Past Events
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23 November
2024 |
Day School: Post Medieval Sussex
Presented by Simon Stevens The archaeological study of the recent past has often been seen as something of a ‘poor relation’ in the discipline, but luckily times have changed. The Post- Medieval period offers a wide range of remains both buried and in standing structures, often backed-up by surviving documentary evidence. From burials to buttons and from privies to pill-boxes, there is plenty to look at in Sussex and beyond. At at Worthing Museum and Art Gallery. |
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12 November
2024 |
Con Ainsworth Memorial Lecture: Coast at Work; Continuity and Change
Presented by Dr Geoffrey Mead Associate Tutor Sussex University and Sussex Landscape expert Geoffrey is passionate about the Sussex landscape, with a fantastic local knowledge of its geography and evolution over millions of years. 'The coast at work' looks at the variety and connectivity of many aspects of coastal employment along the Sussex shoreline from fishing and boat building, to hotels and holiday camps; the talk looks at aspects of the working coast past and present. |
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8 November
2024 |
WAS Autumn Social
An evening of quizzing and skittling in Skittle Alley at The Black Horse,Findon |
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26 October
2024 |
Day School: Medieval Pottery
Presented by Luke Barber at at Worthing Museum and Art Gallery. Luke Barber will be looking at the pottery likely to be found in Sussex in the Saxon and Medieval periods. We will be covering the period 1350 to 1500/50. The day will be split into sessions of Early, Mid, Late Saxon, Saxo-Norman, High Medieval and Late Medieval. Local wares/fabrics will always be the most common finds on excavations but non-local English and imported types that may be discovered in different periods will also be reviewed. There will be sample sherds for us to look at and some practical sorting sessions to practise grouping and dating fabrics. |
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8 October
2024 |
Lecture: The Story of Highdown Hill
Presented by James Sainsbury Archaeologist and Curator of Archaeology at Worthing Museum and Art Gallery James gave a lecture on the fascinating history of Highdown Hill. From Bronze Age enclosure and Iron Age fort through to Roman residence and Anglo-Saxon cemetery, this talk took an in-depth look at one of Worthing's most famous hills. New and exciting research was discussed, including future plans for further study that could challenge the established history of the site forever. |
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21 September
2024 |
Guided Walk: Around Lewes WAS Walk around Lewes lead by Simon Stevens
Lead by Simon Stevens |
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10 - 23 August
2024 |
Dig: The Burpham Big Dig
A joint project led by Worthing Museum to excavate 30 1m x 1m test pits at Burpham near Arundel and adjacent hamlets. Work to be undertaken in conjunction with the local community. |
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15 July - 3 August
2024 |
Dig: Sompting Malthouse/Whitehouse
A dig in the SW corner of the field, and to investigate possible houses on the east side of Church Lane. Meanwhile the Research Group is finding lots of information about the area. |
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6 July
2024 |
Visit: Tour of Rocky Clump
Come along and join us for a tour of Rocky Clump on Saturday 6th July. We will be shown around by John Funnell of Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society. |
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15 June
2024 |
Come and Meet Us at Worthing Museum and Art Gallery
Come and meet us – and handle some of our amazing Finds from local excavations and further afield. There will be prehistoric flint tools from Palaeolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age times, Roman pottery and much more on display. How many times have you been able to handle a Palaeolithic axe, dating back thousands of years? See the tiny blocks of tesserae the Romans used to make mosaic floors at the Walberton Villa and the different types of pottery the Romans used for cooking as well as their best Samian tableware. |
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27 April
2024 |
Petworth Park Walk - "Most interesting from an archaeological point of view" - Lead by Henry Wakefield
Fascinating archaeological walk around Petworth Park lead by Henry Wakefield, a long term resident. |
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9 April
2024 |
Lecture: The Men, The Mission, The Recovery: The search for the B24 and its MIA’s
Presented by Mark Phillips Local Historian and Councillor Arundel On Thursday 22 June 1944, an American B24 Consolidated Liberator of the USSAF 489 Bomber Group - nicknamed ‘Johnny Reb’ - crashed upon its return to the UK, following severe battle damage to the plane during its mission to bomb the airfield at St-Cyr, SW of Paris. I plan to tell the story of the plane, the men, the mission, the crash, the research and the project to find its two missing in action (MIA’s) and repatriate them to them to the USA. |
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13 April
2024 |
WAS Drawing Day School 3: Artefact Drawing
Presented by Bob Turner This session will cover the recording and illustration of pottery, metal, wood, glass, stone, flint, leather, textiles and bone. Illustration recording is drawing ‘what you see’, so you do not need to be an artistic person to enjoy this discipline. These illustrations will form part of the final site report. Full Day, Worthing Museum |
