Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP) (original) (raw)
Books by Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP)
The Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project undertook its first dig in the Norfo... more The Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project undertook its first dig in the Norfolk village in 1996. Every year since a team of volunteer archaeologists has camped in a field to continue exploring 5,000 years of history from the Stone Age to the First World War. Experts and amateurs work side by side to learn how our ancestors lived, work and died in a very ordinary piece of English countryside. This is the book of the story so far.
Pulled together by an editorial team but using contributions from the many hundred of archaeologists - amateur and professional - who have worked on the site, it provides a fascinating insight into one East Anglian settlement and tells a story which was probably repeated in other settlements across the region.
In August 2003, at Sedgeford in north-west Norfolk, archaeologists excavated a hoard of 39 gold c... more In August 2003, at Sedgeford in north-west Norfolk, archaeologists excavated a hoard of 39 gold coins, 20 of them mysteriously placed inside a cow bone. Who buried the hoard and why? Where did the coins come from and why were they never recovered?
The coin were Gallo-Belgic E type gold staters.
Interim Reports by Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP)
This is our first interim report to be written since the publication of the SHARP monograph-"Digg... more This is our first interim report to be written since the publication of the SHARP monograph-"Digging Sedgeford-A Peoples' Archaeology" in 2014 (ISBN 9781909796089 Poppyland Publishing). That is not to say that SHARP has been inactive during the last four years. On the contrary there has been considerable activity and progress. Jon Cousins completed his work on the settlement site in Chalkpit Field at the end of the 2016 season, leaving a significant un-excavated area to be revisited at a later date when further advances in our understanding of the site as a whole suggest that further evidence-particularly environmental samplingmay be needed. An interim report on the settlement site (written by Gary Rossin and Melanie van Twest) has appeared in the 2018 edition of Norfolk Archaeology. Gary Rossin and Brian Fraser are continuing their researches into Sedgeford Aerodrome during the Great War. Gary has written a book-Sedgeford Aerodrome and the aerial conflict over north west Norfolk in the First World War (ISBN 978 1 90979642 3 Poppyland Publishing). During the 2018 season a memorial stone was dedicated to all in the RFC and RAF who had served there during the Great War. Eleanor Blakelock, when not carrying out metallurgical research on the Staffordshire Hoard, continues to run courses at SHARP on archaeometallurgy, smelting ores and casting metal. SHARP now possesses its own magnetometer, purchased in 2016. David Wood, Melinda Barham and Yvonne Bolton-Smith are all active in the field. Most of Chalkpit Field has now been covered as has 'Saggy Horse Field'. Further work is under way in West Hall Field, Hall Field, Polar and Shernborne Brecks. The results have been spectacular, and the work is ongoing , with a geophysics course being run during the 2019 season. The focus of excavation since 2017 has been in Trench 23, where a series of middle Anglo-Saxon malthouses dating to the 8th/9th centuries are under excavation. This is a first, as no other examples of malthouses from this period have ever been discovered. The Human Remains Team have been awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to study our large collection of disarticulated human bone. Their results will be an integral part of their pending monograph on Sedgeford's middle Anglo-Saxon cemetery. In addition to skeletal research, the Human Remains team are working with the Max Planck Institute on the DNA of some of our Anglo-Saxon dead, research which may well shine new light on the nature of the Anglo-Saxon migration into East Anglia and to what extent native British DNA mixed with that of the incomers. The Finds team remain active and work is about to start on re-evaluating ceramic finds in Boneyard and Chalkpit fields. A particular target is to look again at the grass-tempered ware, since some may, in the past, have been mis-identified as
Two almost complete articulated human burials were excavated from Chalk Pit Field North. The firs... more Two almost complete articulated human burials were excavated from Chalk Pit Field North. The first (S8001) was found in 2009 in the south-west corner of Trench 10. The second (S8002) was found a year later approximately 25m ENE of the first, near to the eastern baulk of Trench 12. Although they were buried only a short distance apart, radiocarbon dates showed that the second died about 2000 years after the first. Individual reports on these two skeletons constitute the first two main sections of this account. A few disarticulated human bones were also recovered from various trenches on the site in 2007 and 2009. These are discussed in the third section of this account. In 2010, a few more were found about a metre to the west of the first articulated skeleton (S8001). These have been shown conclusively to be from that skeleton and are covered in that section.
"04 CHALKPIT NORTH EXCAVATIONS, Trench 14 in the Anglo-Saxon Settlement ................. 06 ... more "04 CHALKPIT NORTH EXCAVATIONS, Trench 14 in the Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
06 THE ANIMALS OF SEDGEFORD, Animal Bones from Trench 14 Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
08 MORE NEWS FROM THE FINDS HUT, Small finds from Trench 14 Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
10 WHAT THE FLINT CAN TELL US, A Mesolithic Temporary hunting camp at Sedgeford .................
13 SHARP LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP
Work carried out by the Sedgeford LAGs .................
14 PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION .................
17 WELL COTTAGE REPORT BY JOHN HENSBY, Test Pitting and Recording of A Sedgeford Cottage .................
22 PHOSPHATE ANALYSIS IN CHALKPIT FIELD, Phosphate Analysis from Trench 14 Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
24 SEDGEFORD AERODROME PROJECT, Excavations of a First World War Aerodrome .................
27 S8001: THE FIRST CROUCHED BURIAL, A Late Neolithic/ Early Bronze Age crouch Burial .................
30 S8002: A SECOND CROUCHED BURIAL, An Iron Age Crouch Burial .................
33 ‘MA’ DREWERY OF SEDGEFORD, A History of a Sedgeford Resident in the First World War" .................
"05 2010 Chalk Pit North Excavations: Middle Saxon Gardens Trench 12 and 13 Anglo-Saxon Settlemen... more "05 2010 Chalk Pit North Excavations: Middle Saxon Gardens Trench 12 and 13 Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
08 Ironworking Industry at Sedgeford, Anglo-Saxon Metal working and Knife Blades in the Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
11 Are these the Remains of the Youngest Person to Have Been Buried in Boneyard?, Report from the Human Remains team Anglo-Saxon Cemetery .................
15 Aerodrome Project, Excavation of a First World War Aerodrome .................
17 Open Day, Report on the annual SHARP Open Day .................
20 News from the Finds Hut, Small finds from Trench 12 and 13 Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
23 Just a Load of Old Rubbish! ,Ritual or rubbish, problems for archaeologists .................
30 2010 Season Image Gallery " .................
Searching for the settlement:Chalk Pit field Anglo-Saxon Settlement excavation................. ... more Searching for the settlement:Chalk Pit field Anglo-Saxon Settlement excavation.................
Skeletons in the cupboard (and in the settlement)
Late Neolithic/ Early Bronze Age Crouched burial.................
A potted history of Anglo-Saxon Sedgeford, c. AD 450-1066.................
Two more medieval coins.................
Sedgeford sub-fossil molluscan faunas: current sampling strategies and the implications for future research.................
SHARP building area report Ango-Saxon Settlement.................
