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Archaeology

Archaeology

 

The KAS has been directly involved in conducting fieldwork in Kent since 1860. Future fieldwork undertaken by the Society will be overseen by the Archaeology Research Group (formerly the KAS Fieldwork Committee). The functions of the Research Group are:

  • To promote responsible archaeological research, excavation, field-walking, field survey and training courses in the County.
  • To arrange and organise fieldwork/excavation projects on behalf of the KAS as and when appropriate opportunities arise.
  • To arrange and organise lectures as appropriate, together with at least one day Conference and one Fieldwork Forum each year.
  • To oversee and encourage working sub-groups, such as the Pottery Reference Collection, the Ceramics sub-group and the Lithics sub-group. Additional sub-groups to be setup as and when needed.
  • To provide information and advice to the Trustees & KAS Management concerning: potential new KAS acquisitions and recent discoveries.
  • To provide advice to other excavators in Kent if requested and to provide practical support whenever appropriate or possible.
  • To encourage publication of the results of fieldwork in Kent, either through Archaeologica Cantiana or the Society Magazine or elsewhere by grant.
  • To review applications for grants for fieldwork and to make recommendations to Trustees on their merits.
  • Keep watch for planning applications/developments in Kent that might have a significant heritage impact and advise the Trustees and KAS Management accordingly.
Group News

Start of Lees Court Estate Project season 2024

The Kent Archaeological Society is all set to resume its investigation into the Prehistoric landscape at Lees Court Estate in 2024. We can't wait to continue our exploration of this fascinating site.

 

Richard Taylor will conduct geophysical surveys in the areas surrounding the current excavation sites between March and May 2024. These surveys will help identify potential targets for future investigations as part of the wider Lees Court Estate Project.

Lees Court Estate post-excavation interview

Submitted by Jacob Scott on 27 October 2023
Archaeologists Steve Willis, Keith Parfitt and Richard Taylor discuss the initial findings from the May 2018 excavation of the ring ditch in Stringman's Field on Lees Court Estate.

Lees Court Estate: Interview with an archaeologist

Submitted by Jacob Scott on 25 October 2023
An interview with an archaeologist on the recent dig at Lees Court Estate near Badlesmere where seasonal excavations since 2018 have revealed clues to a prehistoric burial landscape.

Wood's Court Field Week 1

Submitted by Clive Drew on 10 September 2019
Clive Drew provides an update on the first few days on site and the preparation for the next few weeks excavation in Wood's Court at Lees Court Estate.

 

During August all our equipment, containers, marquees, offices and toilets have been moved to Wood’s Court Field. They have all had a good clean and are now ready for you.

Stringmans Field Excavation - Days 4 & 5

Submitted by Richard Taylor on 7 September 2019
Richard Taylor provides an update on excavations in Stringmans Field at Lees Court Estate.

 

Days 4 & 5 were spent finishing off the initial excavations at Stringmans Field while investigating potential areas for further excavation next year. Once again, volunteers from several archaeological groups worked tirelessly, excavating, cleaning, photographing and planning aspects of the Prehistoric monument.

Stringmans Excavation Episode 3 - Revenge of the Monument

Submitted by Richard Taylor on 4 September 2019
Richard Taylor provides an update on excavations in Stringmans Field at Lees Court Estate.

 

Following on from Fred Birkbeck's fantastic work at Badlesmere Bottom (top work Fred), attention has now turned to Woodcourt Field (with Keith Parfitt) and Stringmans Field (with Richard Taylor). Keith will blog separately about the wonders of Woodcourt Field, so for now, here is an update regarding the current goings-on at Stringmans Field.

Badlesmere Bottom 2019 - Day 11

Submitted by Fred Birkbeck on 30 August 2019
Penultimate day of the Badlesmere Bottom dig and all features are getting tidied, drawn and recorded.

 

Some sterling work on the sections in trench 3 have revealed some interesting stratigraphy and some phasing of activity.

Badlesmere Bottom 2019 - Day 10

Submitted by Fred Birkbeck on 30 August 2019
Fred Birkbeck reports on another day of excavations at Badlesmere Bottom on Lees Court Estate.

 

Badlesmere Bottom 2019 - Day 9

Submitted by Fred Birkbeck on 28 August 2019
A report on training day for the excavations at Badlesmere Bottom on Lees Court Estate.

 

What a difference day makes - 24 little hours later and we start the day with rain showers. Plenty of volunteers today for training day on the Lees Court Estate. We had volunteers and members from 5 different groups today including Maidstone and Lympne as well as Folkestone, Faversham and Shorne.

Badlesmere Bottom - Day 8

Submitted by Fred Birkbeck on 27 August 2019

Fred Birkbeck reports on excavations at Badlesmere Bottom on Lees Court Estate.

We were back on site today after our bank holiday break, replenished and ready to go.

Badlesmere Bottom 2019 - Days 6 and 7

Submitted by Fred Birkbeck on 26 August 2019
Fred Birkbeck reports on day 5 of the dig at Badlesmere Bottom at Lees Court Estate.

 

Phew, what a scorcher! The last two days have certainly taken their toll on us at Badlesmere Bottom, the daily update machine has needed extra ventilation and is now back in operation with a double update.

Badlesmere Bottom 2019 - Day 5

Submitted by Fred Birkbeck on 23 August 2019
Fred Birkbeck reports on day 5 of the dig at Badlesmere Bottom at Lees Court Estate.

 

Work continues on day 5 of our dig and what a fantastic amount of work KAS members are getting through. Lady Sondes was impressed and fascinated when she visited the site late in the afternoon.

Badlesmere Bottom 2019 - Day 4

Submitted by Fred Birkbeck on 22 August 2019
Members aplenty at the Badlesmere Bottom dig today, the word has escaped that we have some interesting archaeology to be investigated.

 

The increase in numbers meant that we could devote our attentions to trench 3 and leave trenches 1 and 2 for now. This trench was positioned along a group of three linear anomalies and the northern edge of a circular anomaly based on the results of the geophysical survey (see the annotated results below)

Badlesmere Bottom 2019 - Day 3

Submitted by Fred Birkbeck on 21 August 2019
Day 3 on site and time to start digging in earnest (in very compact clay in actual fact!).

 

The first 'slot' of the season was opened on a very innocuous looking linear in trench 1. The first couple of spades produced some Iron Age potter which puts a whole different perspective on the trench. Any thoughts of a quick clean-up, record and shut-down were quickly put to one side.

Badlesmere Bottom 2019 - Day 2

Submitted by Fred Birkbeck on 20 August 2019
Much progress made by the KAS Project Team at Lees Court today.

 

The containers and office arrived on the Woods Court site newly stocked and refurbished (with some heavy duty security after last year's break-in). Members and council members alike were involved with the setting up of the marquee, organisation of the stock container and preparation of the administrative material, all ready for members to pop down and get cracking straight away.

Badlesmere Bottom 2019 - Day 1

Submitted by Fred Birkbeck on 19 August 2019
Logistics day at Lees Court Estate for the first day of the Badlesmere Bottom excavations.

 

Members of the Folkstone Research and Archaeology Group, the Shorne Woods Archaeological Group and the Faversham Society Archaeological Research Group were out today helping Richard and I to set up for the two week 'warm up' dig in advance of Keith's hoard dig.

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