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12 March
2024 |
Lecture: The EPIC Project at Sompting Brooks
Presented by Connie Shirley and Robert Turner |
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2 March
2024 |
WAS Study Day: Photography in Archaeology
Presented by Lisa Fisher Full Day, Worthing Museum |
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24 February
2024 |
WAS Drawing Day School 2: Post-Excavation Plans and Sections
Presented by Bob Turner This session will take the on-site plans and section drawings created in Session 1 to a stage where they can be included in the final site report. This will include inking-in and the production of notes. |
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13 February 2024
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John Pull Memorial Lecture: Investigating Knepp Castle: geophysical surveys at a ‘slighted’ site
Presented by Dr Richard Nevell Honorary Research Fellow University of Exeter Department of Archaeology All that survives of the medieval Knepp Castle is the west wall of the keep. The rest has been lost to time and road 18th-century building. Founded by the Braose family, it was confiscated by King John who used it as a hunting lodge and stayed there several times. In 1215 and 1216, when he was at war with the barons, John twice ordered the destruction of Knepp Castle. Recent geophysical work at the castle has aimed to find out more about its layout, establish whether there are archaeological remains, and find out whether John’s orders to destroy the castle were followed. The fieldwork took place in 2021 and 2022 and suggests there is more to Knepp than meets the eye. |
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13 January 2024
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Study Day: Medieval Towns of Sussex
Presented by Simon Stevens |
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9 January 2024
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Lecture: Recent Discoveries at the Bridge Farm Roman Settlement
Presented by David Millum and Rob Wallace David Millum, co-director with Rob Wallace of the Culver Archaeological Project, gave a summary of the recent excavations of the Romano–British settlement at Bridge Farm, near Barcombe Mills. Whilst the main theme of the talk was the features and artefacts found in Trench 7 during 2018-23, they also included a brief background to the site as well as their current thoughts about how this 1st to 4th century settlement evolved and how it fitted into the wider Roman landscape of south-east Britain. Anyone who missed their previous talk to WAS in 2018 and who would like to catch up on the features and finds revealed in the six previous trenches excavated between 2013-18 will find earlier PowerPoint presentations and written summaries on the project's website: www.culverproject.co.uk |
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18 December 2023
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WAS Members Open Day at The Education Room, Worthing Museum
10:30-16:00 hrs We would like to invite all WAS members to pop in to the Education Room at Worthing Museum at any time between 10.30 am and 4.00 pm on Saturday 18th November for tea/coffee and cake. There will be displays of some of our finds from the last couple of busy years of excavations and field walks. Join in cleaning and processing our latest finds with the Finds Team. Discuss plans for 2024 and beyond – Field work and potential Digs, Finds sessions, Lectures, Study days, Walks, Visits and so much more. |
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12 December 2023
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Lecture: Old Atherington and the Washed-Away Coastal Villages of West Sussex
Presented by John Mills, Archaeologist and President of Worthing Archaeological Society This talk looks at what we know of the historical towns, villages and hamlets of West Sussex that once existed near the sea shore, but have moved inland or disappeared entirely through the encroachments of the sea. In its second half, Worthing Archaeological Society's fieldwork in recent years on Climping Beach will be reviewed, concentrating on the surviving remains of Old Atherington village and the use that may be made of historical mapping to understand historical features that still survive. |
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14 November 2023
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Con Ainsworth Memorial Lecture: Cerne Abbas – Playing with Giant Ideas
Presented by Dr Mike Allen, Environmental Archaeologist The Cerne Abbas Giant, aka the rude man of Dorset, proudly stands astride the chalk hill, Iron Age encampment above him and chalk downland in front of him. He is one of a number of chalk figures in southern England, only a few of which depict human figures such as our own Long Man of Wilmington. To mark a century of the National Trust ownership, their archaeologist Martin Papworth, decided to undertake limited investigation of the Schedule Monument to try and find out, once and for all, how old he was. He enlisted the help of an archaeological scientist and geoarchaeologist ... and this lecture tells the story of those investigations, the date of the Giant, why he disappeared, and perhaps why he was cut in the first place. Some of which was elucidated by geoarchaeology and snails! |
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10 October 2023
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Lecture: Early European Jewellery: from the Palaeolithic to the end of the Roman periods