“I Can See Clearly Now the Rain has Gone”: Trench 11 Anglo-Saxon Settlement excavations.................
Archaeological impact of the Sedgeford dig: clues for a future generation.................
The bladder stone that wasn’t
Anglo-Saxom Cemetery.................
Open to the public.................
If you go down to the woods today... Sedgeford Aerodrome Project: report from the first fieldwork season".................
"Boneyard New Trench 2007 The final Year of excavation within the area of the Anglo-Saxon Cemeter... more "Boneyard New Trench 2007 The final Year of excavation within the area of the Anglo-Saxon Cemetery, with features of Anglo-Saxon, Romano-British and Iron Age .................
2007 Chalk Pit field north evaluations, Evaluations of the Anglo-Saxon Settlement Trenches 1-5 .................
Report of the 2008 excavations in Chalk Pit field, Open area trench and evaluations of the Anglo-Saxon Settlement , renches 6-9 .................
The little horse from Chalk Pit field, A report on an unusual small find found by metal detecting of a miniature cast copper alloy horse of possible Roman date .................
Annual report of work on human remains: 2007
Anglo-Saxon cemetery .................
Fracture of the first rib on Sedgeford skeletons' Detailed look at some of the skeletons from the Anglo-Saxon cemetery .................
Sedgeford dental attrition patterns, Detailed look at some of the skeletons from the Anglo-Saxon cemetery".................
Forword 3 ..................... SHARP and the Public in 2006 4 ..................... Resear... more Forword 3 .....................
SHARP and the Public in 2006 4 .....................
Research Strategies 4 .....................
Easter Season 5 .....................
Early Prehistory 7 .....................
The Roman Period 7 .....................
The Anglo-Saxons 12 .....................
Saxo-Norman Period 16 .....................
The Anglo-saxon Cemetery and the Human Remains Team 17 .....................
SHARP Post excavation reseach and courses 20 .....................
Where to go from here? 23 .....................
"SHARP in 2005 ................. Open Day ................. Courses ................. ... more "SHARP in 2005 .................
Open Day .................
Courses .................
The Research Strategeis .................
The Easter Season .................
Early Prehistory Page 9 .................
The Iron Age 10 .................
What Could it Mean 11 .................
The Ramano-British Period 12 .................
Concusions 13 .................
The Anglo-Saxons. 14 .................
The Cemetery 15 .................
What Next Then? 20" .................
SHARP in 2004 - Community Archaeology 4 .............. 2004 Research Priorities 8 ................ more SHARP in 2004 - Community Archaeology 4 ..............
2004 Research Priorities 8 ..............
Progress on the Iron Age 8 ..............
Progress on the Anglo-Saxons 12 ..............
Progress on the Medieval 22 ..............
Progress on the Romans 24 ..............
Progress on the Prehistoric 26 ..............
Archives 27 ..............
After the Gold rush - What next in 2005? 28
"Public Archaeology in 2003 ................. Research priorities and stategies in 2003 ........ more "Public Archaeology in 2003 .................
Research priorities and stategies in 2003 .................
Progress on the Anglo-Saxons (5th to mid11th centuries) .................
Progress on the Later medieval (mid 11th to 15th centuries) .................
Progress on the Post Medieval (15th untill now) .................
Progress on the Iron Age (Circa 8th century BC to the 1st century AD) .................
Progress on the Roman (mid 1st to early 5th century AD) .................
Progress on the Pre Iron Age (before 700BC0" .................
"The Easter Season 2002 ................. Easter season 2002:Magnetometer Survey Naomi Payne .... more "The Easter Season 2002 .................
Easter season 2002:Magnetometer Survey Naomi Payne .................
Boneyard environs: Defining the Anglo-Saxon settlement spread Rik Hoggett .................
Excavation reports ................. Boneyard: Old Trench Gareth Davies, Matthew Hobson and Susan Westlake .................
Boneyard: New Trench Neil Faulkner and Naomi Payne .................
The Reeddam II Evaluation Trench 2001 and 2002 Stuart Callow .................
Ladywell Field Archaeological Evaluation Andrea Cox .................
Specialist reports .................
Interim Report on Human Remains Patricia Reid .................
Archaeo-Environmental Sampling Liz Wilson .................
What about the pigs?Ray Thirkettle .................
The Geophysical Survey 2002 Pauline Fogarty .................
Evidence for Childbearing Steve Horn .................
Grave Alignment at Sedgeford Bill Wilcox .................
Other Activities.................
The Name Sedgeford Rik Hoggett and Sophie Cabot .................
WWWhat’s all the fuss about? Rik Hoggett .................
The Village Survey Project Sophie Cabot .................
Approaches to Anglo-Saxon Settlement: Sedgeford and Northwest Norfolk Gareth Davies .................
"""BONEYARD AND THE REEDDAM ................. BONEYARD: OLD TRENCH Ruth Panes and Tegwen Robe... more """BONEYARD AND THE REEDDAM .................
BONEYARD: OLD TRENCH Ruth Panes and Tegwen Roberts .................
REEDDAM: THE SAXON PHASE Gareth Davies, Graham Perry and Charlotte Burrill .................
REEDDAM: THE IRON AGE PHASE Katie Pack .................
PHASING BONEYARD Gareth Davies .................
DATING BONEYARD, The Pottery, Neil Faulkner .................
COMPARATIVE ASSEMBLAGES Ray Ludford .................
OSTEOLOGICAL RESEARCH .................
INTERIM REPORT ON HUMAN REMAINS Patricia Reid .................
PALAEODIETARY ANALYSIS Lorna Corr .................
ARCHAEO-ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH .................
ARCHAEO-ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING Liz Wilson .................
COUNTING SHEEP (AND OTHER ANIMALS) Ray Thirkettle .................
PLANT MACROFOSSILS AND OTHER REMAINS FROM 1998-2000 Val Fryer .................
WHAT DOES THE ARCHAEO-ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING TELL US? Liz Wilson .................
THE BONEYARD/REEDDAM ENVIRONS LOCAL GEOLOGY & THE REEDDAM II TRENCH Dominic Andrews & Stuart Calow .................
EXCAVATIONS IN CHALK PIT Marion McCabe .................
THE SITE SURVEY 2001 Naomi Payne .................
LATER MEDIEVAL SEDGEFORD .................
SMITHDON HUNDRED LOCAL HISTORY FORUM - REPORT 2000/1 Janet Hammond .................
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY OF ST. MARY’S CHURCHYARD Rik Hoggett and Jackie Heath .................
WHAT CAN WILLS TELL US ABOUT ST. MARY’S CHURCH? Pauline Fogarty .................
THE MANORS OF MEDIEVAL SEDGEFORD Pauline Fogarty .................
CONFERENCE PAPERSA CONTEXT FOR SAXON SEDGEFORD Sophie Cabot .................
EDUCATION AND ARCHAEOLOGY 2001 Sophie Cabot and Andrea Cox" .................""
