE TO View our monthly meetings programme.
JOIN US
Our meetings and are open to all. You can join our eMailing list by sending an eMail message to bucksasaag@gmail.com.
If you want take part in the group’s field activities, such as surveys and excavations, there is one requirement: everyone taking part must join the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society – because membership brings with it insurance against accident while involved in archaeological activities.