Presented by Dr Judie English From the Neanderthals onwards people have used objects to adorn themselves, often this jewellery is of sufficient importance to be buried as grave goods to travel with them into the afterlife. Precious, rare and beautiful materials, symbols of power, were used and skilled labour employed to provide objects for people of high status, but the urge to wear jewellery extends throughout society. This talk will look at jewellery in Europe from the Palaeolithic to the end of the Roman periods. |
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16 September
2023 |
WAS Drawing Day School 1: On-Site Plan and Section Drawing - Presented by Bob Turner
This session covered the methods and standards used to record on-site. The session then went outside to put our new found knowledge into practice recording a plan and section with a pencil on Permatrace. |
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10-28 July
2023 |
WAS Malthouse Dig Sompting
WAS members only. Continuing the exploration of the Malthouse Field in Sompting. |
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24 June
2023 |
WAS Site Visit to Culver Archaeology Project at Bridge Farm
Bridge Farm, Barcombe Mills, Near Lewes, East Sussex, United Kingdom David Millum, Research Archaeologist from the University of Sussex has given us permission to visit the Culver Archaeological Project at Bridge Farm just north of Lewes. |
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3 July
2023 |
WAS Day School 'An Introduction to Field Archaeology', presented by Gill Turner and Keith Bolton
At Worthing Museum Education Room Content: Introduction, Site Identification, Project Scope, Planning and Preparation, Background Research, Types of Fieldwork, Onsite, Post Excavation, Publication References and Reading List |
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30 May
2023 |
WAS Tour of Priory Park
James Kenny, Chichester County Council’s Archaeologist will provide someone to give us a special talk. It is also The Novum Museum’s Roman re-enactment day, so there’ll be other events in the park that might be worth a view. |
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13 May
2023 |
WAS Day School : Prehistoric Pottery
Barbara McNee Education Room, Worthing Museum 10.00 am – 4.00 pm Pottery is one of the most ubiquitous cultural materials recovered in archaeology. It is key to understanding the chronology and interpretation of burial and settlement sites, and offers much information about technology and society. This Study Day will allow us the opportunity to handle and discuss a wide range of prehistoric pots, talk about their general manufacture, fabric etc. and go through the various stages involved in recording and illustration. By the end of the day we will have an understanding of :
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11 April
2023 |
Lecture: Recording our Past
Jane Clark, Finds Liaison Officer – Sussex PAS Recording our Past Recent finds from the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Sussex. |
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14 March
2023 |
Lecture: Women in Archaeology
Amie Friend, Member of the WAS Field Team and founder of Time Seekers - History and Archaeology Education for Schools and Museums Hilda Petrie and many others. |
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14 February
2023 |
John Pull Memorial Lecture: Holding out for a Nero: new work on the Roman imperial sculptures of Sussex
Dr Miles Russell |
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10 January
2023 |
Lecture: Longitude
Robert Turner How we learned to navigate and the losses that happened at sea. |
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13 December
2022 |
Lecture: National Trust South Downs: Past & Future
James Brown, National Trust Archaeologist London & South East RegionThe ‘Cissbury Goes Digital’ project, also the ‘Changing Chalk’ partnership: Changing Chalk will focus on Historic England’s aerial Investigation and mapping work progress and next steps, as well as Monument Mentors that we are working on with South Downs National Park Authority and Historic England. An update with some detail on preliminary results and ways to get more involved. |
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19 November
2022 |
Con Ainsworth Memorial Lecture: The Stiances Archaeological Project
Simon Stevens BA (Hons) MCIfA, Senior Archaeologist, Archaeology South-East (a division of University College London Centre for Applied Archaeology) The Stiances Archaeological Project was set up in 2010 and offers primary school children from the village of Newick in East Sussex an opportunity to take part in an archaeological dig close to home. Documentary and cartographic evidence had shown the presence of a former farm complex at the site, but enthusiastic test-pit digging by the kids and their helpers has revealed not only medieval and post-medieval material, but evidence of activity dating back as far as the Mesolithic. |
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8 November
2022 |
Day School: Aspects of Roman Sussex
David Rudling This day school will explore aspects of life in Sussex during the Roman period (AD 43-410). We will examine: historical sources, the ‘Conquest’ of Claudius, the client kingdom of Togidubnus, the Flavian Palace at Fishbourne, the tribal civitas capital at Chichester, other nucleated settlements, villas, peasant farmsteads, field systems and farming, roads, industry, religion and burial practices. These topics will be considered from the perspectives of both the Romans and the native population. |
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11 October
2022 |
Lecture: Binsted Tile Kilns
