Southampton Archaeology Society · The photographs below show ‘before’ and ‘after’ views of...

Southampton Archaeology Society April 2020 NewsletterDearMembersWe’relivinginunprecedentedtimes–tocoinaphrase,andwhowouldhaveimaginedwhentheJanuary2020Newsletterwentoutthatwe’dnowbefacedwiththeprospectof‘lockdown’forthreemonthsminimum,andthecancellationofourprogrammeatleastuntilSeptember.LasttimeIwrotetoyouwehadjustdecidedthatourAprillecturewouldbe

postponed(tobeheldinApril2021),butsadlywe’renowplanningtore-scheduletheMayflowerWalkoutingon17thApril,theAGM(12thMay),andalsoourMayflowerStudyDay(27thJune).TheAGMwilltakeplaceonTuesday13thOctober,andpleaseseethebackpageofthisnewsletterfordetailsofsubscriptionpayments,whicharedueon1stMay(amembershipsubscriptionformisalsoenclosed).Ihopetore-arrangethewalkduringthesummer/earlyautumn,dependingonSeeSouthampton’sschedulewhentheiroperationsrestart.FortheStudyDaywearecontactingthespeakerssomeofwhomhavealreadyagreedtospeakonalateroccasion,sowe’recheckingonthevenueavailability,andifpossiblewe’dliketomakeadateduringtheautumnthisyear.IfyouhavebookedaplaceforeithereventandwouldlikearefundpleasecontacttheHonTreasurerJohnLangran(detailsonthebackpageofthisnewsletter).Otherwiseyoumayprefertosaveyourplaceandwaitfornewdatestobeconfirmed.Ourprovisionallectureprogrammefor2020/21isalsoenclosed,andfulldetailswillfollowinSeptember.Alongwithlocallibraries,museumsandgalleriesmanyotherorganisationshavehadtoclosetheirdoorsandsuspendactivities,asI’msureyouareaware.Evenourlessformalactivitieshaveceased,suchastheMondayeveningfindsprocessingattheArchaeologyUnit,aswellasvisitsbytheSASGraffitigroupandHampshireMedievalGraffitiGroup.FoSMAG,SAES,HFC,ArtsSocietySouthampton,U3Aandothershavecancelledactivities,butlet’shopethatfutureeventslikeSouthamptonHeritageFederation’sMayflowerMemorialCommemoration(15thAugust)won’tbeaffected.Someorganisationsarerunningonlineevents,suchasGod’sHouseTowerwiththeirfreeFridaylunchtimelectures(seegodshousetower.org.uk);andFacebookgroupsarepostingquizzesoritemsofinterest(facebook.com).Tohelp,I’vetriedtomakethenewsletterabitmorewiderangingthistime,witharticlesreflectingtheinterestsofmembersofthecommittee.ThankstoJohnLangranandMartynDowellfortheiraccountofsurveyingalocalBronzeAgeBarrow,andalsotoMartynforthefirstinstalmentofaseriesontheSouthamptonU3Abranch’sexplorationintoOldTestamenthistory,whichleftmehangingontofindoutwhatcomesnext!KarenWardleyhaskindlycontributedanarticleaboutgraffitimadebyyoungpeopleinthevillagechurchatGoodworthClatford,Hampshire,duringthetimeofWorldWarTwo;andnexttimeIhopetoincludeabriefpieceaboutWW2graffitionSouthampton’s“AmericanWall”,aheadofourlectureplannedforSeptember.ThankstoMandyKesbyforlendingmehernotesfromourlecturelastmonthonArchaeologyandtheOrdnanceSurveybyRogerLeech,whichhelpedinwritingthereportbelow.FortheJulynewsletterI’dreallyliketoincludemorearticlesfrommembers,asI’msuremanyofyouhavehistoricalandarchaeologicalinterestswedon’tknowabout.Itwouldbegreatifsomeofyoumightbeinspiredtowriteandletusknowaboutyourresearches–oryourholidays/expeditions.Pleasedothinkaboutthisandhaveagoifyoucan,andmeanwhileIhopeyouenjoythestoriescollectedhere. Sarah .

ABronzeAgeBarrowatChilworth byMartynDowellandJohnLangran

BeforeChristmas2019,theownerofapropertyinChilworth,SouthamptoncontactedusaboutaBronzeAgebarrowinhisgarden,whichisjustoutsidethecityboundary.SASmembersMartynDowellandJohnLangranvisitedthehouseinChilworthonhisinvitation.AsmarkedonsomeOrdnanceSurveymaps,againsttheboundaryofhisgardenthereisatumulus,orBronzeAgebarrow,whichhewaskeentoknowmoreabout.IthadoriginallybeennotedbyOGSCrawford,andthebasicdimensionswererecordedontheHampshireHistoricEnvironmentRecord(HER).

