The Historical Metallurgy Society Archaeology Committee Spring Workshop took place in March. Despite snow and icy winds, we all enjoyed a fabulous meeting which had been organised by
Peter Halkon and Yvonne Inall from the University of Hull. A combination of
museum visits and field trips was arranged to illustrate the theme of Iron Age
ironworking.
The meeting began with a Friday evening reception at the
aptly-named Treasure House in Beverley. This combined library, archive and
museum building opened in 2007 and holds the archaeological collections of the
East Riding Museums Service. Here, delegates were able to see the very
impressive cache of Iron Age swords from South Cave, discovered by metal
detectorists in 2002. Some members of the group also took advantage of the
opportunity to wield a replica sword, made in 2009 by Roland Williamson.
After the reception delegates repaired to the accommodation
in Hull, at the delightful Endsleigh Centre. This was built in 1901 as a
Convent of the Sisters of Mercy and included a training College. The College
closed in the 1970s and since 1995 the Endsleigh Centre has been a retreat and
conference centre – still run by the very friendly and welcoming Sisters.
Overnight snowfall greeted delegates the following morning.
Undeterred, the group boarded the minibus to explore some Iron Age sites and
landscapes under the expert leadership of Peter Halkon, who has known this
landscape since childhood and has been involved in many of the most important
excavations. Some delegates took a while to get accustomed to the East
Yorkshire definition of ‘hill’; however the icy Russian wind and drifting snow
encountered at the famous Arras burial ground convinced most people that this
was indeed high ground.
The trip then moved into the relatively low-lying area
surrounding the River Foulness, which in the Iron Age was a much larger body of
water feeding into the Walling Fen and thence to the Humber. The group
investigated two sites, on either side of the former Fen. The first of these
was at Moore’s Farm, Welham Bridge, the scene of substantial bog-ore smelting –
indeed this was the site of the excavation of the largest slag heap ever found
in Iron Age England. Weighing a massive 5338kg, this represented the production
of up to between one and two tonnes of bloom. Undeterred by
the snow and freezing temperatures delegates enthusiastically began
fieldwalking, returning to the minibus proudly bearing bits of slag.
The second site was at Hasholme. Famous for its log boat
excavated in 1984, the trip explored an adjacent enclosure and again discovered
various lumps of slag and bog-ore – along with a very nice decorated greyware
rim-shed. A recent scheme has restored a small area of adjacent wetland to very
much its Iron Age appearance, so there was a vivid impression of the former
shoreline of the Walling Fen. The farmhouse kitchen provided a welcome warm
break during which delegates were able to inspect an impressive collection of
portable antiquities discovered by the farmer over the years.
After a substantial sandwich lunch at the Red Lion in
Holme-upon-Spalding Moor, the workshop returned to Hull where an enjoyable
afternoon was spent in the East Riding Museum. Peter provided a guided tour of
the galleries. Although the focus on the Iron Age meant inevitable enthusiasm
for items such as the North Grimston Sword, there was also an impressive
collection of Roman and medieval metalwork. The Museum also houses the Hasholme boat, although sadly the conservation programme was stopped in 2009 leading to
some deterioration in its condition.
A quick pint at the Black Boy was followed by a very nice
dinner at Princes Quay, and some delegates followed this with further drinks at
the George.
Sadly the trip planned for the following morning was
cancelled, due to snow and flooding. Some delegates made their way to Beverley,
for an pleasant morning inspecting the Minster and various items of cast-iron
street furniture. This was a hugely enjoyable meeting, despite the weather;
many thanks to Peter and Yvonne for organising it.
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