Keith Bolton, Chairman and Field Unit Director, Worthing Archaeological Society In 2001, WAS excavated 'Green Field', Church Farm, Binsted and a structure was identified. Excavations in 2005 revealed the lower portion of a tile kiln. Surface pottery and a pot found within the kiln, was of Binsted manufacture indicating dates of operation from AD1250 to 1550. |
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7 May
2022 |
Study Day: The Binstead Medieval Pottery
Dr Ben Jervis, Reader in Archaeology at Cardiff University Education Room at Worthing Museum The Binsted pottery, a nationally important assemblage of medieval pottery, was excavated by WAS from the kiln sites at Binsted during the 1960s and again in 2006-7. The finds were stored in Worthing Museum. During the summers of 2018/9 members of WAS were involved recording the assemblage for analysis at Cardiff University led by Dr Ben Jervis. |
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12 April
2022 |
Lecture: Reconstructing the Anglo-Saxon and early Medieval Landscape using Place-names and maps
Judie English |
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8 March
2022 |
WAS AGM
Lecture: Romano-British Settlements Near Gumber Farm, Slindon Keith Bolton, Chair of WAS and Field Unit Director The results from the recent excavations at a Romano-British site and an interpretation of the site and its place in the landscape. |
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8 February
2022 |
The John Pull Memorial Lecture
Lecture: The next 100 years of archaeology in Sussex and challenges we are all going to face Dr Matt Pope, Archaeologist and Principal Research Fellow of UCL Institute of Archaeology “The challenges we are all going to face and how important citizen archaeology through active organisations like WAS can be in meeting those challenges” |
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11 January
2022 |
*** Online Lecture ***
Lecture: Old and New Discoveries on the Burpham Downs James Sainsbury, Archaeologist and Historian - Curator of Archaeology at Worthing Museum “The investigations I've been conducting with my group north of the village - as well as a look at older sites and finds from that area. The main focus will be on the Romano- British period.” |
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14 December
2021 |
*** Online Lecture ***
Lecture: Angmering St Nicholas Excavations re-visited Amie Friend, Member of WAS Field Team and founder of Time Seekers - History and Archaeology Education for Schools and Museums |
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13 November
2021 |
Study Day Seminar: English Coins and Tokens 600-1600 AD
David Rudling Education Room at Worthing Museum, half day, 9:30am-12:30pm David will talk about the development of coinage from Saxon to early post-medieval times, their design and purpose as propaganda tools as well as instruments of trade, and also the issue of private tokens and jetsons. The coins and tokens found during the WAS excavation at the Malthouse Field, Sompting, will also be inspected. |
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9 November
2021 |
The Con Ainsworth Memorial Lecture: Excavation and research in the
Goodwood Area, from the Lower Palaeolithic to Post-Medieval: an update Mark Roberts, Archaeologist. Tutor for Fieldwork and Principle Research Fellow of UCL Institute of Archaeology, Honorary Fellow of West Dean College. “I would be both delighted and honoured to give the Con Ainsworth Memorial Lecture. I don't know if you are aware of this but it was Con who started me off in archaeology whilst I was a sixth form student. I was his gardener in Goring and it was he who convinced me to start and stay in archaeology rather than pursuing a career in the armed forces. He and Ena often invited me and my team over to theirs for supper when we were working at Boxgrove during the long winters in the early part of the project; I cannot tell you how much we looked forward to these trips out.” |
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12 October
2021 |
*** Online Lecture ***
Lecture: The Sompting EPIC Project - Landscape and People Connie Shirley & Bob Turner, Members of WAS Field and Finds Team In 2020, WAS were invited by OART to fieldwalk and then excavate on the EPIC site in Sompting. The EPIC project included farmland being converted to a country park and a new course established for the stream running through the area. The struck flints recovered give a clue to the landscape and how it was used in prehistory. |
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13
April 2021 |
*** Online Lecture ***
Lecture: The Material Culture of Medieval Rural Households Ben Jervis University of Cardiff This talk gave an overview of the findings of the recently completed project 'Living Standards and Material Culture in English Rural Households, 1300-1600', which combined historical and archaeological data to investigate the possessions of non-elite households in this period. The talk revealed the diversity of objects acquired by rural households, including cooking equipment, tableware, bedding and furniture, and explored some of the factors which influenced the consumption habits of medieval households. |
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9
March 2021 |
*** Online Lecture ***
Lecture: Threats to Our Heritage: defending our heritage, past, present and future Daryl Holter Sussex Heritage Community Some take our past heritage for granted; some forget it is amongst our present. We walk on it, drive through it and fly over it. To many I have met it brings belief, understanding, feeling, depth, culture and emotion. A sense of community, ownership, tradition and belonging. It is tangible, it has mystery, it is constant and priceless. When it falls victim to abuse it is all our moral responsibility to protect our past. It is our future generations that should have opportunity to rediscover experience and interpret the old and the new. We are but a custodian of a rich heritage that tells of our journey. Together describes the action needed to preserve our past. Together bonds us as a community, a group or a family. Communities are what hold us together, they watch over our heritage. |
