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In September last year
the Government signed up to the Valletta Convention, which came into effect in March this
year. Since then there has been great concern in some quarters about the effect the
Convention will have on local archaeology. The Convention is one of a series produced by
the Council of Europe over the last fifty years designed for the protection of cultural
heritage. In essence, it deals with the protection of sites and areas, mandatory reporting
of chance finds and the control of illicit trade in antiquities. It promotes high
standards for archaeological work which it insists should be carried out by suitably
qualified people.
Both the CBA and the CIA
have expressed their concerns that this would seriously affect the strong amateur element
in British archaeology, which has already been marginalized with the introduction of
contract working. It has been well recognised that a great deal of useful work is carried
out by the independent sector which is able to combine enthusiasm with extensive local
knowledge. If interpretation of the Convention is correct, licensing would be required
even for geophysical prospecting. This would obviously severely restrict our activities.
This Friday Tom and I
will attend a seminar hosted by the Greater Manchester Archaeology Unit, which will
hopefully clarify the situation. We will let you know the outcome at next Wednesday’s
meeting. In the mean time I have signed an open letter on behalf of our society, organised
by the CIA, in which our concerns have been voiced.
Regional Planning
Guidance
Another open letter which
I have signed recently is about the Draft RPG for the North West, a copy of which dropped
through my letterbox last month. It is a vast document (243 pages) covering a broad range
of topics from “Core Strategy” to “Environmental Quality”, but
apparently contains not a single mention of heritage or archaeology. The open letter,
which has been organised by Robina McNeal of the GMAU, expresses our regret over the
absence of these fundamental aspects of our future environment.
Horus - New Society
If you like Egyptology,
this is for you. The inaugural meeting of this new society is on Thursday 27th September
at the NuPro in Ashton-in-Makerfield. They sound like a well-organised group with food
available on the night and high-quality speakers at their bi-monthly meetings. If you want
to know more, contact John Johnson on 01942 741954 or Christine Fishwick on 01942 517958
Angers Trip
The weekend after the
next meeting, 12 members of our society will be off to Angers. All details have been
finalised and archaeological visits arranged, which will include a meeting with the Angers
Archaeological Club. There are some good photographers in the team and so, hopefully,
plenty of material for a talk at next year’s AGM. To mark the visit and to say a big
thanks to the French archaeologists who have organised everything and provided all the
information over the last year or so, a small present has been proposed. Tom has suggested
a miners lamp with the name of the society on. However, a small question of funding for
this needs to be resolved, – something for us to discuss at the meeting.
Echos of Edgar
Tom has been receiving,
amongst other information, a bi-annual newsletter from Angers with latest information on
the progress of the excavations there. I am presently having these translated – if
anybody is interested I can provide copies at the meeting.
Digging for Vikings
Over the next three weeks
this web site www.nmgw.ac.uk/archaeology/anglesey/
will follow the progress of excavations at a Viking period site at Llanbedrgoch on
Anglesey. Last year the project recovered a prehistoric burial and early medieval
occupation. The year before that a massive early medieval enclosure wall was uncovered, as
well as human remains discarded in a midden beyond these defences.
This year the team is
working to explore a spring that rises within the enclosure, and a proposed entrance way.
Romans Invade Middlewich
The weekend of 15/16th
September will see the 2nd Roman invasion, when the famous Ermine Street Guard will set up
camp on Harbutt’s Field Roman Fort. The event will mark the culmination of the Roman
Middlewich Project designed to promote local heritage. Archaeological discoveries will be
on display as well as stalls, workshops etc.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 5th September
at the BP Centre (Scout HQ) in Greenough Street, at 7.30 pm as usual. This month’s
speaker is an old favourite - Dr Martin Charlesworth who will be telling us more about the
Persian Empire with his talk on Shapur the Great. Hope to see you at the meeting -B.A
Excavation Opportunity
This is breaking news
about a site near Warrington, which has been opened by the South Trafford Archaeology
Group (STAG) on a part time basis. More details at the meeting.
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