"3. EDITOR’S FOREWORD Rik Hoggett ................. 4. BONEYARD AND REEDDAM Gareth J. Davie... more "3. EDITOR’S FOREWORD Rik Hoggett .................
4. BONEYARD AND REEDDAM Gareth J. Davies .................
8. ANGLO-SAXON SEDGEFORD: AN AGRICULTURAL PERSPECTIVE Ray Thirkettle .................
9. THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF ARCHAEOLOGY Dominic Andrews and Melanie Van Twest .................
12. WEST HALL PADDOCK Andrea Cox .................
14. WEST HALL HOUSE Pauline Fogarty .................
17. THE PAGAN SAXONS OF SEDGEFORD Sophie Cabot .................
19. THE BOWLING GREEN EVALUATION Naomi Payne .................
20. FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION FROM SKULLS Dominic Andrews .................
""The Fourth Interim Report Melanie Van Twest ................. Search for the Tithe Barn - Se... more ""The Fourth Interim Report Melanie Van Twest .................
Search for the Tithe Barn - Sedgeford 1999 Michael Medlar .................
"That was all horses then(an oral history of West Hall Farm in the Thirties)"Ted Rix & Janet Hammond .................
Changes in Land Use in Sedgeford - 1866 to 1966 Michael Nudds .................
Oysters Natural:an insight into the Saxon river trade and traders.Melanie van Twest .................
Serendipity orSalute to a Seventeenth Century Surveyor Janet Hammond .................
Calender of events for 2000""
"The Third Interim Report Edward Biddulph................. Sedgeford Church - rediscoveries b... more "The Third Interim Report Edward Biddulph.................
Sedgeford Church - rediscoveries by resistivity Janet Hammond .................
Roodstairs and Doorways - Some Food for Thought Shelia Medlar.................
The Reformation as seen through the willsof the villagers of Sedgeford Linda Nudds Local History Group.................
Church and Chapel a village account of twentieth century activities Sue Crump & Diana Lewton Brain of the Oral History Group.................
Results and Prospects for 1999 Last season's achievements, ideas for the year ahead. Neil Faulkner Project Director .................
'and finally' A tale of endurance in the face of adversity. Janet Hammond.................
Calender of events for 1999".................
"1.Second Interim Report, 1997 Andrea Cox, Jonathan Fox, Gabor Thomas................. 7. Demo... more "1.Second Interim Report, 1997 Andrea Cox, Jonathan Fox, Gabor Thomas.................
7. Democratic Archaeology at Sedgeford Neil Faulkner..................
11.The Smugglers of Sedgeford Linda Nudds of the Local History Group..................
17. By Shank's Pony, Bike & Train - They Got There Somehow Oral accounts of Sedgeford transport in the first half of the twentieth century Sue Crump & Diana Lewton Brain of the Oral History Group..................
.
22. Round-Up 1997-1998 Neil Faulkner.................
26. Last season's achievements, ideas for the year ahead Calendar of Events For 1998 Janet Hammond."".................
"""Field-historical Research by Steve Barnett and Janet Hammond. ................. Archaeo-en... more """Field-historical Research by Steve Barnett and Janet Hammond. .................
Archaeo-environmental Research by Stacey Hennessy .................
The Parish Church of St Mary the Virginby Susan Fielding. .................
Test Pitting and Geophysical Survey at West Hallby Andrea Cox and Peter Carnell. .................
The Late-Saxon Christian Cemetery on the Boneyard by Nicholas Cooke and Andrew Gardner. .................
The Boneyard Skeletons by Raoul Bull, Meredith Thompson and Russell Wigglesworth. ".................
Papers by Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP)
International Journal of Paleopathology, Jun 2013
We present here a case of erosive polyarthropathy in an incomplete skeleton from a middle-Saxon p... more We present here a case of erosive polyarthropathy in an incomplete skeleton from a middle-Saxon period (c. AD 650–900) cemetery site in Sedgeford, Norfolk, England. After a differential diagnosis that includes erosive osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis, we believe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to be the most probable cause. This example may therefore add to the evidence for an early date for the appearance of RA in Europe.
The Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project undertook its first dig in the Norfo... more The Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project undertook its first dig in the Norfolk village in 1996. Every year since a team of volunteer archaeologists has camped in a field to continue exploring 5,000 years of history from the Stone Age to the First World War. Experts and amateurs work side by side to learn how our ancestors lived, work and died in a very ordinary piece of English countryside. This is the book of the story so far.
Pulled together by an editorial team but using contributions from the many hundred of archaeologists - amateur and professional - who have worked on the site, it provides a fascinating insight into one East Anglian settlement and tells a story which was probably repeated in other settlements across the region.
In August 2003, at Sedgeford in north-west Norfolk, archaeologists excavated a hoard of 39 gold c... more In August 2003, at Sedgeford in north-west Norfolk, archaeologists excavated a hoard of 39 gold coins, 20 of them mysteriously placed inside a cow bone. Who buried the hoard and why? Where did the coins come from and why were they never recovered?
The coin were Gallo-Belgic E type gold staters.
This is our first interim report to be written since the publication of the SHARP monograph-"Digg... more This is our first interim report to be written since the publication of the SHARP monograph-"Digging Sedgeford-A Peoples' Archaeology" in 2014 (ISBN 9781909796089 Poppyland Publishing). That is not to say that SHARP has been inactive during the last four years. On the contrary there has been considerable activity and progress. Jon Cousins completed his work on the settlement site in Chalkpit Field at the end of the 2016 season, leaving a significant un-excavated area to be revisited at a later date when further advances in our understanding of the site as a whole suggest that further evidence-particularly environmental samplingmay be needed. An interim report on the settlement site (written by Gary Rossin and Melanie van Twest) has appeared in the 2018 edition of Norfolk Archaeology. Gary Rossin and Brian Fraser are continuing their researches into Sedgeford Aerodrome during the Great War. Gary has written a book-Sedgeford Aerodrome and the aerial conflict over north west Norfolk in the First World War (ISBN 978 1 90979642 3 Poppyland Publishing). During the 2018 season a memorial stone was dedicated to all in the RFC and RAF who had served there during the Great War. Eleanor Blakelock, when not carrying out metallurgical research on the Staffordshire Hoard, continues to run courses at SHARP on archaeometallurgy, smelting ores and casting metal. SHARP now possesses its own magnetometer, purchased in 2016. David Wood, Melinda Barham and Yvonne Bolton-Smith are all active in the field. Most of Chalkpit Field has now been covered as has 'Saggy Horse Field'. Further work is under way in West Hall Field, Hall Field, Polar and Shernborne Brecks. The results have been spectacular, and the work is ongoing , with a geophysics course being run during the 2019 season. The focus of excavation since 2017 has been in Trench 23, where a series of middle Anglo-Saxon malthouses dating to the 8th/9th centuries are under excavation. This is a first, as no other examples of malthouses from this period have ever been discovered. The Human Remains Team have been awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to study our large collection of disarticulated human bone. Their results will be an integral part of their pending monograph on Sedgeford's middle Anglo-Saxon cemetery. In addition to skeletal research, the Human Remains team are working with the Max Planck Institute on the DNA of some of our Anglo-Saxon dead, research which may well shine new light on the nature of the Anglo-Saxon migration into East Anglia and to what extent native British DNA mixed with that of the incomers. The Finds team remain active and work is about to start on re-evaluating ceramic finds in Boneyard and Chalkpit fields. A particular target is to look again at the grass-tempered ware, since some may, in the past, have been mis-identified as
Two almost complete articulated human burials were excavated from Chalk Pit Field North. The firs... more Two almost complete articulated human burials were excavated from Chalk Pit Field North. The first (S8001) was found in 2009 in the south-west corner of Trench 10. The second (S8002) was found a year later approximately 25m ENE of the first, near to the eastern baulk of Trench 12. Although they were buried only a short distance apart, radiocarbon dates showed that the second died about 2000 years after the first. Individual reports on these two skeletons constitute the first two main sections of this account. A few disarticulated human bones were also recovered from various trenches on the site in 2007 and 2009. These are discussed in the third section of this account. In 2010, a few more were found about a metre to the west of the first articulated skeleton (S8001). These have been shown conclusively to be from that skeleton and are covered in that section.
