2006 THORNBOURGH - HENGES - RALLY

8/14/2019 2006 THORNBOURGH - HENGES - RALLY

1/10

Henges Ral ly 2006 TornboroughA personal insight into

Detecting near ScheduledMonuments within a Rally.

David ConnollyArchaeologist


2/10

REVIEW OF DETECTING PRACTICE, PORTABLE ANTIQUITY SCHEME METHODS AND PERSONAL COMMENT FROM INDIVIDUALS.

2006 HORNBOURGH - HENGES - RALLY


3/10

I was wrong, and have only one thing to say.

FACTS - NOT TRUT HS

I arrived in York on Friday morning and walked to the stop where the PAS officers David Evans and Simon Holmes would pick me up. They warned me early on that this was going to be a tough rally. The detector ists did not want an archie anywhere near them and I was advised t o tread carefully. So we arrived a the rally and I saw what they meant, cars and motor homes spread

out in endless ranks, with sour faced men wandering between them, wield- ing detectors and shovels, some even had small picks. They ignored us as we set up the table with the crumpled recording sheets. Simon joked when

I asked about why we only had 10 sheets, that we would be lucky to get that many finds. They pocket most of it, he smiled, trying to hide the realisation that the pas was nothing but an expensive sham. I asked if I could go out into the field and

see what happened, they agreed, but told me to keep out of anything dodgy that I saw.

I walked up the lane to the central Henge, where a group of detectorists were already digging, I told them that it was scheduled and out of bounds, but they ignored me or shouted threats to try and get them ####ing off and anyway they were rescuing the finds. I got to the field next to the Henges, and looked I horror as hundreds of detectorists scoured the field, every few steps digging deep into the soil and tossing another artefact into their bags. I simply could not believe it as two axe heads swiftly appeared out the ground and just as quickly went into his pocket. I went up to stop him, but was surrounded by a group that started to jostle me and shout so I make me retreat and look back at the scene, if there are 500 detectorists here, and they are working 10 hours a day, at this rate about an artefact every 5 minutes) then this means that over 180,000

artefacts will be pulled out of the ground before this ends I hate to say it, but people were right about what happens there..

I was wrong, and have only one thing to say.

Absolute Horse Manure!

Now do you want to know what really happened, the truth, a dose of reality not 2ndhand, not glimpsed over a hedge, but actually there, talking, helping, and walking withpeople. I was able to talk to around 40 people, as well as watch the PAS in action.

So strap in and listen to the facts, which I know will not be accepted by some, which is ashame, as I do suggest that they actually experience things properly before condemning.


4/10

I turn up at 8:45 in York, and the memories are resurfacingas it was 24 years since I rst arrived in York as a diggeron my rst commercial job. I stood near Micklegate Barwaiting for the silver van to whisk me off to Tornborough.I jumped in with David Evans at the wheel, along withChris, an archaeologist and now studying a course inosteology at York University.

We picked up and Simon Holmes the other FLO forthis area and a student. Te feeling was upbeat, and Iwas prepared with what would be expected. Soon wearrived at the Vale of Pickering, and on to the Henges, atruly stunning landscape that gave no hint of the vast andstunning Henge monuments. No signs guided me to thesesites I felt I was lucky to be here, like so many monuments,the true potential is untapped. Soon the van pulled intothe carpark and next to the main tent. Inside were stallsselling coins, some artefacts and in the main parts fordetectors and clothes. Tere was a raffl e stall, which wasin aid of charity, as was most of the money collected fromdetectorists to be on the Rally. All around was a carnivalatmosphere, with people meeting up, families, friends,experts and amateurs very well organised, campingareas, toilet areas, generatorsand water all supplied.