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9
February 2021 |
*** Online Lecture ***
Lecture: The SOE in WW2 and Nancy Wake Amie Friend Archaeologist and Teacher Following the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk in 1940, England and the new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, were facing a desperate struggle for freedom. In the light of the ever-growing threat from Nazi Germany, Churchill formed and tasked a new organisation with an extraordinary mission: To set Europe ablaze. In this lecture we follow the story of one of this shadowy organisations most enigmatic and enthusiastic members. This is the incredible story of Nancy Wake. |
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12
January 2021 |
*** Online Lecture ***
Lecture: Researching the life of a bridge: Old Swan Bridge and the Arun river crossing at Pulborough, ancient and modern John Mills Archaeologist WSCC and President of Worthing Archaeological Society How do you research the history and changing life of an ordinary small local road bridge? This talk uses archaeology, topography, geology, transport and local history to study the archaeology and history of Old Swan Bridge at Pulborough, built in the 1780s. Previous bridges and river crossings on its site, from Roman Stane Street onwards, the bridge builders and rebuilders, flood and bridge authorities, and the villagers of Pulborough all come into the picture. |
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December 2020 10
November 2020 13
October 2020 16
September 2020 |
*** Online Lecture ***
Lecture: Emergence of People into the Americas Robert Turner, Archaeologist and Astronomer This is a view of the archaeology of North America and how the influx of Europeans in 1460 changed a stone age culture. Before Columbus there was no written history so the picture of North America is a mixture of racial memory and the remains the early peoples left behind. Members can view the lecture live on the WAS Facebook Group page at 7:30 pm on Tuesday 8th December and a recording will be available there subsequently. *** Online Lecture ***
Lecture: Primitive Currencies and the Origins of Coinage Dr David Rudling, Academic Director of the Sussex School of Archaeology This talk began with a global review of various types of 'primitive'/tribal currencies, such as cowrie shells in ancient China, the stone money of Yap Island, the kina shells of New Guinea, the iron kissi pennies of West Africa, and wampum beads of native North Americans. We then turned to the independent origins of coinage in China, India and Asia Minor, and the adoption of coinage in Europe. Members can view the lecture live on the WAS Facebook Group page at 7:30 pm on Tuesday 10th November and a recording will be available there subsequently. *** Online Lecture ***
The Con Ainsworth Memorial Lecture: The Edburton Excavations James Sainsbury The second of our online lectures. James will talk about the ongoing excavations at Edburton. Members can view the lecture live on the WAS Facebook Group page at 7:30 pm on Tuesday 13th October and a recording will be available there subsequently. *** Online Lecture ***
Understanding the Sompting Landscape Through Historic Maps Connie Shirley The first of our online lectures, and something of a trial-run. Connie will give a short presentation on changes to the landscape of the EPIC Project dig at Sompting Brooks as recorded in historical maps of the area. Members can view the lecture live on the WAS Facebook Group page at 7:30 pm on Wednesday 16th September and a recording will be available there subsequently. |
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March 2020 10
March 2020 11
February 2020 22
January 2020 14
January 2020 23
November 2019 12
November 2019 08
October 2019 8
June 2019 1-15
June 2019 4
May 2019 9
April 2019 12
March 2019 12
February 2019 |
Half Day School: Boxgrove and the Palaeolithic of the Sussex raised beaches with Matt Pope, Senior Reseach Fellow of the Institute of Archaeology at UCL
Matt specialises in prehistory, particularly the use and transportation of artefacts by early humans, the role of bifacial technology in lower Palaeolithic hunting strategies and social organisation and the geological context of middle Pleistocene human occupation on southern Britain. Lecture: Recovering (from) the past: Archaeology and Operation Nightingale, Richard Osgood, Senior Archaeologist, Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Operation Nightingale started in 2011 with the aim of assisting the recovery of military personnel post operational-tours using archaeology. Since then it has worked on sites as varies as Saxon cemeteries in Wiltshire to crashed fighter planes in Sussex. This talk will draw together many of the fieldwork results, and discuss the outcomes for volunteers and heritage. AGM at 7.00pm followed by Lecture 7.30pm The John Pull Memorial Lecture: An Archaeological Childhood in Sussex, Dr Janet Pennington
Janet grew up in the post-World War II years looking at the ground – daughter of Sussex archaeologists Eric and Hilda Holden. Most of her early memories are of Sussex history, field-walking with her parents and observing, later taking part in, archaeological excavations all over Sussex. This talk takes us back to a more peaceful time with little traffic, no health and safety, and when every outing seemed to be tinged with excitement and mystery. Lecture: Recent Excavation at Blacksmiths Corner, Paul Mason