"04 CHALKPIT NORTH EXCAVATIONS, Trench 14 in the Anglo-Saxon Settlement ................. 06 ... more "04 CHALKPIT NORTH EXCAVATIONS, Trench 14 in the Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
06 THE ANIMALS OF SEDGEFORD, Animal Bones from Trench 14 Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
08 MORE NEWS FROM THE FINDS HUT, Small finds from Trench 14 Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
10 WHAT THE FLINT CAN TELL US, A Mesolithic Temporary hunting camp at Sedgeford .................
13 SHARP LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP
Work carried out by the Sedgeford LAGs .................
14 PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION .................
17 WELL COTTAGE REPORT BY JOHN HENSBY, Test Pitting and Recording of A Sedgeford Cottage .................
22 PHOSPHATE ANALYSIS IN CHALKPIT FIELD, Phosphate Analysis from Trench 14 Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
24 SEDGEFORD AERODROME PROJECT, Excavations of a First World War Aerodrome .................
27 S8001: THE FIRST CROUCHED BURIAL, A Late Neolithic/ Early Bronze Age crouch Burial .................
30 S8002: A SECOND CROUCHED BURIAL, An Iron Age Crouch Burial .................
33 ‘MA’ DREWERY OF SEDGEFORD, A History of a Sedgeford Resident in the First World War" .................
"05 2010 Chalk Pit North Excavations: Middle Saxon Gardens Trench 12 and 13 Anglo-Saxon Settlemen... more "05 2010 Chalk Pit North Excavations: Middle Saxon Gardens Trench 12 and 13 Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
08 Ironworking Industry at Sedgeford, Anglo-Saxon Metal working and Knife Blades in the Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
11 Are these the Remains of the Youngest Person to Have Been Buried in Boneyard?, Report from the Human Remains team Anglo-Saxon Cemetery .................
15 Aerodrome Project, Excavation of a First World War Aerodrome .................
17 Open Day, Report on the annual SHARP Open Day .................
20 News from the Finds Hut, Small finds from Trench 12 and 13 Anglo-Saxon Settlement .................
23 Just a Load of Old Rubbish! ,Ritual or rubbish, problems for archaeologists .................
30 2010 Season Image Gallery " .................
Searching for the settlement:Chalk Pit field Anglo-Saxon Settlement excavation................. ... more Searching for the settlement:Chalk Pit field Anglo-Saxon Settlement excavation.................
Skeletons in the cupboard (and in the settlement)
Late Neolithic/ Early Bronze Age Crouched burial.................
A potted history of Anglo-Saxon Sedgeford, c. AD 450-1066.................
Two more medieval coins.................
Sedgeford sub-fossil molluscan faunas: current sampling strategies and the implications for future research.................
SHARP building area report Ango-Saxon Settlement.................
“I Can See Clearly Now the Rain has Gone”: Trench 11 Anglo-Saxon Settlement excavations.................
Archaeological impact of the Sedgeford dig: clues for a future generation.................
The bladder stone that wasn’t
Anglo-Saxom Cemetery.................
Open to the public.................
If you go down to the woods today... Sedgeford Aerodrome Project: report from the first fieldwork season".................
"Boneyard New Trench 2007 The final Year of excavation within the area of the Anglo-Saxon Cemeter... more "Boneyard New Trench 2007 The final Year of excavation within the area of the Anglo-Saxon Cemetery, with features of Anglo-Saxon, Romano-British and Iron Age .................
2007 Chalk Pit field north evaluations, Evaluations of the Anglo-Saxon Settlement Trenches 1-5 .................
Report of the 2008 excavations in Chalk Pit field, Open area trench and evaluations of the Anglo-Saxon Settlement , renches 6-9 .................
The little horse from Chalk Pit field, A report on an unusual small find found by metal detecting of a miniature cast copper alloy horse of possible Roman date .................
Annual report of work on human remains: 2007
Anglo-Saxon cemetery .................
Fracture of the first rib on Sedgeford skeletons' Detailed look at some of the skeletons from the Anglo-Saxon cemetery .................
Sedgeford dental attrition patterns, Detailed look at some of the skeletons from the Anglo-Saxon cemetery".................
Forword 3 ..................... SHARP and the Public in 2006 4 ..................... Resear... more Forword 3 .....................
SHARP and the Public in 2006 4 .....................
Research Strategies 4 .....................
Easter Season 5 .....................
Early Prehistory 7 .....................
The Roman Period 7 .....................
The Anglo-Saxons 12 .....................
Saxo-Norman Period 16 .....................
The Anglo-saxon Cemetery and the Human Remains Team 17 .....................
SHARP Post excavation reseach and courses 20 .....................
Where to go from here? 23 .....................
"SHARP in 2005 ................. Open Day ................. Courses ................. ... more "SHARP in 2005 .................
Open Day .................
Courses .................
The Research Strategeis .................
The Easter Season .................
Early Prehistory Page 9 .................
The Iron Age 10 .................
What Could it Mean 11 .................
The Ramano-British Period 12 .................
Concusions 13 .................
The Anglo-Saxons. 14 .................
The Cemetery 15 .................
What Next Then? 20" .................
SHARP in 2004 - Community Archaeology 4 .............. 2004 Research Priorities 8 ................ more SHARP in 2004 - Community Archaeology 4 ..............
2004 Research Priorities 8 ..............
Progress on the Iron Age 8 ..............
Progress on the Anglo-Saxons 12 ..............
Progress on the Medieval 22 ..............
Progress on the Romans 24 ..............
Progress on the Prehistoric 26 ..............
Archives 27 ..............
After the Gold rush - What next in 2005? 28
"Public Archaeology in 2003 ................. Research priorities and stategies in 2003 ........ more "Public Archaeology in 2003 .................