I asked what we should do atthis point as it was still early,so Chris, Simon and I wentinto the eld, to meet peopleand get a handle on the area.Our rst stop was of coursethe Central Henge, muchdenuded but still a powerfulplace. Ten onto the rst eld,around a kilometre from the Henges. Te boundariesof the area were marked out with ags, to ensure noaccidental straying into non agreement land. Te eldhad detectorists spread across it, and my rst contact waswith Derek. We chatted about what could be found, whyI was there, the quarries, armac, the PAS etc. all of it was

positive talk, including something which was to become arecurring theme. He talked of how detectorists (almostexclusively) wanted to report what they nd, want to tellpeople, and would never think of selling on E-Bay, all wewant he said was recognition, respect and the chance tocooperate. Not much to ask, and given the antagonism, if

we (as archaeologists) were to accept that as a valid request,then we would have an incredible, enthusiastic support,rather than alienating people as thieves or looters, whocare little about the past

I was of course worried about over collection of intscatters, and had considered attempting to record them

if found, however, the PASand Norman had made itclear to everyone that itwas better not to collectint, unless it was a reallyobvious and recognisabletool and it would require agood grid reference (8 g orbetter). Which is why aplough battered Langdaleaxe popped onto the table.Better in than out in myopinion.

People were nding not much in the northeast section,and along with Chris and Simon, we eldwalked a bit,collecting (and recording with GPS) a int blade, tworoman rim sherds, a tiny piece of green glaze and myfavourite nd a George IV halfpenny!

In general the elds here seemed to be quite clean of metallic nds, at least to a depth of 8-12 You have toremember that deep signals are quite rare, as the targethas to be quite big to produce such a signal, a single coinfor example would be hard pressed to be found past 10,though ground conditions do play a part.

I ALKED O OVER 40 DE EC ORIS S OVERHE 2 DAYS, AND NO ONE OF HEM NO

ONE CARED ABOU MONEY, EACH AND

EVERY ONE HAD AN IN ERES IN HE PAS , ASDEEP AND AS VALID AS MINE ...... EXPLAININGDE AILS ABOU NEOLI HIC MONUMEN S,ABOU CUL URE AND RELIGION WE OOK

HE IME O LIS EN O EACH O HER..

M i c

k l e g a t e

B a r , Y

o r k


5/10

PAS Recording David and Simon were rst in line, recordingeither artefact or coin, with extensive knowledgeand a stack of books as backup, though in manycases, the detectorist themselves had a familiaritywith the objects.

While they described the artefact and gaveimportant advice on conservation, recording andstorage, the nd was passed to other volunteers(from the Universities of York & Newcastleor the local Ripon Community Archaeology

Project) who would measure, weigh, locate thendspot on a map and nally take photographsof the artefact that would ensure that the objectwas ready for entry onto the PAS database.

Te name and contact details of the nder werealso taken, to ensure that in the eventuality thatmore information was needed they could becontacted. Te whole process took 2-3 minutesand the object was then returned to the nder as only reasure would be retained.

No mess, no fuss, quick, easy and thus anaccessible way to record nds. I have to say thatI was impressed at this method, and I took partin all elements of the process I was also takenby the attitude of detectorists who were glad torecord, as the whole point, in their words, was tolet others know and see what was found.

No mess, no fuss , quick & easy an accessible way to record


6/10

We returned down the lane past the Henges again badlyeroded by ploughing and even nibbled by quarrying buteven now, even in this raw state, they are impressive andworth monuments that deserve respect and cherishingfor future generations Each detectorist I spoke towas clear what they thought... the Henges should bepreserved as they are and in the landscape!

Te PAS nds table was ready for recording and everyonetook their place, waiting for the rush, of course now itmade sense that very very few nds would actually needrecording.. not unless Levi jeans buttons and tractorbits suddenly become important!

Much has been said about the number of artefactsrecovered from ground, but it seems important to pointout that every location is different and in general (or

should I say in almost all cases) the objects that arefound are parts of tractors, and items dating to the19th and 20th centuries with rubbish or nightsoil beingthrown on the elds. What I saw with my own eyes wasa large collection of 19th and 20th century coins, theodd lead shot, shotgun cartridge bases, lead, watch keys,ring pulls, button, tractor parts, more lumps or lead,some more buttons and even more bottle tops (mainlybudweiser!)

I was interested in the density of holes and signals dug..where I counted around 10-15 per 50m square..

I had many interesting discussions with detectorists,who all treated me with politeness, gentle ribbing andrespect, who would offer lifts to parts of the Rally or just say hello or offer a pint!- (my lack of detector kind of gave away who I was!)Many rounded on the conceptof of respect, recognition and cooperation. Nobodycould see why they were so shunned by archaeologistsin general, which would not make sense if you yourself had done nothing to provoke these feelings. So it wasuseful to explain the problems and concerns that wethe archaeological community had. All it takes is a bitof communication. Tat evening I stayed behind andpitched my tent. I then had an enjoyable meal in the localpub and returned to enjoyable conversation and enjoyableBlack Sheep Ale! Tere was indeed much enjoyment.!I was happy to be in a place where the atmosphere wasone of getting together, signing, drinking, chatting,

drinking and swapping talltales. I crawled off to mytent... happy and content andmulled over the day.

