Rescue News 119

Croydon Council has resigned from the Museums Association following a threat of disciplinary action over its plans to auction 24 high-value vases, bowls and bottles from one of its collections, including Neolithic and Ming Dynasty pieces. It is understood that the motive behind the sale is to raise funds towards a project to redevelop Fairfield Halls, a 50-year-old arts centre. The Arts Council England will formally assess the Museum of Croydon's accreditation after the items have been sold; loss of this accreditation would mean that obtaining Heritage Lottery or Arts Council England funding in the future would be all but impossible. LD

This article outlines the context of the recent discovery of the remains of Richard III in Leicester, and discusses the options that have been put forward for his reburial and the reactions from the various groups and individuals that have an interest. The archaeological legacy of the discovery is also discussed. The find was a huge media success story for the profession, and has resulted in renewed interest in trying to locate other 'missing' monarchs and in studying the remains of two juveniles interred in Westminster Abbey in 1678, believed to have been the 'Princes in the Tower'. The debate over Richard III's reburial could also prompt a judicial review of the operation of burial legislation. Lastly, the possible effect of the discovery on the future portrayal of Richard III in theatrical productions is considered. LD

Archaeologists working on material recovered from Kents Bank Cavern on the north side of Morecambe Bay have announced a radiocarbon date of just over 10,000 years old for a human leg bone from the site. This new date supports the evidence from finds of stone tools in northern Britain suggesting the presence of people at this time -- there had previously been no evidence from bones to directly support the theory. The bone in question was recovered in the 1990s and had been kept at a museum. The case thus illustrates the importance of storing material from excavations and maintaining museum archives. LD

A carved head found during excavations at Binchester Roman Fort near Bishop Auckland is thought to date from the 2nd or 3rd century and bears a resemblance to a locally worshipped Celtic deity, Antenociticus. This deity is not known from elsewhere in the Empire. The head came from a location near to where a small Roman altar had been found two years previously, and was possibly associated with a shrine located in the larger bath house. LD

It has been reported in the Chester Chronicle that the developers who built the council HQ building for Cheshire West and Chester Council are in breach of a planning condition set out by the council itself for not completing archaeological post-excavation work for the site. The excavation undertaken prior to development was the largest to have taken place in Chester in more than thirty years. It revealed the foundations for at least one large Roman town house with an undisturbed mosaic floor, as well as part of a Benedictine nunnery and cemetery. LD

Plans to cut English Heritage free from central Government control, and support, have recently been reported. A one-off sum of money will be used to fund urgent repairs and support a move towards creating a charity that will be responsible for the nation's heritage collection of some 420 historic sites, trading with the 'English Heritage' name and ultimately becoming self-financing. A Non-Departmental Public Body described as the National Heritage Protection Service will take up responsibility for planning and heritage protection. Further cuts to heritage sector funding for the year 2015/16 have also been announced. LD

Outlines the key points of Mick Aston's academic and teaching career and notes his involvement with Channel 4's Time Team series, which cemented his place as one of the leading figures in public archaeology. LD

Ownership of the historic vessel City of Adelaide has been formally handed over to Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Limited, and the ship has been transferred to a barge ready for transfer to London or Rotterdam and ultimately Australia. This article describes a perceived failure by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Maritime Museum to properly apply protective legislation, and notes that the payment of a grant towards the cost of transportation without satisfactory evidence that the additional funding to complete the project is in place may exceed the power conferred by the legislation invoked. It is hoped that the ship could be classed as an archaeological artefact and require an export licence; this could halt its export and allow time for funding to be raised for its preservation. LD

Reports on the investigation and conservation of eight Bronze Age boats, found in a quarry in Cambridgeshire in 2011 and currently in a two-year preservation programme at Flag Fen. Analysis of samples has revealed that the boats were made from oak, lime and field maple. Radiocarbon dating indicates that the vessels date to 1500 BC, and are thus some 200 years older than initially believed. LD

Archaeologists have raised and brought ashore a moustachioed face, carved into the rudder of an unidentified early Dutch trading ship dating to the 17th century, wrecked in Poole Harbour. The early Baroque style carvings on parts of the ship include a merman and two cherubs, and are some of the earliest of their kind in the world. The structure of the ship is slowly degrading, but only specific sections can be saved owing to the high costs of raising and preserving wooden ships. Artefacts brought up from the wreck include cannon, leather shoes, wooden barrels, and copper, pewter and ceramic plates and cups. LD

A full analysis has been published of a rescue excavation carried out at a hillfort in East Lothian in the 1970s. The complex history of the site is presented in some detail, with the first occupation dating to around 3000 BC and major occupation from 600 BC. The presence of a seemingly settled community until about AD 200 perhaps suggests that the people of East Lothian were allied with the Romans. LD