Research priorities and stategies in 2003 .................
Progress on the Anglo-Saxons (5th to mid11th centuries) .................
Progress on the Later medieval (mid 11th to 15th centuries) .................
Progress on the Post Medieval (15th untill now) .................
Progress on the Iron Age (Circa 8th century BC to the 1st century AD) .................
Progress on the Roman (mid 1st to early 5th century AD) .................
Progress on the Pre Iron Age (before 700BC0" .................
"The Easter Season 2002 ................. Easter season 2002:Magnetometer Survey Naomi Payne .... more "The Easter Season 2002 .................
Easter season 2002:Magnetometer Survey Naomi Payne .................
Boneyard environs: Defining the Anglo-Saxon settlement spread Rik Hoggett .................
Excavation reports ................. Boneyard: Old Trench Gareth Davies, Matthew Hobson and Susan Westlake .................
Boneyard: New Trench Neil Faulkner and Naomi Payne .................
The Reeddam II Evaluation Trench 2001 and 2002 Stuart Callow .................
Ladywell Field Archaeological Evaluation Andrea Cox .................
Specialist reports .................
Interim Report on Human Remains Patricia Reid .................
Archaeo-Environmental Sampling Liz Wilson .................
What about the pigs?Ray Thirkettle .................
The Geophysical Survey 2002 Pauline Fogarty .................
Evidence for Childbearing Steve Horn .................
Grave Alignment at Sedgeford Bill Wilcox .................
Other Activities.................
The Name Sedgeford Rik Hoggett and Sophie Cabot .................
WWWhat’s all the fuss about? Rik Hoggett .................
The Village Survey Project Sophie Cabot .................
Approaches to Anglo-Saxon Settlement: Sedgeford and Northwest Norfolk Gareth Davies .................
"""BONEYARD AND THE REEDDAM ................. BONEYARD: OLD TRENCH Ruth Panes and Tegwen Robe... more """BONEYARD AND THE REEDDAM .................
BONEYARD: OLD TRENCH Ruth Panes and Tegwen Roberts .................
REEDDAM: THE SAXON PHASE Gareth Davies, Graham Perry and Charlotte Burrill .................
REEDDAM: THE IRON AGE PHASE Katie Pack .................
PHASING BONEYARD Gareth Davies .................
DATING BONEYARD, The Pottery, Neil Faulkner .................
COMPARATIVE ASSEMBLAGES Ray Ludford .................
OSTEOLOGICAL RESEARCH .................
INTERIM REPORT ON HUMAN REMAINS Patricia Reid .................
PALAEODIETARY ANALYSIS Lorna Corr .................
ARCHAEO-ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH .................
ARCHAEO-ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING Liz Wilson .................
COUNTING SHEEP (AND OTHER ANIMALS) Ray Thirkettle .................
PLANT MACROFOSSILS AND OTHER REMAINS FROM 1998-2000 Val Fryer .................
WHAT DOES THE ARCHAEO-ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING TELL US? Liz Wilson .................
THE BONEYARD/REEDDAM ENVIRONS LOCAL GEOLOGY & THE REEDDAM II TRENCH Dominic Andrews & Stuart Calow .................
EXCAVATIONS IN CHALK PIT Marion McCabe .................
THE SITE SURVEY 2001 Naomi Payne .................
LATER MEDIEVAL SEDGEFORD .................
SMITHDON HUNDRED LOCAL HISTORY FORUM - REPORT 2000/1 Janet Hammond .................
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY OF ST. MARY’S CHURCHYARD Rik Hoggett and Jackie Heath .................
WHAT CAN WILLS TELL US ABOUT ST. MARY’S CHURCH? Pauline Fogarty .................
THE MANORS OF MEDIEVAL SEDGEFORD Pauline Fogarty .................
CONFERENCE PAPERSA CONTEXT FOR SAXON SEDGEFORD Sophie Cabot .................
EDUCATION AND ARCHAEOLOGY 2001 Sophie Cabot and Andrea Cox" .................""
"3. EDITOR’S FOREWORD Rik Hoggett ................. 4. BONEYARD AND REEDDAM Gareth J. Davie... more "3. EDITOR’S FOREWORD Rik Hoggett .................
4. BONEYARD AND REEDDAM Gareth J. Davies .................
8. ANGLO-SAXON SEDGEFORD: AN AGRICULTURAL PERSPECTIVE Ray Thirkettle .................
9. THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF ARCHAEOLOGY Dominic Andrews and Melanie Van Twest .................
12. WEST HALL PADDOCK Andrea Cox .................
14. WEST HALL HOUSE Pauline Fogarty .................
17. THE PAGAN SAXONS OF SEDGEFORD Sophie Cabot .................
19. THE BOWLING GREEN EVALUATION Naomi Payne .................
20. FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION FROM SKULLS Dominic Andrews .................
""The Fourth Interim Report Melanie Van Twest ................. Search for the Tithe Barn - Se... more ""The Fourth Interim Report Melanie Van Twest .................
Search for the Tithe Barn - Sedgeford 1999 Michael Medlar .................
"That was all horses then(an oral history of West Hall Farm in the Thirties)"Ted Rix & Janet Hammond .................
Changes in Land Use in Sedgeford - 1866 to 1966 Michael Nudds .................
Oysters Natural:an insight into the Saxon river trade and traders.Melanie van Twest .................
Serendipity orSalute to a Seventeenth Century Surveyor Janet Hammond .................
Calender of events for 2000""
"The Third Interim Report Edward Biddulph................. Sedgeford Church - rediscoveries b... more "The Third Interim Report Edward Biddulph.................
Sedgeford Church - rediscoveries by resistivity Janet Hammond .................
Roodstairs and Doorways - Some Food for Thought Shelia Medlar.................
The Reformation as seen through the willsof the villagers of Sedgeford Linda Nudds Local History Group.................
Church and Chapel a village account of twentieth century activities Sue Crump & Diana Lewton Brain of the Oral History Group.................
Results and Prospects for 1999 Last season's achievements, ideas for the year ahead. Neil Faulkner Project Director .................
'and finally' A tale of endurance in the face of adversity. Janet Hammond.................
Calender of events for 1999".................
"1.Second Interim Report, 1997 Andrea Cox, Jonathan Fox, Gabor Thomas................. 7. Demo... more "1.Second Interim Report, 1997 Andrea Cox, Jonathan Fox, Gabor Thomas.................
7. Democratic Archaeology at Sedgeford Neil Faulkner..................
11.The Smugglers of Sedgeford Linda Nudds of the Local History Group..................
17. By Shank's Pony, Bike & Train - They Got There Somehow Oral accounts of Sedgeford transport in the first half of the twentieth century Sue Crump & Diana Lewton Brain of the Oral History Group..................
.
22. Round-Up 1997-1998 Neil Faulkner.................
26. Last season's achievements, ideas for the year ahead Calendar of Events For 1998 Janet Hammond."".................
"""Field-historical Research by Steve Barnett and Janet Hammond. ................. Archaeo-en... more """Field-historical Research by Steve Barnett and Janet Hammond. .................
