ACE NEWSLETTERS
ACE Newsletters in PDF file format. Click on the file name to download.
SEPTEMBER: 2009Sep.pdf file size 1.57mb.
JUNE: 2009June.pdf file size 528k.
ACE SUBSCRIPTIONS
SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE DUE IN SEPTEMBER.
The subscription rates are: £10 for individual members; £15 for families/households. Please send your subscriptions to Phil. His e-mail address is members@ACEarch.org.uk and the postal address is on our Contacts Page .
Dartmoor Archaeology and Bracken Project 2010 and beyond
At long last we have been able to demonstrate and quantify for the first time the degree of damage being caused by bracken rhizomes. The amount of damage is likely to vary considerable between different sites and now we need to establish the amount of variability. This of course is not just a problem on Dartmoor but anywhere in the world where Bracken grows! What we need to do now is to develop a successful and efficient methodology for landowners, such as the National Parks and National Trust etc, to enable their archaeologists to assess potential damage to monuments in their care.
The future:
The next phase of the project must be a series of small scale excavations in a variety of locations utilising the lessons from Teigncombe to gather the information in a much more efficient and targeted manner to find out whether the results from Teigncombe are typical or not. The results of this phase will certainly help inform future management strategies on Dartmoor and elsewhere for years to come In many ways this work will certainly have far more reaching effects that our work to date.
In 2010 we intend to develop this methodology at a couple of very different sites and using these results in the following year spread further afield. The two sites have been identified and permissions are being sought this autumn. But we need sites for future work, so please do get in touch if you know of any that fit the criteria below.
Criteria:
Bracken infested site within a field system.
Shallow stratigraphy.
Anywhere in Devon but off the open moor, preferably one main stakeholder land, i.e. DNP, ENP, DPA, NT, SW Forrest SW Lakes etc.
Methodology:
We need to be as non-intrusive as possible and have therefore decided that 1 x 1 metre pits may be the answer.
1; Stipe and level survey.
2; Remove turf, measuring all rhizomes.
3; Remove all topsoil, cut out (leaving 1cm in section) and measure all rhizomes, clean up.
4; Level survey.
5; Excavate to natural, recording in the usual way and measuring all rhizomes.
6; Plan and draw section.
The good news is that we will NOT be cleaning the rhizomes in situ. We now know what a rhizome mat looks like and we are now after the data so that we can compare it directly with the over 100 metre squares that we have already investigated.
This work is of national (maybe international) importance as it will help identify and quantify the bracken problem and may be utilised to generate resources for future beneficial management of sites currently under bracken. We will probably excavate two 1x 1 metre pits at each site and have estimated that we will need 8 people for this and that it will take 2 to 3 days to complete. It is proposed that we carry this out in September next year.
A meeting can be arranged to explain the future of the project in more detail. If you are interested in joining the team please get in touch with Janet at ace@ACEarch.org.uk .
WINKLEIGH AIRFIELD SURVEY
The Airfield Survey has been updated, expanded and is now available on CD; see our REPORTS page for more details.
Since its first publication, there have significant changes on Winkleigh Airfield. In addition, ACE has completed a detailed survey of the Water Works for the airfield; much of which has since been destroyed.
The full Survey Report has been much expanded and revised, comprising 104 pages of maps, plans, history, survey details and over 150 photographs. The Report is now available on CD in PDF format. Copies of the CD are only £5 plus 75p post and packing, and are available from ACE, Wishpool, Deans Lane, South Molton, EX36 3DS. Please make cheques payable to ACE Archaeology Club.