Paul Mason, from A.S.E., will talk about their recent Excavation in the fields North-West of ‘our’ Walberton Villa at Blacksmiths Corner. Lecture: Fishbourne Roman Wildlife Park: new questions from old bones, Professor Naomi Sykes
Over the last 20 years Fishbourne’ s animal remains have been subject to large-scale reinvestigation through a series of projects funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. This talk by Professor Naomi Sykes will present the results of this work, highlighting their importance for our understanding of the past but also their significance for modern international animal conservation policy. The Archaeology of Death and Commemoration - from Neolithic tombs to Commonwealth war grave cemeteries, attitudes to the deceased can be literally set in stone - Simon Stevens
Lecture: The Portable Antiquities Scheme, Carolina Rangel de Lima, Finds Liaison Officer - Sussex
The PAS promotes best practice by finders, landowners, archaeologists and museums in the discovery, recording and conservation of finds made by the public. Carolina is the Finds Liaison Officer for Sussex and will talk about some of the recent finds recorded in our area. She may also bring along a selection of artefacts for handling at the end of the session. The Con Ainsworth Memorial Lecture: The Malthouse Fields at Sompting–Investigation of Building Remains, Connie Shirley
Worthing Archaeological Society have investigated the building remains in Sompting Paddocks which may be part of a malthouse and farm complex known to be on this site in the 17th Century. Excavations have taken place over three years and a chalk-lined well and further flint walls have been found. Finds recovered include pre-historic flints and pottery from the late Neolithic to the present day. We present a review of the site in the landscape and findings to date. A Day School on Food and Feasting with Judie English
The day was held at the idyllic Downs Barn, Sompting between 10am and 4pm. We will look at food and feasting from the days of Homo Neanderthalensis to the Late Medieval/ Early Tudor period and will consider the relationships between food and social culture. ‘Feasting’ usually involves food provided in surplus and consumed wastefully. The giver both proves his wealth and status by accessing exotic ingredients and having them made into dishes which show that he has good taste and employs the best chefs, and creates a debt owed by his guests. Having demonstrated his superiority those guests either have to reciprocate in kind (or even better him) or accept public humiliation. Feasts are often part of socially important events – marriage treaties for example.' 
Sompting Malthouse Field Dig
WAS Field Unit will be returning to the Malthouse Field in Sompting. 
Late Iron Age and Roman Period Pottery Day Course with Gordon Hayden , Roman Pottery Specialist
The course will concentrate on the identification, production and use of pottery found in West Sussex, from the last decades of the Late Iron Age and throughout the Roman period (c. 10BC until AD410). Using presentations and handling, the most common types of pottery will be studied with the aim of differentiating between local, regional and imported pottery. To be held in The Education Room at Worthing Museum, 10 am to 4 pm. Medieval Building Stones in Parish Churches of the Worthing Area - Roger Cordiner and Anthony Brook
Indigenous and imported building stones have been recorded in 316 Medieval churches in Sussex, including Chichester Cathedral and a number of ruined churches where building stone is still visible. This lecture concentrates on the building stones of 55 Medieval Parish churches in the Worthing area, covering 4, 10km grid squares, which includes the area between the Rivers Arun and Adur from the coast to the southern margin of the Low Weald. 
AGM at 7.00pm followed by Lecture at 7.30pm
The Clandon Park Project - Tom Dommett This talk will consider the challenges of archaeological salvage, restoration and the rebuilding of The National Trust property Clandon House in Surrey after the devastating fire of 2015. Tom is the Regional Archaeologist for the National Trust and archaeological adviser for the project, which has been using a combination of excavation and advanced survey techniques to document the structure and learn more about its history and development with a view to future restoration. BHAS investigations of medieval remains in Hog Croft, Ovingdean - John Skelton
Hog Croft is a pasture adjacent to the medieval Church of St Wulfran, Ovingdean. BHAS have conducted investigations in this field since the 1990s and these culminated in a four year dig from 2014 to 2017. The field is rich in archaeology and has long been thought to be the site of a Norman manorial complex. The recent excavations revealed evidence of an earlier Saxon community. As well as large amounts of pottery and bone the site has also given up some intriguing objects of special significance. The John Pull Memorial Lecture |
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January 2019 |
The Roman Army in Sussex - Edwin Wood
The impact of the invasion and the lasting imprint of the military community throughout the Roman period. |
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January 2019 11
December 2018 13
November 2018 28
October 2018 |
WAS New Year Walk
A 1.5mile walk, guided by the Worthing Heritage Tarring Trail leaflet. To finish up at a hostelry in High St., Tarring. The Construction of a Neolithic World on Orkney - Jane Russell