Archaeo-environmental Research by Stacey Hennessy .................
The Parish Church of St Mary the Virginby Susan Fielding. .................
Test Pitting and Geophysical Survey at West Hallby Andrea Cox and Peter Carnell. .................
The Late-Saxon Christian Cemetery on the Boneyard by Nicholas Cooke and Andrew Gardner. .................
The Boneyard Skeletons by Raoul Bull, Meredith Thompson and Russell Wigglesworth. ".................
International Journal of Paleopathology, Jun 2013
We present here a case of erosive polyarthropathy in an incomplete skeleton from a middle-Saxon p... more We present here a case of erosive polyarthropathy in an incomplete skeleton from a middle-Saxon period (c. AD 650–900) cemetery site in Sedgeford, Norfolk, England. After a differential diagnosis that includes erosive osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis, we believe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to be the most probable cause. This example may therefore add to the evidence for an early date for the appearance of RA in Europe.
Saxon 55, The Sutton Hoo Society, Jul 2012
As a postgraduate four years ago, PAMELA CROSS became fascinated by an unusual Anglo-Saxon site i... more As a postgraduate four years ago, PAMELA CROSS became fascinated by an unusual Anglo-Saxon site in Sedgeford, Norfolk
that combined horse with human burial. Horse burials are little researched, and they are now a Ph.D. project for Pam,
significantly funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council. The Sutton Hoo Society began supporting the project
two years ago, along with historical novelist Bernard Cornwell, the Museum of London and National Trust Sutton
Hoo. A set of exhibitions are planned to complete the project next year. Here, Pam describes the genesis of her research
and progress so far.
An important recent paper by Haldenby and Richards (2009) considers the chronological currency of... more An important recent paper by Haldenby and Richards (2009) considers the chronological currency of different types of Anglo-Saxon copper-alloy dress pins from an number of Yorkshire sites. The article below considers assemblages from the west Norfolk sites of Wormegay and Sedgeford in the light of this analysis.
Burial of horses and horse-elements occurred throughout Europe during the first millennium AD. Th... more Burial of horses and horse-elements occurred throughout Europe during the first millennium AD. These burials are prevalent in northwest Europe and are perhaps more significant in Britain than previously realised. This article explores the position and value of the horse within Britain during this period, why the burials are likely to represent ritual deposition and what they may indicate about the culture. Both horse deposits and human-horse burials are linked to non-Christian burial and sacrificial practices of the Iron Age and Early Medieval period and are particularly associated with Anglo-Saxon and Viking Britain. Some of the traditions appear to reflect the culture described in the Icelandic Sagas, Beowulf and other legends and chronicles. Archaeologically, the human-horse burials are also linked with high status individuals and ‘warrior graves,’ while complete-horse and horse-element burials may represent ritual feasting and sacrificial rites probably linked with fertility, luck and the ancestors.
The Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project, set up in 1996 as an experiment in ... more The Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project, set up in 1996 as an experiment in 'democratic archaeology', was shaken by a major internal crisis between November 2007 and July 2008. An attempt by a small group of local people to establish top-down control over the project was defeated by a political mobilisation of the project's mass base of volunteer archaeologists and community activists. This article, by a leading protagonist, analyses the crisis and comes to some radical conclusions about the nature of community archaeology, democratic organisation, and the way in which political power is sometimes contested.
The excavation and subsequent analysis of a urinary stone from a juvenile burial. It is the oldes... more The excavation and subsequent analysis of a urinary stone from a juvenile burial. It is the oldest known urinary stone from the county.
Summary of excavations carried out by SHARP between 2005 and 2007 mainly in the Roman Project sit... more Summary of excavations carried out by SHARP between 2005 and 2007 mainly in the Roman Project site and Anglo-Saxon Boneyard at Sedgeford
Norfolk Archaeology, Jan 1, 2004
An analysis of a project undertaken by the long-running and community-based Sedgeford Village Sur... more An analysis of a project undertaken by the long-running and community-based Sedgeford Village Survey in north-west Norfolk, describing the work involved, and findings resulting from, an exercise to dig trial pits in back gardens. The author, one of the directors of the Survey and a practising archaeologist, discusses the planning and preparation; the local community involvement and media interest; the methodology and the principles and rationale behind the project; and the treatment of finds. He links this with the wider interest in the concept of 'big digs', which have been encouraged and publicised by national television programmes, and emphasises the importance of proper archaeological procedures but also the value and significance of community involvement and the participation of non-professionals in such exercises. The Sedgeford Survey is an on-going project, and the conclusion is that this sort of work has a major benefit in drawing attention to the fact that local history is everywhere around us.
Abstract Over the past five years excavations have been conducted by The Sedgeford Historical and... more Abstract
Over the past five years excavations have been conducted by The Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP) at Sedgeford in Northwest Norfolk. These have concentrated on the Boneyard field, East of excavations that took place in the 1950’s, directed by Dr Peter Jewell. The work has revealed evidence of a large Middle and Late Saxon settlement and Christian burial ground. The site appears to show remarkably little evidence of Scandinavian influence despite occupation during the Danelaw period
On the Boneyard Old Trench site three main areas were excavated this season. On the western part ... more On the Boneyard Old Trench site three main areas were excavated this season. On the western part of the lower slope a structure with an associated floor surface (Structure 2) was interpreted as the best preserved area of a once-larger structure, maybe a lean-to or outhouse. A series of gullies around the structure tnay have represented the limits of a plot within which it had lain. No burials were found within this defined area, although it appears to have continued in use during the cemetery phase.
A long-term research project, started in 1996, is exploring the origins and development of an Eng... more A long-term research project, started in 1996, is exploring the origins and development of an English village, with its manor, church, graveyard and local lands. The project is also an experiment in democratic archaeology that rejects formal research designs in favour of a flexible approach to aims, methods and interpretation, as is explained by one of its directors.
This year has been another successful one for SHARP. Building on the successes of previous years ... more This year has been another successful one for SHARP. Building on the successes of previous years we have increased our range of on-site courses in archaeology, developing close links with the University of East Anglia's Continuing Education Department, which now accredits several of our courses. We have also continued our popular series of Tuesday evening lectures, Thursday public meetings, Friday site tours, and open days. This year culminated in a very well received conference on "The Origins of the Anglo-Saxon Church" in Sedgeford's new village hall, attended by interested amateurs and professionals alike, both locally based and from further afield. Over the course of the summer we have also strengthened our links with the Smithdon Hundred Local History Forum who have been very active in and around Sedgeford, and have kindly provided a summary of their work from the past year for inclusion here.
This paper presents an overview of the excavation methodology and recording system developed by t... more This paper presents an overview of the excavation methodology and recording system developed by the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP). Our methodology has arisen from an attempt to rationalise the archaeological information recorded on site. The SHARP methodology attempts to acknowledge the relationship between the material we excavate and its meaning, and formalises on site interpretation. Ultimately the system is a product of a specific site, and therefore open to some of the criticisms levelled at Hodder’s Çatalhöyük work, but consideration is also given to the potential for wider application of the system within British archaeology.