Theywenttothespotwithaviewtocarryoutfurthermeasurementsofthepresentconditionofthebarrow,andnoteanyotherdetailsthatwerevisible.Infact,ithadeffectivelybecomepartofthehedgeboundaryofthegarden,andwasthusratherovergrown.Nevertheless,withminimalclearanceitwaspossibletotakeoverallmeasurements:Length11m70N-S,Width8m50E-W,Height0.5m,whichconfirmedthatitsconditionhadnotchangedmuchsinceCrawford'stime.ThisincludedadepressionnotedbyCrawfordinthemiddleofthebarrow,suggestingthatsomebodyhadexploreditbeforehim.Nothingelsewasvisiblesaveatelegraphpostdrivenstraightthroughitssouthwesternslopes!

Theownerplannedtomakeafeatureofitbyclearingthevegetationandcoveringitwithturf.Martynadvisedhimthatheshouldcutdowntheplantswithoutdisturbingtheroots,andthatturfwouldbeoneofthebestwaystopreserveit.Sincethen,JohnhassenttheupdatedinformationtotheHER(seehttps://maps.hants.gov.uk/historicenvironment/herResults.aspx?monuid=25839). Theownerhasnowconfirmedthatinlinewiththeiradvicehehaspartiallyclearedandturfedthearea.Thephotographsbelowshow‘before’and‘after’viewsofthebarrow.

1. General View from East 2. Eastern Aspect

3. Turfed, after removal of plants.

ReportonArchaeologyandtheOrdnanceSurvey byRogerLeechMarch2020ThiswasanimpressivelectureinwhichRogerLeechpaidtributetotwonotableOrdnanceSurveyarchaeologistsofthe20thcentury,oneofwhomprecededhimasHeadoftheRoyalCommissiononAncient&HistoricMonumentsinEngland.TheOrdnanceSurvey(OS)hadbeenestablishedin1791,followingdetailedmappingsurveystofacilitatemilitarycontroloftheScottishHighlandsafterthe1745Rebellion.ThesameprocesswasthenextendedtocoverEngland.In1841theOSwasbasedattheTowerofLondon,butafterafirein1891theymovedtoLondonRoad,Southampton.Duringthe1970stheofficemovedouttoMaybush,Southampton,andearlythiscenturytoanewsiteatNursling,AdanacParkbesidetheM271. Theearliestmapspublishedwere2”tothemile,andthen1”tothemile,givinggreaterdetail.Archaeologicalsitesareknownas“antiquities”andnamesareprintedonthemapsinAntiquescript.Antiquitiescouldincludehillforts,Romanvillas,tumuli,roads,tracksandothers,suchas‘PillowMounds’ormedievalrabbitwarrens:asshownatRockfordCommonintheNewForest(right),fromOSExplorerOL22map1:25000.Inthe1880slargerscalemapswereintroducedwhichshowedmuchmoredetailsuchasgardensandroomsinvillasetc.Whentryingtoestablishtheantiquitiesineacharea,OSsurveyorswouldoftenturntolocalvicarswhowereconsideredtobewelleducatedandknowledgeableaboutthetopologyofthearea,sometimeswithunexpectedresults.Theearlymapsarestillusedextensivelywhenundertakingarchaeologicalresearch,formilitarypurposes-andjustbecausetheyareinteresting.AllthenamesonOSmapscanbefoundintheOSOriginalNamesbooks1853-76,butmanyofthebooksweredestroyedinWW2bombing.AfterWWItwodistinguishedarchaeologistsworkedattheOrdnanceSurvey,firstlyOGSCrawfordwhocametoworkthereinthe1920s.BorninBombayin1886,hewasatschoolinMarlborough,WiltshireandwentontoKebleCollege,OxfordwherehegainedaDiplomainGeography,buthewasalwaysmoreinterestedinarchaeology.CrawfordhadservedinFrancewiththeBritishExpeditionaryForce(BEF)andtransferredtotheSurveysectiontakingaerialphotographs.HelaterpublishedabookonAirPhotographsforArchaeologists.Hewouldsendoutmapstopeopleindifferentareastomarkup,tobefollowedupbysurveyorsgoingouttofullyrecordtheinformation.In1924CrawfordproducedthefirstMapofRomanBritainfollowedbymapsofNeolithicWessex,17thCenturyEngland(CivilWar),TheForth,Clyde&TayintheRomanPeriodandTheChilternsaswellasanumberoftownmaps.DuringWW2hewastransferredtoNationalBuildingsRecordstorecordmajorstructuresinlocaltownswhichmightbedamaged.Crawfordretiredin1947,tobesucceededbyCharlesPhillipswhowasalreadywell-knownforhisworkonthe1939excavationofSuttonHoo.HehadworkedfortheAirPhotographyUnitatMeddenhamduringWW2,interpretingphotographswiththeuseofstereoscopes,whichwasskilledworkastheyweredifficulttouse(averyeffectivetechniquebutoneneverusedbytheNazis).Theresultswerestoredonacardindexsystem,whichPhillipslaterintroducedfortheOS,withauniquecardtorecordeacharchaeologicalexcavationorantiquity.TheystartedwiththesitesshownonCrawford’smaps,andalsosearchedthrougharchaeologicaljournals.Theindexcardswouldincludeamapreference,date,descriptionandsurveyinformation,withoverhalfamillionrecordsbeingaccumulated.Surveyswouldbecarriedoutinthefield

