In Other News
New Shipwreck Protection
Historic England and the University of Plymouth have launched national guidance in an effort to combat heritage crime at sea, especially targeting illegal activity around England’s protected shipwrecks. The Common Enforcement Manual aims to provide authorities with a legal toolkit for dealing with underwater crime. The manual, praised as pioneering, brings together legal advice, enforcement protocols, and communication strategies for agencies protecting maritime heritage.
There are 57 protected shipwrecks in England, including several important wrecks of the Kent coast, many in remote areas where signs of interference often go unnoticed. The manual addresses the challenges of detecting and responding to underwater crimes, clarifies that removing artifacts or damaging wrecks is a heritage crime under laws like the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, and stresses that only licensed divers and archaeologists should interact with these sites. Authorities emphasize swift action and coordinated enforcement to protect this underwater heritage for future generations.
www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/common-enforcement-manual-heritage-crime-sea/
City Vaults
Archaeologists in Canterbury discovered a hidden brick-lined vault beneath St Mary Bredman Square during improvement works. Experts suggest it may be the resting place of 18th-century vicar and poet Reverend John Duncombe, though this connection is not certain. The vault, one of at least 14 explored across three church sites, lies in a prominent location in front of a former altar. While a separate grave slab with a “memento mori” design was found, it is not linked to Duncombe.
The findings made by Canterbury Archaeological Trust, are part of the city’s Connected Canterbury project, which aims to revitalize neglected areas and share Canterbury’s history. The square, once home to a church demolished in 1900, will be enhanced with a mural and new landscaping to offer a tranquil space and commemorate its past.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4gwdwp3pdo
Lord of the Bricks
The Kent Archaeological Society is delighted to congratulate Lord of the Bricks, a Kent-based FIRST LEGO League robotics team, on winning the Kent Regional Robotics Championship for the second time, and securing the award for the highest robot score. Additionally, the team were awarded the UK National Award for the second-best Robot Performance and became the 2026 Robot Knockout Winners at the National Championship! Following this success, the team have the opportunity to represent Kent and the UK at the FLL International Championship in Jalisco, Mexico.
The team has been working with KAS volunteers and staff to develop an “archaeologist” AI assistant and games platform, designed to make the Society’s extensive archives more accessible to professional archaeologists, students, families and schools.
Read more and see the team winning their award at:
www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/news/kent-robotics-champions-win-regional-title?rq=kent%20robotics
And please do try out the team’s chatbot on the Kent Archaeological Society website - select the ? icon in the bottom right corner of the screen or go to:
www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/chat
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The Smarden Martyr
Stephen and Paul Woodward recently unveiled their legendary ancestor, George Cooper’s expertly restored clock, which was presented to him in 1896 on his triumphant return from Maidstone prison, having been released by order of the Home Secretary.
In total, six were arrested after disturbances at an auction at Wagstaff Farm in Biddenden. The Rector, Rev William Peterson, seized 47 sheep and a cow from farmer William Weeks for non-payment of the tithe and recruited an auctioneer to sell the animals, but an angry crowd arrived to disrupt the resulting auction.
Cranbrook magistrates sentenced Mr Cooper to one month’s hard labour in Maidstone Prison, earning him the title of the Smarden Martyr. After his release, Cooper was presented with the clock.
The full story can be read alongside the clock at the Smarden Local History Society.
Lower Thames Crossing
Preparations have begun for the £10bn Lower Thames Crossing, connecting Essex and Kent. Archaeologists are excavating Coalhouse Fort to assess foundations for the route. Compounds have been set up in town and near Gravesend for machinery and materials. The project aims to improve congestion at the Dartford Crossing in the early to mid-2030s.
The 14.5-mile road will include 2.6 miles of tunnels under the River Thames. Major construction and tunnelling are set to start in 2028. National Highways have started preparing landscapes in both counties for the project. Ground investigations at Coalhouse Fort and habitat creation are underway. The project aims to be Britain’s greenest road, creating local jobs and new skills. Private investment is being sought for the project, which was approved by the government in March 2025.
National Highways have spent over £50m on properties affected by the crossing route. Some residents have raised concerns about disruptions, while campaigners fear damage to ancient woodland and archaeologically sensitive areas. Chancellor Rachel Reeves aims for the project to benefit the local community hosting the infrastructure.
There are significant archaeological areas on both sides of the crossing, and discussions are underway on how to involve local communities in the archaeological process of the infrastructure project.