This year there were significant developments in the Boneyard, with the identification of a sunke... more This year there were significant developments in the Boneyard, with the identification of a sunken-featured building, the excavation of several more burials and the digging of an outlying evaluation trench. A campaign to combine the excavations of the 1950s with our own was also begun in earnest, with the digging of a linking trench and examinations of old excavation archives.
During the excavation of a late Roman agricultural processing area near the village of Sedgeford,... more During the excavation of a late Roman agricultural processing area near the village of Sedgeford, Norfolk, a burnt body was discovered in the oven of a corn dryer. The oven is late Roman and the site believed to be a farmstead. The body had been burnt in situ and the remains disturbed by raking. The immediate impression was that the burial is unusual and could be a murder victim. Analysis of the body was carried out by the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project’s Human Remains team, who determined that it was a middle-aged man with no sign of trauma evident on the bones. To determine if this was an unusual act, burial practices in the late Roman period are considered in Britain and then specifically in Norfolk. Sites in the local area are described to set the Sedgeford Roman Project in its context and to see how it fits in to the landscape. The wider context of Roman Britain is also considered as this was a period of change – the Roman administration withdrew, local power bases developed and Germanic people began to enter Britain. This is the background against which this alleged crime was committed. After considering the evidence it is concluded that the cremation at Sedgeford does not fit any known patterns of rural burial and it is possible that it was the disposal of a victim of foul play.
This paper describes and analyses the evidence for Iron Age occupation in Sedgeford (Norfolk). Th... more This paper describes and analyses the evidence for Iron Age occupation in Sedgeford (Norfolk). The evidence consists of excavated features, an impressive pottery assemblage and other artifacts, including the Sedgeford torc and eight gold staters. I have looked at Sedgeford within its local and regional context, describing changes in water levels, the roles of the Icknield Way, the Peddars Way and also the river systems.Comparisons are made with other occupation sites and also high status centres, dating to the Late Iron Age. As a result of this research, I am suggesting that Sedgeford would have been the location of a high status occupation site, in the Late Iron Age, that developed as a direct result if the extensive trade network which covered much of Britain and Europe.
This paper aimed to evaluate the extent, nature and causation of cranial traumatic injury on the ... more This paper aimed to evaluate the extent, nature and causation of cranial traumatic injury on the skeletal remains from the archaeological excavations at Sedgeford, Norfolk. The skeletal material examined came from excavations carried out by Dr. Jewell of Cambridge University in 1957 and from six seasons of excavation carried out by the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project since 1996. The 134 crania that are examined in this paper come from the individuals buried between 662AD to881AD as part of a Christian Anglo-Saxon cemetery. The investigation revealed that twelve of the 134crania examined had cranial trauma injuries, many of which occurred at, or around the time of death. The trauma identified was caused by sharp-edged weapons, and some of the victims of these attacks met violent deaths. The nature of these injuries has allowed the author to hypothesise as to the cause of death, the weapons that may have been used in the attack, and place the traumatised individuals within thecontext of 7th to 9th century Anglian society.
This dissertation uses many different forms of archaeological evidence to examine the origin and ... more This dissertation uses many different forms of archaeological evidence to examine the origin and early development of the modern village of Sedgeford in north west Norfolk. The results of many years’ intrusive and non-intrusive archaeological research allow the foundation of the modern settlement to be confidently dated to the Middle Saxon Period, set against a background of earlier, but discontinuous, settlement activity. The archaeological work
conducted to date has successfully identified multiple phases in the village’s early development, fortunately preserved in situ by later changes in the morphology of the settlement. These later changes have also been the subject of extensive archaeological study, the results of which elucidate the Late Saxon and Early Post-Conquest periods of the settlement’s history.
"This thesis describes the research undertaken into a large Anglo-Saxon cemetery at the village o... more "This thesis describes the research undertaken into a large Anglo-Saxon cemetery at the village of Sedgeford, Norfolk, United Kingdom as part of the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP). Since 1996 SHARP has been attempting to reconstruct the economic and social history of the village, and as part of this intent the human remains research has focussed upon restoring the lives and identities of the Anglo-Saxon villagers.
The opening chapters describe the site and its archaeology, including the cemetery and the manner of the burials, discussion of the research methodology, including a description of data collection methods, and the aims of the human remains research. This is followed by an analysis of the skeletal morphology, with comparison to the skeletal population of the near-contemporary site of Brandon, Suffolk. The final chapters deal with a dental and pathological overview of the Sedgeford population, with interpretation of the impact upon the living population of the various identified conditions. Lastly an attempted reconstruction of the population, its health and demographics is discussed within the limits of the currently available information.
Conclusions gained from the analysis and discussion include a strong physical corollary between the two Anglo-Saxon populations, suggesting a genetic and racial, as well as a cultural, link between the two. Overall, despite the temporal and cultural distance between them, the Anglo-Saxon Sedgeford population bears a very close physical relationship to modern Western populations, in terms of stature and overall health, showing that the medical and technological advances of the last 200 years have not necessarily changed the quality of human life as dramatically as we might be led to believe.
"
Sedgeford is a village in northwest Norfolk. It is currently the focus of a long-term multi-disci... more Sedgeford is a village in northwest Norfolk. It is currently the focus of a long-term multi-disciplinary archaeological and historical project. The area has a long history, stretching back to the Mesolithic period. We can be certain, from excavations and documentary evidence that Sedgeford was a particularly significant place in Anglo-Saxon and medieval times. This research is looking at medieval Sedgeford, in particular the priory manor of Sedgeford and the Parish church, which is still standing. The aim of this work is to use the archaeological research done by Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP) together with the documentary sources to produce an overall history of the village in the late medieval period.
Through a detailed discussion of the Laws of Stratigraphy developed by Edward Harris and study of... more Through a detailed discussion of the Laws of Stratigraphy developed by Edward Harris and study of the few existing examples, the suitability and use of the Harris Matrix system for the analysis of standing buildings has
been evaluated and found to be successful, albeit with modifications to compensate for the differences between archaeological and architectural stratigraphy. To illustrate the methodology, data produced by the detailed study and recording of the fabric of the church of St. Mary the Virgin in the Norfolk village of Sedgeford, has been used to create a Harris Matrix of the building’s structural history. A relative stratigraphic sequence having been
established, the next step in the ongoing work of the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project will be to correlate the building’s Harris Matrix with the existing historical documentation in order to produce a
more detailed chronological history of the building.
" Although cranial and pelvic bones are the preferred skeletal material used by osteoarchaeologi... more "
Although cranial and pelvic bones are the preferred skeletal material used by osteoarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists to assign unknown individuals to their most probable sex, age and ethnic/racial group, these remains may be unavailable. The aim of this paper is to take observations, supported by a developed specific method of metrical analysis, of Anglo-Saxon foot bones from the archaeological excavation site and cemetery in Sedgeford, North Norfolk, and to observe ethnic differences between the two areas of skeletal remains, the Boneyard and Reeddam. A theory suggested by Phyllis Jackson (1995, 1998).