There are almost seventy islands in the Orkney archipelago, mostly formed by rocks of the Middle Old Red Sandstone. This stone splits easily along clear bedding planes and presents little difficulty in quarrying, and has been used for building purposes for the last six thousand years on the islands, and helped in the preservation the archaeology. The talk will discuss monuments of the Neolithic period, looking at the development of the various chambered tombs, domestic settlements, and the ceremonial heartland of Orkney, including excavations at the Ness of Brodgar. Sussex Flint Mines and the early Neolithic Whitehawk Causewayed Enclosure in Brighton - Jon Sygrave
Jon Sygrave is the Project Manager of Archaeology South-East (Centre for Applied Archaeology of the Institute of Archaeology at University College London). The Flint Mines in Sussex are the earliest in Britain with many of them situated within easy reach of Worthing. Jon has recently led the reassessment of the early Neolithic Whitehawk Causewayed enclosure which he will discuss along with the mines and other aspects of the Sussex Neolithic. Worthing Archaeological Society 'Brenda' Memorial Walk
History of the Steyning Rifle Range with historian Justin Russell Short walk up Mouse Lane to the historic Rifle Range site. The track is rough and the ground is uneven - so suitable footwear is necessary. |
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9
October 2018 |
Saved by the Sea - Amie Friend
How waterlogged preservation in archaeology develops our understanding of life and society in the past. For example, the thousands of perishable artefacts that were preserved and recovered from the waterlogged location of the Mary Rose are of immeasurable value as a Tudor-era time capsule. The Con Ainsworth Memorial Lecture Download the poster. |
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September 2018 |
An Introduction to timber-framed buildings of the Weald, their development and dating for beginners - Jeremy Clarke of The Wealden Buildings Study Group
This day-school covered terminology, the development and construction of timber-framed buildings, the basics of building recording, how to approach dating a building along with a set of useful resources. The day ended with a group practical session using site photographs and plans to try out the knowledge gained during the day and demonstrate how a building can be interpreted. |
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June 2018 14
Apr |
Planning and section drawing training with Bob Turner at the Malthouse dig, Sompting
This was a special training day led by Bob Turner on site at our Malthouse dig. The training was divided into two sections, running concurrently: one for complete beginners and the other, for those who have already done some planning and section drawing to improve their skills. Bob gave instructions on both planning and section drawing making use of the dig’s open trenches, the very best place to learn. This was an ideal opportunity for both beginners and those with some knowledge to learn in a real archaeological environment. Study Day: West Sussex landscapes and geology for the Archaeologist - Matt Pope
Dr Matt Pope is Principal Research Associate and Senior Teaching Fellow in Palaeolithic Archaeology at U.C.L. This is a Minibus Day Tour. |
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10
Apr |
Lecture: The Science of a Middle Bronze Age Hord - Dr Jaime Kaminski
In March 2011 a spectacular Middle Bronze Age hoard was discovered by a metal detectorist on land belonging to the Glynde Estate ‘Near Lewes’, East Sussex. Comprising nearly eighty artefacts and artefact fragments the hoard has recently been subject to scientific analysis. This presentation will consider what the analyses tell us about the production of the artefacts in the hoard and the implications for Bronze Age craft production |
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13
Mar |
AGM followed by Lecture: Source to Sea - the River Adur - Dr Geoff Mead
‘Adur: Source to Sea’ takes a visual journey from the sources of the river in central Sussex, through the broad plains of the Wealden clays and sands before heading south through the Downs and on to the Coastal Plain of West Sussex, ending its journey at the current river mouth. This talk looks at the geology, geography and history of this small but fascinating watercourse. |
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3
Mar 17-25
Feb 13
Feb 9
Jan 12
Dec 25
NOV 14
NOV 15
OCT |
Study day: Ice Age in Europe - Matt Pope
Dr Matt Pope FSA MCIfA, Principal Research Associate and Senior Teaching Fellow in Palaeolithic Archaeology at U.C.L. The record of human occupation in Europe now extends well beyond a million years and involves multiple species of humans in apparently successive waves of colonisation, from the Near East, Africa and Asia. Europe has always presented challenges to early humans, forested in warm periods and intensely cold and seasonal in the cold ‘glacial stages’ it required adaptation by species initially more suited to open and lightly forested tropical grasslands. In this day course we’ll cover the archaeological record of successive human species: Homo antecessor, Home heidelbergensis, Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens. We’ll explore the evidence for changes in behaviour including hunting, use of fire, processing organic materials and consider how the British record differs from that of other continental regions. The course will familiarise you with basic concept about climate and environmental change, stone age technology and latest theories surrounding human evolution. Fieldwalk: Fittleworth
WAS members have the opportunity to take part in a joint fieldwalk near Fittleworth, West Sussex with Chichester & District AS. The field has so far produced a number of good quality Mesolithic and Neolithic flintwork.This is scheduled to start on Saturday, 17thFebruary and continue through to Sunday, 25th February, which is likely to be a much greater window than needed. With a good number of walkers and reasonable weather it should be completed in a few days but it does mean that days can be cancelled if the weather is dire. Lecture: Bridge Farm 2011 to 2017 - Rob Wallace and David Millum