andthentransferredontolargescalemaps,andthemapreferenceenteredontheindexcard.Whereinformationonthemapswasnotadequate,surveyorswouldgoouttorecordantiquitiesonsite.Thissystemendedinthe1980safterareviewoftheOrdnanceSurvey(1979),asitwasfeltarchaeologicalworkwasinappropriateforthenationalmappingagencyandshouldbecarriedoutbyaheritagebody.Despiteprotestsinthepress,thiselementwastransferredtotheRoyalCommissionsonAncient&HistoricMonumentsforEngland,ScotlandandWales.Thecardindexinformationwastransferredtocomputer,buttheworkwascarriedoutbyanoutsidefirmandmanymistakesweremade.TheinformationisavailableonlineonthePastscapesiteunderHistoricEngland(pastscape.org.uk),thoughitisnolongerbeingup-dated.RogerconsidersthattheRoyalCommissionReport:UnlockingthePastfortheNewMillennium(EnglishHeritage)failstoacknowledgethemeticulousworkoftheOSinrecordingantiquities.AfterWW2,theOScontinuedproducingperiodmapsasCrawfordhaddone,withnewmapsincludingaMapofAncientBritain(picturedright).TheareaofDartmoorforinstanceshowsextensivearchaeologysuchashuts,out-buildings,animalpens,field,andtrackways.RogerLeechtookoverafterCharlesPhillipswentintoretirementin1984.Hediedin1985,andhisautobiographypublishedposthumouslyrecordsPhillips’feelingsaboutthesechanges.TheOSproducedperiodandtownmapsandrecordedantiquitiesasbefore,butin1999theRoyalCommissionmergedwithEnglishHeritage(nowHistoricEngland).Aerialphotographyisnowmoreextensivelyusedtopinpointpotentialarchaeologicalsites,andtheinformationgivenonmapsislessdetailedthanonearlierOSmaps.TheoriginalcardindexsystemisstoredatSwindon,andnationalrecordsontheHeritageGatewaysite(heritagegateway.org.uk),ausefulresourcewhichalsocontainsallthecountyarchaeologicalrecordsorHeritageEnvironmentRecords(HER).AcompleterecordofallOrdnanceSurveymapsisheldbytheNationalLibraryofScotland,(maps.nls.uk)whichisfreelyavailableforviewingonline,anessentialresourceforarchaeologicalresearch. SarahHanna(withthankstoMandyKesby)Graffitifromtimesofadversity byKarenWardley,Co-ordinator,HMGP

OnarecentsurveyofthechurchofStPeter,GoodworthClatford,nearAndover,membersofHampshireMedievalGraffitiProject(HMGP)discoveredsomeremarkableexamplesofgraffiti,madeatatimeofgreatuncertaintyandanxietybutdemonstratinghumourandgoodcheer-muchneededinsuchtryingtimes.

Thegraffitiweremostlymadebyyoungmenofthevillage,employedtopumptheorganbellowsduringthewartimeyearsof1939to1945.Theyobviouslyhadtimeontheirhandsbetweenhymns,allowingthemtorecordtheirnamesandmakedrawingsofwhatmostinterestedthemandwhattheywereseeingaroundthem.Theywroteinpencilontheplasterwallsofthevestry,andscratchedintoordrewonthewoodenorgancasing.

Figure1StPeter’schurch,GoodworthClatford

Someinscriptionswereaddedtooveranumberofyears,sowecouldtrackwhicharmoftheforcesindividualsjoined.RichardMulfordwasthemostprolificinscriberofhisnamefrom1939onwards,andatsomepointweknowthathejoinedtheRoyalNavy,onHMSBritany(sic),goingfromPortsmouthtoStVincent–alongwayfromGoodworthClatford.Thereisalsoatouchofpoignancy,whenadifferenthandhaswritten,underthenameHGibbs,“Comrade.NowaprisonerofwarinGermany.”