The project presents observations and measurements taken from the four main foot bones under scrutiny, the calcaneus, talus, cuboid and 5th metatarsal. Comparisons are made to other recent studies of the foot, footprints and their role in identification of sex, age and race of individuals in archaeological and forensic fields.
The findings show that unfortunately there was no significant difference between the measurements taken from the two assemblages, though characteristic contrasts can be seen between the bones, which could be interpreted as a sign of marriage between different tribes and ethnic groups.
"
In 2007, the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project’s (SHARP) excavations of th... more In 2007, the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project’s (SHARP) excavations of the middle Anglo-Saxon cemetery in the Boneyard field were brought to a conclusion, with a significant sample of the population remains retrieved, some of the dynamics of the cemetery/settlement observed, and earlier 1950’s excavations fully relocated. This fieldwork has now entered into post-excavation. As a result, a new angle to the research into the origins of the village was required, particularly to address some of the key questions raised by the cemetery excavations; namely, what was the character of the associated settlement. Due to an abundance of surface finds of shell and pottery, it has long been suspected that the northern extent of the field immediately south of the Boneyard, Chalkpit field (NHER 1079), was the main focus of Middle-Late Saxon settlement activity. Because of this, Chalkpit field was chosen by SHARP as the target for further investigation Since April 2007, therefore, further archaeological investigation has been undertaken at the northern end of Chalk Pit Field, to better understanding the character, chronology and extent of the Middle-Late Saxon settlement. This has included a combined program of fieldwalking (data also collected 1996-7/2002) and geophysical survey; followed-up with the excavation of five test trenches. This report is a write-up of the investigations to date.
This report records the evaluation and excavation of one of several sites within the village of S... more This report records the evaluation and excavation of one of several sites within the village of Sedgeford being studied by Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP);It details the findings of evaluation test pitting and area excavations undertaken during the summer months of 1996 to 2000 at West Hall Paddock, Sedgeford, Norfolk (NGR: TF 707364).
Metric analysis of plans of the site and excavated structures at the middle to late Saxon site at... more Metric analysis of plans of the site and excavated structures at the middle to late Saxon site at Sedgeford, Norfolk indicated that for three out of five phases, a 'short pole' of 4.65 metres, identified on an increasing number of contemporary sites, was employed here. There is also strong evidence that the earliest planned phase of the site, datable to the late eighth or early ninth centuries was laid out using a module of four short poles. That all known comparable sites appear to have been dependences of nearby minsters has implications for Sedgeford. Interrogation of Domesday suggests a minster at Snettisham, itself a possession of the bishops of North Elmham before the Conquest. It is suggested the settlement at Sedgeford was a dependent farm of Snettisham up until the former's acquirement by the House of Godwine in the mid eleventh century. This has implications regarding the probably tenth century D-shaped earthwork enclosure at the site. Sometimes regarded as being indicative of a thegnly residence, it may have been commissioned by an important ecclesiastical tenant.
draft 2.5, Jan 1, 2008
The excavation of a urinary calculus(bladder stone) from an Anglo-Saxon burial site at Sedgeford,... more The excavation of a urinary calculus(bladder stone) from an Anglo-Saxon burial site at Sedgeford, Norfolk is reported. An account is given of its crystallographic analysis using X-ray diffraction. A brief review of the history of urinary calculus disease with special reference to Norfolk, and of archaeological sites that have produced calculi, is provided. Theaetiology of urinary calculus disease in general, and the possible pathogenesis of this calculus in particular, is discussed.
Sedgeford Aerodrome Project – Second Season Fieldwork Report Today Whin Hill is a quiet wooded a... more Sedgeford Aerodrome Project –
Second Season Fieldwork Report
Today Whin Hill is a quiet wooded area on the eastern fringe of Sedgeford parish, occasionally disturbed by a passing tractor, but by the end of 1918 it was a busy hive of activity preparing pilots of the newly formed Royal Air Force for the killing skies of the First World War. SHARP has undertaken to investigate this era of Sedgeford life and following a successful 2009 investigation, returned in 2010 to carry on determining the form and function of Sedgeford Aerodrome during its life firstly as an active airfield between 1915 and 1919, and then as a decoy airfield and emergency landing field during the Second World .
On 28 November 1916 Zeppelin LZ61 was shot down over Lowestoft by Egbert Cadbury and Robert Lecki... more On 28 November 1916 Zeppelin LZ61 was shot down over Lowestoft by Egbert Cadbury and Robert Leckie. Getting lost in thick fog on the way back from their mission, Cadbury found that Sedgeford Aerodrome was the only local airfield to have lit flares along its runway and so they landed there safely. More than ninety years later SHARP has launched a project aimed at understanding more about how the airfield was used, not only as an active airfield during WWI but also as a decoy airfield during WWII.
During the last full week of excavation of the 2009 excavation season, a deposit rich in faunal r... more During the last full week of excavation of the 2009 excavation season, a deposit rich in faunal remains, including a semi-articulated cattle skeleton, was discovered in the base fill (deposit 10510) of the NE terminal of a ditch in the north central part of Trench 10. This was one of the earliest deposits in the stratigraphic sequence for this part of the site. The faunal remains included a large number of mussel shells, which tended to overly the animal bones but also penetrated the spaces between the bones.
third draft, 2003
This paper identifies and discusses two contrasting approaches to field archaeology in contempora... more This paper identifies and discusses two contrasting approaches to field archaeology in contemporary Britain. The dominant approach is that of ‘official archaeology’ rooted in professional rescue (or contract) work and represented by bodies such as English Heritage, county archaeology units and the Institute of Field Archaeologists. This ‘archaeology from above’ threatens alternative approaches to fieldwork, since state legislation and other bureaucratic controls are being used to restrict access to archaeology to an elite of self-accredited practitioners, and a persuasive and sophisticated ideology of heritage ‘protection’ and professional ‘standards’ is being deployed to legitimize this policy. This attempt to universalize the practices of professional rescue archaeology is academically incoherent and politically undemocratic. An alternative ‘archaeology from below’ is proposed in which fieldwork is rooted in the community, open to volunteer contributions, organised in a non-exclusive, non-hierarchical way, and dedicated to a research agenda in which material, methods and interpretation are allowed to interact. These points are illustrated with detailed references to the experience of ‘democratic archaeology’ on the author's project at Sedgeford in northwest Norfolk in 1996–98.
The practice of east-west orientation for burials was widely used in Pagan Anglo-Saxon times (Wel... more The practice of east-west orientation for burials was widely used in Pagan Anglo-Saxon times (Welch 1992, 74) also to the early Anglo-Saxon Christians at Sedgeford burying their dead facing east, towards dawn on the day of resurrection was obviously important. Irrespective of beliefs, the question at Sedgeford is “how did they determine the exact direction of east?”