Wow, what a month July turned out to be! It's usually a quiet sort of time for us as we run some archaeological tours of the Peak District and run around after the kids as the summer holidays arrive. This year we thought we'd try something different...Over the years I have been supporting the Buxton Festival Fringe (the Fringe from hereon in) as a reviewer of shows and events. This year I thought that I'd take the plunge and actually put on a couple of archaeology-themed events. The aim was to test the water to see if there was a audience for archaeology at the Fringe and to try an appeal to as wide an audience as possible whilst keeping in mind taking part in future Fringes. So after much thought we settled on a couple of archaeologists to come and talk about their recent books. The authors we chose were both award winners. So here's a little bit about them.
James is a buildings archaeologist, specialising in castles. His book "Historic Building Mythbusting" does what it says on the tin - it challenges some common preconceptions and misunderstandings about medieval buildings, all kinds - not just castles. He has worked in many areas of the heritage sector and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty with loads of experience as a field archaeologist, conservation stonemason, community archaeologist, historic stone specialist, archival researcher, historic graffiti specialist and now as a buildings archaeologist.
Jim, like James has a wealth of experience away from the world of academia. Jim completed his Archaeology degree in 1998 and worked as a field archaeologist until 2005. He then joined the Research Department at what was then English Heritage as ‘Archaeologist (Prehistory)’, conducting major excavations into Silbury Hill as well as in Pewsey Vale. Jim undertook his PhD part-time at University of Manchester, in which looked at perceptions of and responses to sea-level rise in the Mesolithic. In 2012 Jim took a sabbatical to be the ‘Field Archaeologist in Residence’ at the McDonald Institute, University of Cambridge, and then left in 2013 to join the University of Reading as the Director of the Archaeology Field School, conducting major excavations in Wiltshire. Since 2018 Jim has been a member of the Archaeology Dept at the University of York as Lecturer in Field Archaeology.
As July approached we were getting a little tense as to how it might go, but we needn't have worried. James was first up on July 9th and we were so pleased that it was an almost sell-out event and was a great success! Everyone who attended said it was so nice to have something like this and what a fabulous speaker James was and you can read the Fringe Review! Of course it was an opportunity for James to promote his book and almost half the audience bought a copy! All boded well for Jim's talk 10 days later.
But before that... Catherine was surprised by an email in early July from the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) saying that she had been nominated for an award! It was for the Marsh Trust Community Awards for Community Archaeologist of the Year for her work with local communities & volunteers as part of the Cultural Heritage Team of the Peak District National Park. It came completely out of the blue and the email was the first she'd heard about it. Catherine had so impressed everyone with her enthusiasm and love for archaeology they thought it deserved recognition. The next thing we know is that an email arrives on the 16th July telling her she has won! Lots of people around the Peak District and well beyond as well as on social media were in touch to offer their congratulations. Catherine was blown away by the honour and attention but really quite pleased too! The picture here is Catherine receiving her award from the Marsh Trust's Northern Ambassador David Booker and CBA Chief Executive Neil Redfern! So much appreciated by Catherine who's still on cloud 9!
After all that excitement it was back to the Fringe event with Jim, and what a turn-out we had. A complete sell-out and everyone was fascinated by Jim's talk and readings. It certainly got us thinking about movement in archaeology and how we can miss the meaning it can have. Thank you Jim. So that was it I thought. Wrong again! I later learned that our shows had been nominated in the category of Spoken Word! Well that was another surprise! We didn't win but I'd have been happy enough just having a couple of successful shows, with all credit going to James and Jim. Thanks again chaps and thank you to everyone who came!
Thinking that was it for July, I took myself off to Herefordshire for a couple of days to visit excavations near Dorstone. One was at Snodhill Castle where the team led by Herefordshire County Archaeologist Tim Hoverd had made great strides in understanding the development of the castle. Part of the castle chapel had been revealed (in the image here) and perhaps more interestingly, the area considered to be the bailey contained some low earthen banks. Of course, these proved to be irresistible to the team and they produced something of a surprise in the shape of a semi-circular enclosure and Romano-British pottery coming out of the associated ditch terminal. Food for thought there...
The other was nearby Arthur's Stone where the team of students from the University of Manchester and University of Cardiff, volunteers and professionals ably led by Prof. Julian Thomas had discovered the remains of a previously unknown stone circle. Now you might think that was exciting enough, but no. On our arrival Julian was just bursting and couldn't wait to tell us a special visitor would be coming at the close of work that day. Who was it that could make a mild-mannered academic so giddy? Why none other that music legend Robert Plant, he of Led Zeppelin fame! I'm pleased to say I joined in at this point! There was much chatting about archaeology and of course music, and at one point they were discussing why Dylan went electric. It was a truly memorable event and I'm so glad I was there and got to talk to Robert Plant too. What a month!
Comments