Read More:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3ggrqk35do
Anglo-Saxons on TV
BBC Two’s Digging for Britain has featured a unique Kent discovery. Archaeologists from the University of Central Lancashire uncovered a remarkably preserved Anglo-Saxon sword dating back about 1,500 years in a cemetery near Canterbury, Kent. Distinguished by its silver-and-gilt hilt and rare runic inscriptions, the sword provides unique insights into early medieval literacy, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange. The organic remains of its scabbard, including beaver fur lining, indicate the high status of its owner, who was buried embracing the sword, reflecting its importance as a symbol of authority and personal identity.
The cemetery, one of the richest Anglo-Saxon burial sites in southern England, also yielded a gold pendant with a serpent or dragon motif and numerous grave goods, including weapons, jewellery, and domestic items. These findings highlight the social structure and status distinctions within the community. Artifacts of Scandinavian and Frankish origin demonstrate Kent’s historic role as a cultural crossroads, challenging the idea of isolated Anglo-Saxon communities and revealing a society deeply connected with continental Europe.
With more than 200 graves at the site and only a fraction excavated, archaeologists anticipate further significant discoveries that will expand our understanding of elite identity, migration, and international connections in early medieval England.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b014hl0d
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New Guidance on Museum Pay
The 2025-26 update on pay in museums continues previous research on museum sector pay, providing current recommendations to address low wages. It is designed as an advocacy tool for employers, staff, and funders, with a focus on the Real Living Wage, inclusive practices, staff wellbeing, and improved conditions for apprentices and freelancers.
The report reflects inflation and the revised Code of Ethics. Further research and a comprehensive, benchmarked pay report are planned for the coming year to guide ongoing sector reform.
“Our research into workforce wellbeing highlighted that poor pay was one of the most significant factors affecting wellbeing, as well as the financial precarity of temporary or zero-hour contracts. In addition to this impact on wellbeing, these levels of pay have an impact on attracting and retaining staff from more diverse backgrounds, who may not have access to other financial support. This refreshed guidance should be used to affect change within organisations and the sector as a whole.”
Tamsin Russell, workforce development lead, Museums Association
You can read the full report here:
www.museumsassociation.org/campaigns/workforce/pay-in-museums/
Fun and Games
Researchers have shown how artificial intelligence can support archaeology by interpreting ancient artifacts. A multidisciplinary team used AI simulations and use-wear analysis to investigate a Roman stone object from Heerlen, Netherlands, believed to be a game board. The artefact was excavated from the remains of Coriovallum (Roman Heerlen), a town occupied from the reign of the emperor Augustus (r. 27 BC-AD 14) until the fall of the Western Roman Empire (c.AD 476). Measuring 212mm by 145mm by 71mm the board is made from white Jurassic limestone quarried from north-eastern France. It is worked on all sides, and one surface has been carefully smoothed and incised with a series of lines forming symmetrical geometric shapes.
Traditional methods alone could not confirm its use, as ancient sources rarely describe game rules and this object had no direct parallels. By mapping wear patterns and simulating possible games with the Ludii AI platform, the team identified the most likely rule set as a blocking game where one player tries to trap the opponent’s pieces.
This research demonstrates how AI can help reconstruct both the function and rules of ancient games, revealing new insights into how people played in the past.
www.the-past.com/news/science-notes-identifying-ancient-games-using-artificial-intelligence/
Historic Brickworks in Danger
A planning application proposes demolishing the former High Brooms Brick & Tile Company’s reception building in Kent, a non-designated heritage asset, to build eight one-bedroom flats without parking. Hundreds of homes in High Brooms and Southborough are made of the unique bricks, and its projects included St Matthew’s Church, Kent and Sussex Hospital, Majestic Cinema in Sevenoaks and the new Civic Centre in Tunbridge Wells. Further afield, contracts included the Blackwall Tunnel, film studios at Boreham Wood and Gatwick Airport.
The company’s historic bricks shaped local landmarks and neighbourhoods, and its legacy is cherished by residents. The demolition plan has raised objections from the council’s conservation officer and locals, who cite concerns over heritage loss, lack of parking, construction disruption, and the scale of the new building.
While the applicants argue redevelopment is necessary due to the building’s poor condition and a local housing shortage, the case highlights ongoing tensions between heritage preservation, new development, and practical community needs.
www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/historic-building-former-kent-brickworks-10797266
