British Archaeology (122)

A hoard of Roman copper alloy coins dating from the 3rd century AD was discovered by metal-detectorists on Bredon Hill, south Worcestershire. Archaeological excavation of the site found new evidence for Roman buildings and other activity. However, it was also found that the hoard had been buried no earlier than AD350, implying a gap of up to a century between the issue of the coins and their burial. Possible implications of this are briefly considered. LD

Round-up of archaeological news from around Britain. LD

Outlines some of the characters described in a pitch document for a television series entitled 'Treasure Seekers', and remarks on what the document says about the perception of archaeology in the minds of some 'media creatives'. LD

Discusses the role and the importance of local authority archaeology services, which are at present facing threats from local responses to central government cuts. The situation whereby local councils have a duty to heritage but are not obliged by law to run an archaeology service or maintain a Historic Environment Record lies at the heart of the issue. Northamptonshire, where the historic environment service was cut in 2003 and reinstated in 2009/10, is used as an example to illustrate the consequences of such cuts. Threats to Tees Archaeology are also outlined. LD

Reports on research at the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, which has been working with archaeologists in Britain and Italy to address questions on how long Homo sapiens has been in Europe, and for how long the species competed with Neanderthals before the latter died out. New understanding of factors affecting radiocarbon dating and improved techniques have allowed material from historic excavations at Kents Cavern, Torquay on the south coast of England and Grotta del Cavallo in the bay of Uluzzo, southern Italy, to be revisited. The new dates obtained mean that anatomically modern humans are likely to have co-existed with Neanderthals in northern and southern Europe for several thousand years. LD

Describes the benefits of archaeological fieldwork undertaken as the first stage of a project designed as a rehabilitation exercise for British soldiers who have returned from Afghanistan. The site chosen for investigation comprises a huge organic-rich midden at East Chisenbury, Wiltshire, thought to represent an area of feasting used for a period of less than a century at the transition between the Bronze and Iron Ages. Finds from the site are continually revealed in spoil ejected by badgers. The project thus aimed to examine all the soil around sett entrances and to plot finds and badger movements over time to help inform site management. Post-excavation work by the soldiers is now under way, and placements within heritage organisations are being arranged. LD

Discusses a recently published article comparing the reporting of archaeological finds in Austria and in England and Wales. In Austria, only licensed people with an archaeology degree may use a metal detector to find objects, and discoveries must be reported within two days. In England and Wales, however, metal detecting is open to anyone and reporting is voluntary. In Austria relatively few finds are now reported annually; it is believed that significant numbers of people use metal detectors, excavate finds and fail to report them. By contrast, in England and Wales establishment of the Portable Antiquities Scheme in England and Wales led to a huge rise in the number of voluntary finds reports. It is concluded that in the arena of public archaeology, openness, co-operation and education are more beneficial than suppression. LD