Report on Fieldwork Forum 2023

On Saturday, 18 March, representatives of various local groups and societies across Kent gathered at the old medieval barn, Badlesmere, on the Lees Court estate, for the 2023 KAS annual Fieldwork

Forum. This year’s topic chosen for discussion was prehistoric flintwork and how to recognise it. The thinking behind this was that as substantial quantities of such flint material are likely to be discovered at the Society’s nearby excavations in Stringman’s Field, this would be a valuable introduction for site workers.

[fg]Delegates at the Fieldwork Forum enjoying Stan Matthews’s talk.[/fg]

About twenty delegates assembled for a day of informal talks and discussion concerning the development of flintwork, how to identify it and the various methods used to collect it in the field. A special feature of the day was Stan Matthews’s account of his current research into Peter Tester’s collection of flints of Clactonian type, discovered at Swanscombe. Such flints are seldom identified elsewhere in Kent, and handling some real specimens from the Tester collection was beneficial.

Several delegates also brought examples of their own flints for display and discussion. Some fine Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic implements were exhibited. Gerald Cramp showed an excellent example of an Acheulian handaxe found on the high downs outside Dover, near St Radigund’s Abbey.

This had also been discovered by Peter Tester back in 1949. Thought to have been lost in the intervening years, the find itself had previously been published in Arch. Cant., with a helpful drawing, allowing immediate identification of the piece. It was carefully marked with details of the find-spot, reinforcing the necessity for careful recording of surface discoveries.

Overall, the day was very successful, and the general feeling was that another flint study day would be worthwhile, so we may arrange another in the near future.

Thanks to all the delegates who took part and to KAS Trustee, Elizabeth Roberts at Lees Court for providing the venue.