Worthing Library Lecture Theatre 7:30-9pm Rob Wallace and David Millum, the directors of the Culver Archaeological Project, will give a summary of their excavations of the Romano–British settlement at Bridge Farm, near Barcombe Mills, discovered in 2011 during a geophysical survey for Margary’s London-Lewes road. They will include a brief background to CAP as well and some initial thoughts about how this 1st to 4th century settlement fits into the wider context of south-east Britain in the Roman period and why it qualified for earthwork defences during the late 2nd century. The talk will cover the first 7 years of what looks destined to be a very long and regionally important investigation. John Pull Lecture Lecture: The First Brexit How Britain became an island and its effect on Neanderthals, Mesolithic and Neolithic Man - Robert Turner
Over the past 460,000 years Britain has been separated from Europe several times with the final split in 6,200 BC when the disaster of Dogger Land had a great effect into the Mesolithic peoples of that time. Recent discoveries by Imperial College London, operating from Littlehampton, have now been able to draw a picture of "what leaving Europe" meant in times past. Lecture: The life of a common soldier in the English Civil War - Nigel Rumble
The clothes, weapons and accoutrements used by a soldier in England in the 1640's in his daily life. I will also briefly cover the make up of the armies and talk a very small amount about battle tactics. The talk will be illustrated with (mostly) reproduction clothing and equipment and explanations of their use; there will be an opportunity at the end to examine these items more closely. Half day school: Place-names and Archaeology in Sussex - Judie English
Judie will discuss Place-names in the Landscape and how they were derived. Coffee and tea will be provided during a short mid morning break. Lecture: Evidence for Saxons in post-Roman Sussex - James Sainsbury
Worthing Library Lecture TheatreArchaeology is the key driver in uncovering evidence for Germanic settlement in Sussex during the decline of the Western Roman Empire. The historical documents are few and unreliable, though arguably should not be dismissed outright. This talk will look at some key 5th and 6th century Saxon burial and settlement sites in the county, along with documents, chance finds and new genetic research in an attempt to piece together the birth of the kingdom of Sussex. James will be bringing some finds from the Highdown Cemetery for handling after his talk. Walk: around historic Littlehampton with Cheryl Hutchins
A 1.5 hour easy walk around historic Littlehampton. |
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10
OCT 30
SEP |
Lecture: Iron Age Memory vs. Roman Metaphor; re-reading the archaeology of a Client Kingdom - Gordon Hayden
What was the immediate impact of the Roman Conquest in Hampshire and West Sussex? The lecture will highlight some continuation of Iron Age traditions and how they interplayed with incoming ideas and practices. It will also propose an alternative hypothesis as to why Fishbourne Palace was built. Study day: led by David McOmish: " Making Sense of Monuments: Landscape Archaeology of Sussex: The Bronze Age"
David McOmish, a Senior Archaeological Investigator with English Heritage and a leading British Prehistorian, has, among numerous other achievements, made several large scale landscape studies of the South Downs. Some of you may remember last year he gave us a wonderful study day which took us up to the end of the Neolithic. This day is likely to prove just as popular. |
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5-17
AUG |
Summer Dig: Rough Copse
Our Summer dig will be from Saturday August 5th to Thursday August 17th inclusive. This time we are going to look at an area in Rough Copse, West of Goblestubbs which showed up on the Lidar. Setting up/Surveying will take place on August 3rd & 4th, and Recording/Planning/closing the site on August 16th and 17th. |
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17
JUN 14
MAY 11
APR |
Day School: Flint Knapping with Bob Turner
This will be held in the beautiful venue of Downs Barn, Sompting. Bob will tell us about the uses of flint tools in prehistory and demonstrate how to make them, followed by practical sessions where we can try to make our own. WAS Walk: To commemorate Con Ainsworth on what would have been his hundredth birthday
The George, Burpham. Lecture: Two Ancient Cities: Archaeology at Butrint and Gjirokastra in Albania - Oliver Gilkes
Worthing Library Lecture Theatre. |
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18-26
MAR |
Excavation by WAS
Slindon Field 20 |
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14
MAR 11
MAR 14
FEB 2 JAN
13 DEC
26
NOV 22
NOV |
WAS AGM 19:00 followed by:
Lecture: Why Stonehenge is Where it is - Mike Allen Worthing Library Lecture Theatre WAS Study Day: The Archaeology of the Roman Military
Led by Edwin Wood, Sussex Finds Liaison Officer Education Room, Worthing Museum Lecture: A Look Back at WAS Field Activities - Keith Bolton
Worthing Library Lecture Theatre New Years' walk and pub lunch - High Salvington to the Gun Inn, Findon.
Lecture: What does land organisation tell us about social change in late prehistoric Sussex? - Judie English
Worthing Library Lecture Theatre Lecture: Bronze Age Worthing - Barrows, Beakers and Hoards
Worthing museum Medieval pottery day with Duncan Brown
Education room, Worthing museum |