Therearealsodrawingsofguns,andasmallsketchoftheQueenMarynexttoaveryfadedoneoftheLusitania.

Figure4helicopter,drawnonvestrywall

Theinterestsoftheseyoungmenareexemplifiedbycarefullydrawnexamplesofdifferenttypesofaircraftthattheywereobviouslyfamiliarwith,therebeinganumberofairfieldsnearby.Thetragicbombingin1944,whensixpeoplediedafteraV-1rocketorDoodlebugstruckthevillageisbroughttomindbydrawingsofdifferentbombs,perhapspromptedbythisdisaster.

Thesegraffitigiveusalittlesnapshotoflifeinasmallvillageduringwartime,andthepreoccupationsoftheiryoungmen.Thankfully,havingscouredthenamesonthewarmemorialinsidethechurch,itseemsthatnoneofthemwerelost.

Figure1Namesoforganblowersonorgancasing

Figure5WW2dogfight

Figure3Gunsdepictedonorgancasing

Theirthoughtswerenotalwaysonwarthough,andthisfinesketchshowstheGreatWesternRailway(GWR)steamlocomotive,afamiliarsightonthelocal“SpratandWinkle”railwaybetweenAndoverandRedbridge,Southampton.

Asteamtractionengineisdepicted,captioned“Wallice(sic)ExpancionInvincible”.ThefirmofWallisandSteevenswerebasedinBasingstoke,producingsuchenginesandotheragriculturalmachinery.Wehavediscoveredthat,whiletheirExpansionengineswerepopular,beingveryefficient,theynevermadeanInvinciblemodel(althoughthisnamewasusedbyothercompanies).ThenameofWatsonHaigonthecanopyisalocalfirmwhohiredoutsuchvehicles.

Figure2Wallis&Steevenstractionengine

Figure7Caricatureof‘OurErnie’onorgancasing

Theboysseemtohavebeenverycircumspectinwhattheywroteordrew,perhapsbecauseofthelocation,butthereisalittlefigureofacomelyfemalewechristened“theClatfordVenus”,whilethenameofMissElsieShepherd,WestoverFarm,LowerClatfordmayindicateaschoolboycrush.Therearealsosomecaricatures,includingonepossiblyofHitler,andothersofcharactersclosertohome,like“EGraceOurErnie”and“Beko”.

Figure8Caricatureof"Beko"onvestrywall

Figure6GWRsteamlocomotive

OldTestamentstudy

TwoorthreeyearsagoIjoinedaUniversityoftheThirdAge(U3A)groupstudyingtheOldTestament(OT)oftheBible,runbySASmemberCarolCunio.IhavealwaysbeeninterestedinhowmuchrealhistorytheOTcontains,andhowmuchisfoundationmythfortheJewishnation.Carol'sapproachwassomewhatdifferentattheoutset,asshewishedtoinvestigatethelivesofwomeninthosedistanttimes.AnobviousplacetostartwastheBookofRuth,whichiswidelyacceptedasaworkoffiction,butnolessilluminatingforthat.TheveryfrankreferencestoRuth’sseductionofBoazseemfunnytous,usedaswearetorelictVictorianprudery.ThevariousEnglishtranslators'attemptstocoylyrefertohisgenitalswasasourceofongoingamusement,andinterestingalsowastherevelationthattouchingthatareawasinantiquityawayofaffirmingthetruth,hencetestator,testimonyetc,allderivedfromtestes.AnabidingpuzzletomeiswhythisstorywasincludedinJewishholywritings.Presumablythereisadeepmoralmessage,butwhatisit?Bekindtoforeigners?Beloyaltoallthoseyoumeet?Tryreadingitandletmeknow.

Beyondanumberofobviousoutstandingwomenthatwehaveallheardof,referencesareunsurprisinglyscantinthatmaledominatedworld,soeventuallywedecidedtoreadtheOldTestamentbookbybook,enablingustofindrarestoriesofwomen,andatthesametimetogetanoverviewoftheunfoldinghistory.Ofcourse,thatmeansyouneedtolearnabouttheauthorsandtheirprejudices,andthe(veryskilful)combinationandeditingoftheearlierbooksinparticular.Forthisreason,wedidnotstartatthebeginning,butwithJudges,whichtellsthestoryofthe(re)settlementofCanaanaftertheExodusfromEgypt.WealsofounditnecessarytorecapourarchaeologicalknowledgeofthelateBronzeAgeandearlyIronAgeofthearea,soastobetterunderstandpeople’sactions,andtohelpjudgetheveracityoftheaccountswewerereading.InlaterinstalmentsIwilltellyousomethingofwhatwearelearning.

