What’s Under Your School? Project report
Since 2010 Claire Ryley and Julian Richards have carried out a number of archaeological projects involving schools and it was suggested last year that this work could be extended to a larger number of schools and thus the "What's Under your School" project was conceived. The idea was that all forms of archaeological investigation, from documentary research and field observation to aerial photography and geophysical survey would have the potential to engage wide audiences of young people with their heritage. An initial bid for funding to the Heritage Lottery Fund was turned down but a very generous private donor has stepped forward so the project can get underway.
The data gathering reported on in our last update continues and there is still an element of ‘fire fighting’ – having to respond to the needs and requests of the schools that we are working with on an individual basis. The delivery to schools is, however, falling into a pattern with initial sessions focusing on introducing the idea of ‘evidence’ - via an ’Archaeology is rubbish’ activity, often linked to an exploratory walk in the village/locality. This then generates observations and ideas for a follow up session in which ideas of time can be further explored.
Another activity that often forms part of our introductory session is the ‘Indoor dig’ - a 4m x 4m ‘excavation’ with ‘layers’ (artificial grass and carpet) and ‘finds’ (real and replica) that is designed to show how archaeologists find clues and interpret them. This can be modified to represent different periods (Iron Age round house, Saxon hut etc) according to the focus of the schools project.
The degree to which individual schools take what we are offering and develop it in our absence is very much down to individual teachers. In some instances we have delivered a first session and have returned to be completely bowled over by the breadth and depth of the work that has been developed from it. In such cases our involvement is no longer required. In other schools it is clear that our involvement is needed to help develop ideas and suggest directions. This flexibility is essential and is only possible given the flexible nature of our funding. Working under the terms of an HLF grant would, we fear have been almost impossible.
We are currently running just under our projected budget level to end of April.
A report on activities in Dorset schools has been submitted to the DAC for the meeting on the 17th May.
Our project sponsor has been invited to be a special guest at our conference this November and has also been invited to attend our first school excavation, at Bourton Primary School on Friday 1st June. All are welcome to come and observe but this will be the second of two very busy days there so please bear that in mind.
To summarise our activities to date:
Porton (Wilts)
Delivered two sessions including a village walk focussing on water. Discovered quantities of Neolithic flints under fallen tree. Supplied teaching resources. Now ended.
Wilton and Barford (Wilts)
Walks and delivered whole day on river/water theme. Start of a major river project for them. Now ended.
Spetisbury (Dorset)
Settlement study. Walk and activities. School creating museum of finds for mid June. Search for missing village cross base. Wanted posters.
Broad Chalke (Wilts)
Settlement study. Discovered new earthworks on walk. Investigating possibility of survey and geophysics on ‘mystery earthwork’ in village centre (unfortunately scheduled) .
Fontmell Magna (Dorset)
Settlement study. Walk centred on water (Springhead). Mesolithic flints from near spring. Studying finds and possibility of test pits in autumn.
Forres Sandle Manor (Hants)
Study of school grounds centred on walled garden. Clearance of overgrown areas and survey with idea of developing restoration plan.
Bryanston (Dorset)
Desk based study of school grounds to determine surviving archaeological potential for areas of RB burial and settlement. Excavation of test pits in advance of new building 26th-27th May.
Newton Tony (Wilts)
Settlement study. First session resulted in finds from village.
Durrington (Wilts)
Settlement study. Reconstructing Saxon/Medieval Durrington. Mapwork going on and plans for test pits in vicarage garden.
Wimborne St Giles (Dorset)
Focus on deserted settlement and church site of All Hallows. Walk involved visit to church site for observation/deduction. Brilliant site for this. Geophysics may be taking place.
Pimperne (Dorset)
Settlement study.
Bourton (Dorset)
Search for Victorian school burnt down in 1983. Children have done amazing documentary research. Oral history project just starting. Trial pits to confirm findings arranged for 31stMay/1st June.
Witchampton (Dorset)
Settlement study but focused on Roman period. Villa and possible temple (?) in village. Hoping to be able to carry out geophysics on temple site (Scheduled...).
Several more schools will be coming ‘on stream’ before the end of term.