Ready for the next morning.and the most controversial -where detecting would be closeto the Henges. I top up on amisty morning with coffee anda bacon roll (I think!).


7/10

PAS still has to learn thoughAs the detectorists came in for lunch, it was my rst time seeing the FLOs in action it was poetry in motion, a uid,systematic and well prepared methodology. Of course this is only one such region and I am aware that other regions arenot as prepared for these events - one notable Rally where a FLO was invited by the organisers, only to be told at the lastmoment they were going off on a eld survey instead. Tis did not give a good impression to the detectorists who hadasked for the PAS to be involved and could be seen as a lesson to be learned. Tis aside, I think the PAS has learned over

the past few years and as a young organisation with no real precedent it has had to learn the hard way, not by example,but by, in some cases, trial and error.

o say the PAS was perfect would be as much a lie as saying that every detectorist was a saint or every archaeologist wasgood at excavation We do live in an imperfect world, and as such I feel that we have to live in it with eyes open but anopen mind. I looked around here and was more than happy that everyone I spoke to was honest and open. Tere willalways be those that think they can beat a system - trying to launder nds at a respectable Rally, but for them it is harder- the FLOs are not stupid, and can spot a nd that is out of place and can also see whether a nd is unusually clean, orperhaps has a different soil matrix than the local topsoil. Add to this the attitude of detectorists, who also do not likea respectable hobby being open to criticism by the actions of a few... and things are changing. Yes teh PAS have a lot tolearn, but the FLOs I met are doing just that. Pragmatic, honest and caring about what they do... I would also go as far

as to say they are respected by the detectorists, and this is evident in the number of nds brought in to them

No sys tem can be perfec t , No br idges are bui l t wi thout t ry ing .

But so do we all....It can be easy to mark out the PAS as being ineffectual, or detectorists to be only interested in the get rich quick nd. Andwe have to look hard at ourselves to ask, why we think that. It is possible to have only looked at the minority or lookedonly at the failures of the PAS, or even not looked at all. I nd not diffi culty in supporting the work of the PAS and alsosupport the private venture by detectorists - the UKDFD online recording and database system. I have no diffi culty insupporting archaeology and local heritage groups and detectorists or well organised club rallies. After being at this rally- and one in Bannockburn - I have no real fears - Te only worry I do have, is the vestiges of mistrust that remain andthreaten a massive potential of cross group support and activity that is surely the best way forward for us all.

Once I felt the same - mistrusting and suspicious, then I decided to nd out - now I know that like me, most people justhave an interest in the past, If I can work with them, rather than against, the dividends are enormous!


8/10

All detectorists were called into the main tent beforesetting off for the morning. Te landowner and Normanmade it crystal clear that this was a Rally that requiredeveryone to act in a way that would not discredit thehobby. Te boundaries and buffer for the Scheduled siteswas displayed, explained and the need for care emphasised.I happened to be sitting in a corner, nishing off my baconroll when all this happened, and was impressed that sucha speech was made (but then I may have just been showingmy bias again, by thinking that such explanations and carewould not take place)

Te image above shows the area of the henges (thescheduled areas in orange and the areas I personallywalked with detectorists shown in green.

As you can see I was present at the most sensitive detecting

sites and had visited them with Norman to discuss themthe day before. I had said that I was not that condentabout nds in these areas, because of the ritual nature of the Henges, the probable use pattern, etc... however, it didnot mean that nothing actually happened or nothing wouldbe found. It was in fact from tea northern elds that thebronze axe came. A real gem of a nd, all recorded andavailable for anyone to study. (If grins could get bigger, Ihave yet to see one!) Te thought of some of these morefragile artefacts lying so close to the surface and beingploughed and rolled twice a year makes me realise the

truth behind the English Heritage report, Ripping Up thePAS . We have to be realistic though, and realise thatwe have to eat, we have to cultivate the land, we have tomove on.