Bibliography

AnymodernEnglishtranslationoftheBible(butdon'toverlooktheauthorisedversion,itremainsthemostscholarlytranslationever).

WhowrotetheBible?FriedmanISBN0-224-02573-2

CivilisationsoftheHolyLandPaulJohnson1979

Andmanymorelikeit.

MartynDowellMarch2020.

OnefutureeventforNovember(Ihopeit’ssafe!):

Saturday28November10:00–16:00.Chichester&DistrictArchaeologySociety(CDAS)StudyDay:Chichester’s Maritime Past ledbywriterandhistorianIanFriel. CoveringtheareafromPaghamHarbourtoChichesterHarbour,andtheperiodfromprehistoryonwards,thisstudydaywillexploreChichester’smaritimehistorythroughbotharchaeologicalandhistoricalsources,drawingonIan’sownresearch.Themaritimehistoryofthisareaincludes,forinstance,anElizabethansailorfromChichesterwhovanishedintheIndianOcean,theHarbour'sroleasagrain-exportinghaveninthe18thcentury,itssurprisinghistoryofconstructingGeorgianwarships,thelocaloysterfishery,andthedevelopmentofyachtingandleisureboatinginthe20thcentury.Venue:FishbourneRomanPalace(RudkinRoom),RomanWay,Fishbourne,ChichesterPO193QR.Thereisplentyofparking.Cost:Members£25,non-members£30(paymentisdueby30October2020).Detailsofhowtopaywillbesentwhenyourplaceisconfirmed.ToreserveyourplacepleasecontactPaulineBlagdenatactivities@cdas.info

ArrangementsforpaymentofSASsubscriptions2020/2021

AlthoughwehavehadtodelaytheSouthamptonArchaeologySocietyAGMthisyear,ourfinancialyearremainsthesame(ending31stMarcheachyear)andthereforeannualsubscriptionsaredueasusualon1stMay2020.Subscriptionratesarenotchangingandthecurrentratescanbefoundontheenclosedmembershipsubscriptionform,togetherwithdetailsofdifferentmethodsofpayment.

ForthoseofyouwhoareaccustomedtopaybycashattheAGMitselfwedoapologiseforthisinconvenience,butwehopeyoumaybeabletomakeuseofanothermethodforthisyear.AnynewmemberswhojoinedafterNewYear2020willbeabletopayhalfpricefor2020/2021,asthe2019/20programmehasbeencurtailed.

Thoserateswillbe:

Adults£5, Seniors£4,

Student/Junior£4; Family£7."

JohnLangran

Websitecontact:southamptonarchaeology@gmail.com

Facebookgroup:SouthamptonArchaeologySociety

2018-2019SASCommittee

Chair–SarahHannaVice-Chair–MartynDowellHonTreasurer–JohnLangranHonSecretary–MandyKesbyGeneralCommitteeMembers–RowanBright,ChrisEvans,KarenWardleyandMattGarner.ArchaeologicalAdvisor:DrAndyRussel.

WewouldlovetoreceivecontributionstotheNewsletter–bye-mailtosarahvhanna@hotmail.comorposttoSarahHanna,346HillLaneSO157PH.Wereservetherighttoeditasnecessary.

Lecturesarefreetomembersand£3pervisitor.Pleasebringyourfriends!AlllectureswilltakeplaceinSt.Joseph’sHall,BugleStreet,SouthamptonSO142AH,unlessotherwisestated,from7.30pmto9.00pm.Teaandcoffeeisservedfrom7.00pm.PleasejoinusattheDukeofWellingtonpubafterthemeeting.

SubscriptionRates2018

Individuals £10.00

SeniorCitizens£8.00

Juniors/Students£8.00

Family £14.00

Ifyouorafriendwouldliketojoin(orifyouhaven’tyetrenewedyoursubscription)pleasesendyourdetailstoJohnLangran,withachequefortheappropriateamount,payabletoSouthamptonArchaeologySociety–oryoucanpayatthenextlecture.

Contactus

www.southamptonarchaeology.uk

MandyKesby,HonSecretary.

29AbercrombieGardensLordshillSouthamptonSO168FQamandybutt@aol.comPhone:02380735360JohnLangran,HonTreasurer.

8CavendishGroveSouthamptonSO171XEjohn.langran@hotmail.com Phone:02380224472