British Archaeology (133)

Describes the results of a brief excavation in fenland around the Black Loch of Myrton, close to the coast near Monreith, Wigtownshire, which has revealed part of an Iron Age village built on peat. This is the first of its kind seen in Scotland; only two others are known in Britain, both of which were excavated before the introduction of modern archaeological techniques. The Black Loch of Myrton site offers unique opportunities to answer questions about how Iron Age buildings functioned, whether villages were seasonally occupied, and how long they lasted. It is thought unlikely that the village can be preserved, and the excavators intend to seek funds for a broader programme of archaeological research. LD

Reports on the discovery and excavation of a Bronze Age burial, found accidentally during construction work at a site in Spinningdale, Sutherland, in north-east Scotland. The burial lay within a substantial stone cist and included a pottery vessel containing possible food remnants. Some soft tissue from the body survived, and some wool fibres associated with soft tissue were also present. The latter could perhaps have come from a sheepskin, although no Bronze Age sheepskin has been seen from the UK before. LD

Patricia Connor, who studied archaeology at Bristol and Cambridge universities, describes her involvement in the creation of a museum at Fishbourne Roman palace in West Sussex, where for the first time newspaper techniques were applied to interpretation. Working for the Sunday Times, she later went to Turkey and Egypt on archaeological assignments. LD

Reports on the findings of the recently completed Ecton Mines Project, a comprehensive and ambitious archaeological study of mining remains at Ecton Hill, between the villages of Warslow and Wetton in Staffordshire, within the Peak District National Park. Work included detailed multi-period surveys at the surface and underground, analysis of historic records, and evaluation excavations at the surface, targeted at prehistoric mining. Evidence for Bronze Age copper extraction, medieval and early post-medieval lead mining, and mining and associated industrial processes from the later post-medieval period is described in the article. Ecton Hill is only the second Bronze Age copper extraction site known in Britain. LD

Reports on a five-year research project and archaeological field school launched in 2010 at Burrough Hill, an Iron Age hillfort south of Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. Although the site was investigated by antiquarians and in the 20th century there was still much that was not understood; the combined results of the first three seasons of the current project are revealing a clearer picture of life at Burrough Hill, its development, the people who made it and their wider contacts. Some of the findings from geophysical survey and targeted excavation are described and discussed, including settlement evidence, the hillfort ramparts and significant artefacts. LD

Outlines an alternative to the austerity and funding cuts that are currently affecting public services in Britain, including the heritage sector. Budget cuts to English Heritage are quoted as an example and the effects of these on the workforce, who have been compelled to reapply for their own jobs, are described. Calls for the building of a mass movement to fight the cuts and impose a rational alternative, urging heritage professionals to join with existing trade union representatives and anti-cuts campaigners and activists. LD

A great deal is known about Roman Britain, but much of this focuses on the elite. This article outlines areas where present knowledge is lacking in relation to the poor people of the time, including those who worked the land, tradespeople, craftspeople and construction workers, and the physical environment in which they lived. Some unanswered questions and some of the problems facing researchers are identified. The author then describes how he has been using sources from better-documented times to tackle some of the issues: medieval records and depictions can help us understand what some aspects of life may have been like in Roman Britain. Parallels between different periods can also be seen in the archaeological record, with evidence for change following the Norman Conquest of 1066, for example, being much less easy to identify at the level of the peasantry than at the level of the king, the church and the aristocracy. LD

Updates on five examples from Listed Buildings casework undertaken by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) and featured in previous issues of British Archaeology. Despite opposition, most of the site of the Marconi factory in Chelmsford has now been cleared for housing development with the loss of a remarkable collection of 20th century structures. Planned restoration works on four structures at Dudley Zoo, in the grounds of Dudley Castle, have yet to commence, but the CBA are hopeful that these buildings will be restored in the coming year. Deptford Dockyard has been nominated for inclusion on the World Monuments Fund Watch List, which gives support to threatened sites. The Huddersfield and District Archaeological Society have come forward to tell the CBA about their involvement at Castle Hill, Huddersfield, further highlighting how it is valued by the local community. Penarth Pavilion, a deteriorating Grade II Listed pier near Cardiff, has been regenerated and is now thriving as a multi-functional centre with a gallery, cinema and restaurant. LD