Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group (SWAAG)

Fourteen of us plus Tony Liddell, our supervising archaeologist, spent an enjoyable day working on the main trench. The weather forecast for the day was poor but in fact we had good spells of warm sunshine, so much so, that despite using factor 50 I seem to have sunburn (or maybe windburn?).

We made excellent progress, taking much of the trench down by 15-20cm through the topsoil (context 1) and into a lighter, sandier, gravelly context 2 in places. A number of finds were recorded including two pieces of what might be daub, flint, clinker, charcoal and a fragment of pot but no conclusive dating evidence.

The attached photo shows the trench at the end of the day with a large amount of stone exposed. Is this from a stone wall of the sub-circular feature identified by geophysics, possibly a roundhouse? We should learn more as the dig progresses – weather permitting.

Thanks very much to those who came out today.

We look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow, Tuesday 9th June, 9:15am for a 9:30pm start.

Alan

The report on the talk ‘Romans in Swaledale (?)’ by Alan Mills, has now been added to the website. See May talks.

Twelve intrepid diggers began the dig on a cold, damp and blustery day. We made tremendous progress, possibly because it was not a day to stand around talking but rather get the job over and done with and be off home!

With the help of Mark Rutter’s GPS ‘gizmo’ the trench and the test pit were set out, with cm accuracy we are told, while most of us were busy erecting the tent. Everything went very well so we began de-turfing after a tea break. The original plan was to de-turf around 3 metres at each end of the 9-metre trench but things went so well due to the sterling efforts of all, that we completed the de-turfing of both the trench and the test pit shortly after 2pm.

The trench was laid out to go over what geophys suggests is the wall of the sub-circular feature ( a roundhouse?) and lo and behold de-turfing exposed what might be that wall; see photo. Tempting as it was to begin exploring this, it will have to wait until Monday when Tony Liddell is on site.

Therefore, work tomorrow (Sunday) is CANCELLED. Today’s diggers can have a welcome rest.

Thanks very much to those who came out today.

We look forward to seeing most of you on Monday, 9:15am for a 9:30pm start.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Alan

ps we had a slight panic when we realised we had no trowels. We had mistakenly left them in store but Anne popped up to Doe Park, found them behind some other ‘stuff’ and will bring them on Monday.

The report on the talk ‘Blanchland Abbey’ by Doctor Rob Young’, has now been added to the website. See April talks.

The report on the talk ‘At the edges of prehistoric domains: the evolution of ‘thin’ and ‘niggardly’ Domesday Fremington and bountiful Domesday Marrick, by Perry Gardner’, has now been added to the website. See March talks.

Due to planned road closure between Reeth and Richmond commencing Mon 9th March for four days, the talk by Perry Gardner on Tuesday 10th March will now be via ZOOM only at 7:30pm. A ZOOM link will be sent to members a few days before the talk. See diary page for more details of the talk.

The report on the talk ‘The Battle of Towton, 1461, by Alex Walsh’, has now been added to the website. See February talks.

The report on the talk ‘Highlights of Peruvian Archaeology, by Jane Harrison, has now been added to the website.
See January talks.

Diary events for upcoming talks throughout 2026 have been added to the website.
For more information see the diary page

Our report on the September walk, led by Mike Woods, has just been added. The group investigated evidence of mining and possible Viking remains on Bellerby Moor.