If we continue the way it seems we are moving - perhapstoo quick for some and not quick enough for others - wehave an opportunity to all benet. Sites and artefactscan be rescued (only if they are recorded and located to adecent 8 or 10 gure locale)

It was clear there are two sides to the argument, - one beingthe need to retain artefacts in context, while the other was

the slow destruction of artefacts with farming processes.It is a question we must ask ourselves, is it better to holdtightly to an object that will be crushed and gone in a

decade? or is it better to locate them and perhaps newsites? WE HAVE O HINK FAS !

Another interesting conundrum is the problem of detectorists nding new sites - and then being told to clearoff... as you are not allowed to detect on sites - clearly aCatch 22... one solved by rewarding the nder with theability to continue to detect the disturbed topsoil of thesite on the continued understanding of full recording -supporting - rather than punishing.

At the end I enjoyed myself, I often thought what would bethe chances of getting 400 archaeologists and their friendstogether for a get-to-together and a eld survey? Perhapsthats where we are missing out, perhaps we have to havefun as well as be serious, perhaps we should rememberthat we dont have the monopoly on the past.

Will I take up detecting? I doubt it. Did I enjoy myself?Certainly! Will I go back? Most likely. Will I supportmore openess! YES! Nothing is perfect, but this was areal eye opener and has my vote.


9/10

Te ResultsI received these initial results from David Evans of the PAS and have been kindly permitted to reproduce them here.You will see the gures of recorded nds, by type, period and recorder. It is also interesting to note the number of rejected nds that were brought to the table but did not meet the criteria (including my George IV Halfpenny!)

215 artefact records from Thornborough representing ca 240 objects (& another 35 records from elsewhere)

103 named nders who recorded (46 for the rst time ever with PAS) - 13 anonymous records

But the FLOs saw nds from at least 150-200 nders given that not every nd that was reported was recorde.And some of those who didnt record said they would do so with their home FLO, and over 100+ PAS recordinglea ets were given out.), Many also asked for asked for advice on conservation, etc. Overall the PAS probablymade contact with well over half the detectorists there and recorded nds from the majority of those who hadfound anything recordable (pre 1700 only, sorry David!). (Im not bitter! _ Ed)

Te nds broken down by period are

Mesolithic/Neolithic/Bronze Age - 23Iron Age - 6Roman - 16Anglo-Saxon/Viking - 1Medieval - 94Post-medieval - 66Uncertain - 9

and by type

coins - 72coin weight - 1 jetons - 2tokens - 8brooches - 7buckles - 22other dress ttings - 10strap ttings - 13tools (thimbles, parts of knives) - 12

seal matrices - 2vessels - 7weights - 9whorls - 18ints - 19axes - (1 bronze, 1 Langdalepolished stone, and 1 Langdale frag-ment)

3

miscellaneous - 7uncertain - 3

Te nds broken down by period are and by type

Tese are all a bit rough at the moment, some things may change either period (wheres the distinction between medieval and post-medi-eval for buckles) or type (eg dress and strap ttings) when we have time to examine individual records. However some things stand outalready. Firstly there is very little Roman material compared with other rallies, and none of it came from the elds around the henges.

Tere is also less post-medieval than might have been expected, very little 16th century. And the medieval coinage was earlier than mighthave been expected, lots of short cross pennies and few 15th century long cross pennies. Maybe connected with the abandonment of Eastaneld DMV? Also far more spindle whorls than usual, and weights which may also be connected with wool. Not sure if this is signi-

cant yet though, and may relate to a settlement other than the DMV.

Finally more prehistoric material than normal, presumably because of the henges. Tough low density

When weve done more well be able to pass it all on to those interested - N Yorks County Council, Jan Harding at Newcastle Uni, MikeGrifftiths Associates ( armacs archaeologists) Stephen Moorhouse (a landscape historian whos worked on Tornborough) etc.

Final Tanks : BAJR would like to thank all those who invited, allowed to assist, work with, chatted, discussed, and generally made this amemorable time. o Norman, Simon, David and too many others to mention, and special thanks to Christopher Bourne-Arton.


10/10

Henges Ral ly

British Archaeological Jobs Resource, Traprain House, Luggate Burn, East Lothian, EH41 4QA

www.bajr.org www.bajr.org

2006 THORNBOURGH - HENGES - RALLY

Documents