Julian Richards and Claire Ryley May 2012
Since 2010 Claire Ryley and Julian Richards have carried out a number of archaeological projects involving schools and it was suggested last year that this work could be extended to a larger number of schools and thus the "What's Under your School" project was conceived. The idea was that all forms of archaeological investigation, from documentary research and field observation to aerial photography and geophysical survey would have the potential to engage wide audiences of young people with their heritage. An initial bid for funding to the Heritage Lottery Fund was turned down but a very generous private donor has stepped forward so the project can get underway.
The data gathering reported on in our last update continues and there is still an element of ‘fire fighting’ – having to respond to the needs and requests of the schools that we are working with on an individual basis. The delivery to schools is, however, falling into a pattern with initial sessions focusing on introducing the idea of ‘evidence’ - via an ’Archaeology is rubbish’ activity, often linked to an exploratory walk in the village/locality. This then generates observations and ideas for a follow up session in which ideas of time can be further explored.
Another activity that often forms part of our introductory session is the ‘Indoor dig’ - a 4m x 4m ‘excavation’ with ‘layers’ (artificial grass and carpet) and ‘finds’ (real and replica) that is designed to show how archaeologists find clues and interpret them. This can be modified to represent different periods (Iron Age round house, Saxon hut etc) according to the focus of the schools project.
The degree to which individual schools take what we are offering and develop it in our absence is very much down to individual teachers. In some instances we have delivered a first session and have returned to be completely bowled over by the breadth and depth of the work that has been developed from it. In such cases our involvement is no longer required. In other schools it is clear that our involvement is needed to help develop ideas and suggest directions. This flexibility is essential and is only possible given the flexible nature of our funding. Working under the terms of an HLF grant would, we fear have been almost impossible.
We are currently running just under our projected budget level to end of April.
A report on activities in Dorset schools has been submitted to the DAC for the meeting on the 17th May.
Our project sponsor has been invited to be a special guest at our conference this November and has also been invited to attend our first school excavation, at Bourton Primary School on Friday 1st June. All are welcome to come and observe but this will be the second of two very busy days there so please bear that in mind.
To summarise our activities to date:
Porton (Wilts)
Delivered two sessions including a village walk focussing on water. Discovered quantities of Neolithic flints under fallen tree. Supplied teaching resources. Now ended.
Wilton and Barford (Wilts)
Walks and delivered whole day on river/water theme. Start of a major river project for them. Now ended.
Spetisbury (Dorset)
Settlement study. Walk and activities. School creating museum of finds for mid June. Search for missing village cross base. Wanted posters.
Broad Chalke (Wilts)
Settlement study. Discovered new earthworks on walk. Investigating possibility of survey and geophysics on ‘mystery earthwork’ in village centre (unfortunately scheduled) .
Fontmell Magna (Dorset)
Settlement study. Walk centred on water (Springhead). Mesolithic flints from near spring. Studying finds and possibility of test pits in autumn.
Forres Sandle Manor (Hants)
Study of school grounds centred on walled garden. Clearance of overgrown areas and survey with idea of developing restoration plan.
Bryanston (Dorset)
Desk based study of school grounds to determine surviving archaeological potential for areas of RB burial and settlement. Excavation of test pits in advance of new building 26th-27th May.
Newton Tony (Wilts)
Settlement study. First session resulted in finds from village.
Durrington (Wilts)
Settlement study. Reconstructing Saxon/Medieval Durrington. Mapwork going on and plans for test pits in vicarage garden.
Wimborne St Giles (Dorset)
Focus on deserted settlement and church site of All Hallows. Walk involved visit to church site for observation/deduction. Brilliant site for this. Geophysics may be taking place.
Pimperne (Dorset)
Settlement study.
Bourton (Dorset)
Search for Victorian school burnt down in 1983. Children have done amazing documentary research. Oral history project just starting. Trial pits to confirm findings arranged for 31stMay/1st June.
Witchampton (Dorset)
Settlement study but focused on Roman period. Villa and possible temple (?) in village. Hoping to be able to carry out geophysics on temple site (Scheduled...).
Several more schools will be coming ‘on stream’ before the end of term.
Julian Richards and Claire Ryley May 2012
