Newsletter
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Annual General Meeting
This was held on 16th May 1972 at St. Mary’s Church House. The
Chairman being unavoidably absent, hi s report was read in which he
gave the latest details of the Society’s membership – an increase of 38
over the previous year. He reported a year of continued success, apart
from the ever present financial problems and the adjustments
necessitated by the change of hall for lectures. It was to be hoped
that the current programme of outings would prove popular and be well
supported.
The meeting agreed to a resolution that the annual
subscription to the Society should be raised. The new rates are –
Members over 18 years; £1.00, Members under 18 years: 65p; Members over
60 years: 75p. It is possible that non-members attending functions may
be charged a small fee.
Councillor Mrs. Freedman, a vice-chairman of the Society,
presided over the meeting with a light touch that set the tone for the
evening that everyone seemed to enjoy very much. After coffee and
biscuits, Ryamond Lowe showed some colour slides to test our knowledge
of things Roman.
The following officers were elected: -
Chairman: - B. A. Jarman, Esq; Vice-Chairman: - E. Sammes,
Esq; Hon. Secretary: - Mrs. B. Grafton Green; Hon. Treasurer: - R.
Deacon, Esq; Committee: - Mrs. Arnott, Mr. Clynes, Mr. Enderby, Miss
Fear, Miss Gould, Mr. Grant, Miss Holiday, Mr. Long, Mrs. Lorimer, Miss
Trewick, Mrs. Wilkinson, Mr. Wookey.
Next Outing
Details of the next outing, to Grimes Graves on June 10th, are
enclosed. This is the first of our new-style outings which are intended
to be mainly archaeological, rather than historical, and we hope very
much that members will support it. It is hoped to see something of
every archaeological period from Neolithic through to Saxon.
Do keep the following dates free – more precise details nearer the time : -
15th July – Sittingbourne Sailing Barge Museum
19th August – Strand Looping
9th September – Winchester – Roman Villa.
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Excavations
31-41 The Burroughs, Hendon
Excavation has been going on at The Burroughs for the last
three weekends. Ted Sammes has reported great enthusiasm among those
reporting for duty – even Cup Final Saturday produced 7 volunteers! 5
squares have been opened up – the area is generally much disturbed,
even at 1 ½ meters down, where in the first trench in the garden area
many clay pipes have been found, approximately 1940 dating, mixed with
modern b=debris. Work will continue at the site for at least another
three to four weeks, so that any further offers of assistance will be
welcome.
It will be necessary to suspend recordings at St. Mary’s Churchyard for the time being.
Trading Stamps
A new excavation season has revealed the need for another
wheelbarrow, as well as further supplies of tools. Last year, the
Treasurer was able to buy a wheelbarrow with pink shield stamps and he
is endeavouring to do the same this year. All types of trading stamps
will be gratefully received by him.
It will be a tremendous help to the Treasurer if
subscriptions are forwarded to him, as these are now due for 1972/3.
The new rates have been given earlier in this newsletter.
Field Course
There will be a one week field course at Highgate Wood from 1st-7th
July, from 9.30 – 5.30 p.m. This course is being arranged by the
Department of Extra-Mural Studies at the University of London.
Following weeks will be spent on the site where excavation has taken
place each summer since 1966, investigating the Roman pottery
manufacturing site operative there 100-200 a.d. Mr Harvey Sheldon, who
is one of the course tutors, can be approached for information.
Timna Valley
Enclosed is a letter from the Anglo-Israel Friendship League of
Finchley, inviting our members to a lecture on Tuesday 13th June, at 8
p.m. at Avenue House, N3. The speaker, Mr. P. Woodhuysen, was deputy
director of the dig and arranged the British Museum exhibit on it last
summer. This lecture on the Biblical copper mines will be of particular
interest to all our members and we know there are a large number, who
are particularly interested in Middle Eastern archaeology.
There is an interesting collection of Medieval material at
the London Museum (Kensington Palace, W8) entitled “Chaucer’s London,
Mirror of all England”. Manuscripts of Chaucer’s work are on display.
Open 10-6 daily, 2-6 on Sundays, entrance 20p (10p for children).
Closing date 31st August.
Those members interested in Industrial Archaeology may like
to know that Penguin are publishing a Pelican original with this title
on 29th June. Industrial Archaeology by R. A. Buchan, 60p.
Members may also care to have a note of three books from
the Bodley Head Archaeologies – they can be ordered from the local
library if not bought for £1.95 each.
“Introducing Archaeology” by Magnus Magnusson – a history of the
development of Archaeology, and pointing the opportunities now open to
amateur archaeologists.
“Digging up the Bible Lands” by Ronald Harker, including recent Masada
excavations and further information on the Dead Sea Scrolls.
“The Archaeology of Ancient Egypt” by T. G. H. James who is giving the lecture on May 24th at Westfield College on Tutankhamun.