2018 Community DigThe Hyde900 Community Dig returns for 2018!The dates for your diary are April 27th to 30thFor the third annual Community Dig, we have been invited back to numbers 14 and 15 King Alfred Terrace (courtesy of Chris and Anne Prior, and Justine Field), as well as a completely new area at number 10 King Alfred Terrace (thanks to Chris Scott), to continue the exciting excavation of the abbey cloisters. In 2017 the finds proved to be of international significance, and the display of part of a stone arch of the Norman cloister is destined for Winchester Museum. Those who attended last year’s dig may remember that the stones from the Norman arch were found in an area next to the shed at number 14. Chris Prior will be moving the shed to allow us to explore the medieval wall and paved area that continued underneath it. Altogether there will be at least four new sites to excavate, all in the expected area of the Norman cloisters, so we are anticipating a fascinating dig. Once again, Winchester Archaeological and Local History Group (WARG) will be providing a full roster of supervisors for all stages – digging, sieving, finds processing and recording, together with the equipment. David Ashby of the University of Winchester returns as advisor to the dig, and we are also extremely lucky that Dr John Crook, Consultant Archaeologist to Winchester Cathedral, will be with us again for the event. We are delighted to be supported by CBA Wessex and the Aviva Community Fund, and sponsored once again by Belgarum Estate Agents. We look forward to welcoming their Managing Director, John Leeson, back once more to open the dig. As before, the cameras will be there courtesy of Solent Moviemakers to record the highs and lows of the excavation. There will be a daily blog which will enable you to see all the action on the website as the dig progresses. This year’s Hyde900 dig at 14 and 15 King Alfred Terrace (courtesy of Chris and Ann Prior and Justine Field) yielded finds exceeding all expectations. Justine’s garden yielded a minute “Christmas Pudding Doll” – put in Christmas puddings in Victorian times – whilst Chris and Ann’s garden Norman stonework “of international importance” (Professor Biddle, Professor of Archaeology, University of Oxford) The display features the voussoirs (wedge shaped stones) and an abacus (sitting above the capital) which match with the capital and springer stone from the abbey unveiled to an invited audience in St Bartholomews’s Church at the King Alfred Weekend. Hyde900 are delighted that the 2018 community dig can return to these gardens to complete the exploration of this key area of the abbey’s cloisters. In addition we will be putting test pits in an additional garden, 10 King Alfred Terrace, by kind permission of Chris Scott. Those interested in taking part will be able to register their interest via this website shortly. In the meantime may we thank those of you who succeeded in voting for the Aviva grant. We reached just over 1000 votes, and will be informed as to whether we were successful on January 16 2018 We hope to see you at the dig – April 27 to 30.
|