Archaeology Research Group Minutes - 18th January 2025

Written By Andy Ward

Minutes of the meeting held on the 18th January 2025 via MS Teams.

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Date: 18th January 2025
Time: 10am – 12 noon via MS Teams
Start: 10:05am Finish: 12:01pm

Apologies: Fives Minnis (FM), Kevin Fromings (KF)
In Attendance: Keith Parfitt (KP), Andy Ward (AW)

1. Welcome

2. Thanks

  • To Kevin Fromings & Chris Blair-Myers for their service upon retiring from the group.

3. Acceptance of Minutes (5th October 2024)

  • Available online.

  • Note: Email from Guy Topham (12th Jan) queried the use of "Roman Pharos" as an agreed site purpose. KP clarified it was a site code, not a purpose descriptor.

4. Conferences

A. Forum 2024

  • Well received with good feedback.

B. Forum 2025 (15th March, Aylesford Priory)

  • Topics:

    • AW – Museum of Kent Archaeology & History

    • KP – Still a place for volunteers

    • AM/SWAG – Youth Engagement/Increasing volunteers

    • GC/AW – Backlog: unreported sites & assessment

    • AW – Field Archives capacity; possible KCC invite

    • AW – Funding local groups

    • KP/AW – Volunteers on professional digs: guidance

    • AM – Getting out on site / PM – Post-excavation handling

C. Conference 2024

  • Successful, generated £1000 from book sales.

  • Regional focus suggested for future.

D. Conference 2025 (15th Nov): Thanet & North-East Kent

  • Suggested speakers/topics:

    • Thanet Earth (Canterbury Archaeological Trust)

    • AW – Ozengell Collection

    • VH – KCC Thanet Revealed

    • GM – Trust for Thanet Archaeology (Keynote)

    • KP – Roman Villas at the Wantsum Channel

    • PS – Richborough update (Dr Phillip Smither)

    • KP – Eastern entrance to the Wantsum Channel

    • PH – History of the IOTAS

E. Other Events

  • Metal Detecting Event (29th Oct):

    • Preliminary programme outlined

    • Presenters: Isabelle Diggle (FLO), Dave Barwell (LEGISE), KP (TBD), David Holman (Iron Age Coins in Kent)

    • Displays: Metal detecting groups, Isle Heritage CIC, Dana Goodburn-Brown/KAS Collections

5. Budgets

  • Budget approved.

6. Grant Applications and Payments

  • Sedgebrook: Awaiting further info.

7. Sub-Research Groups Update

  • Pottery & Other Groups: No updates.

8. Fieldwork Projects

A. Lees Court

  • Stringman’s Farm History Project:

    • Report sent to KP

    • Access issues due to paywalls

    • Mapping Lees Court estate evolution

    • DSS book shared by Liz Roberts

    • Developing timelines for Stringman’s Farm and Woods Court

    • WWII hideout found in Stocking Wood (mostly destroyed); possible second site

    • Extensive mapping and local contact building

    • Collaboration with Kent Historic Buildings Study Group

  • Upcoming Fieldwork:

    • Starts in May (after estate team bramble clearance)

    • Plans to extend vertical section and investigate side ditches

    • KP finalizing 2024 notes; site plans complete

    • Contour survey of the longbarrow and Holly Grove Mound

B. Mote Park Hidden Histories

  • W&EOT application unsuccessful; pursuing NHLF funding.

C. Lympne

  • Planning training excavation with KP in late summer/autumn

  • Possible sites: Folkestone Roman Villa, Lees Court

D. Trosley

  • RT meeting with landowner about potential return

E. North Yorkshire

  • RT conducted geophysical survey at the signal station

9. Any Other Business

A. ARG Membership

  • Kevin Fromings and Chris Blair-Myers stepping down

  • Recruitment of new members from KAS to follow

B. Online Talks

  • Discussing best practices for recording in-person talks

10. Next Meeting

  • Planned for Summer (in person), possibly June or July.

Andy Ward
Next

Archeology Research Group Minutes - 5th October 2024