KAS Newsletter, Issue 3, Spring 1983
A New Purchase: Two Celtic Coins
by David Kelly, B.A., F.S.A., A.M.A.
The two Celtic coins illustrated were purchased recently by the Kent Archaeological Society. The Society already possessed ten Gallo-Belgic gold staters and one quarter-stater, but only one inscribed or dynastic coin, a quarter-stater of Cunobelin from Birchington. Maidstone Museum also possesses ten staters, but again these are all Gallo-Belgic or British uninscribed. Thus the two coins described here are valuable additions to the collections, which are normally displayed together. Strangely enough, neither collection contains a single bronze Celtic coin and there is but one potin coin.
The little silver coin was found in Snodland about two years ago. The obverse shows a rather grotesque head, the reverse a curious horse on a field of ring and ring-and-dot ornament. There is no exact parallel, but the coin falls within Allen's British L.X group, found mainly north of the Thames and contemporary with the British L staters, dated by him to between 40-20 B.C.
The gold stater of Cunobelin was found in a garden at Sittingbourne in 1951. The obverse shows an ear of barley and the legend CAMV, for Camulodunum (Colchester) in Essex, the Capital of Cunobelin. The reverse has a prancing horse, with a bough above and ring-and-dot below. The reverse legend is invariably CVN or CVNO, for Cunobelin, but since the reverse has been struck slightly off-center only the CV are visible.
Cunobelin was the king reigning over the Catuvellauni and Trinovantes from about A.D. 10 to A.D. 40. If, as is usually accepted, the presence of coins in fairly large numbers indicates the dominion of their issuer as well as their use in commerce, Cunobelin ruled over an area which stretched from Essex westward along the north side of the Thames as far as Oxfordshire and northwest to the River Welland. Outside this area upwards of thirty of his coins have been found in East Kent and D. F. Allen thought that Cunobelin had acquired power there by about A.D. 25. West Kent has produced only four of Cunobelin's coins, though there are over a dozen issued by his father Tasciovanus.
Cunobelin issued coins in gold, silver, and bronze in very large quantities, bronze being the commonest, on the basis of finds, and silver the least numerous. Allen has suggested that over the thirty-year period of his reign Cunobelin might have issued as many as a million gold staters. In his study of Cunobelin's gold coins, Allen, by means of die analysis, divided the staters into five series, the second to fifth having the ear of barley and prancing horse. The Sittingbourne stater belongs to the later coins, with ring-and-dot under the horse, of the third series, to which Allen gave the name Wild because of the untamed appearance of the horse, and may thus have been issued in the middle period of Cunobelin's reign.
Have you paid your subscriptions for 1983?
Members are reminded that subscriptions for the current year were due on 1st January. Under the Society's Rules only those whose subscriptions have been paid will be eligible to take part in the postal ballot for the election of officers and members of Council. Equally, Volume 98 of Archaeologia Cantiana, due to be published in late July, will only be supplied to those members whose subscriptions have been paid. Outstanding subscriptions at the new rates of, £7 individual member, £9 joint members (husband and wife), £3 junior members (under 21 years), £7 Affiliated Societies and £10 Institutions should be sent to The Hon. Membership Secretary, Mr R. Mills.
If you are changing your address please inform the Hon. Membership Secretary as above.
Editorial
Since 1977 a small number of members have assisted with the distribution of Archaeologia Cantiana. Over 700 volumes have been delivered in this way each year and the remainder have been posted by the printers in Gloucestershire. The distribution cost to the Society has thus been substantially reduced. For example, in 1981, the cost was only £1,164 for 1,312 volumes.
In 1982, we increased our efforts in order to save yet more money. We took delivery of all 1,500 copies of Vol. 97 from the printers and organized the distribution of these ourselves, together with some seven inserts. Over 800 books were hand-delivered by volunteers and the remainder were posted. Each volume weighed just under one kilo and so the cost of posting these books from Gloucester would have been £1.20 plus 32p for packaging. A total of 1,410 volumes were distributed altogether, and if all these had been posted in Gloucester, it would have cost in the region of £2,100. By the unstinting support of members, the total cost of distributing Vol. 97 was only £880, a saving of at least £1,220.
Money Saved
This considerable saving to the Society has only been possible through the efforts of a small number of members. They have given freely of their time (and their petrol!). I should like to take this opportunity to thank these members, on behalf of us all, for their work for the Society.
It is hoped to extend this scheme even further in 1983, if we can get more members to take part. With more volunteers, we would be in a position to hand-deliver an even greater number of volumes in Kent and London. If you are able to assist us in this way, we would be grateful if you would complete the form inserted separately with this Newsletter.
The suggestion has been made that the money saved for the Society in this way should be used for a definite purpose. It has been decided that the money saved on postage be used to offset the production costs of the Newsletter. The number of issues per year will be increased to three. These will be published on 1st January, 1st May, and the 1st September.
Our Society
As stated in our first issue, the aim of the Newsletter is to publicize the activities of the K.A.S., its members, Affiliated Societies, and Branches.
Unfortunately, over the last few years, a number of half-truths, distortions, and subtle innuendos about the Society and its Officers have been maliciously spread about. This has been done by a small number of people who have by now made themselves well known to most members! It is a pity that they do not channel their efforts into making a positive contribution towards the activities of our Society.
After reading the Annual Report and this Newsletter, I am sure that the vast majority of members will agree that your Officers and Council Members, working through the various Committees and in cooperation with the Affiliated Societies and Branches, are fulfilling the objectives of the Society.
Ted Connell
Next Copy Date
The copy date for the Autumn issue will be on the 1st July 1983 and all contributions should' be sent to the Editor.
AGM 1983
The Annual General Meeting of the Society is to be held on Saturday 21st May. Enclosed with this Newsletter are an Agenda, a draft copy of the revision of the rules, and other papers. The venue this year is the Sevenoaks School for Girls (formerly the Hatton School), situated in Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks, on the A25 just west of the junction with the A225. Bat & Ball Station is just 10 minutes walk away, and Sevenoaks Station some 20 minutes. Tea and coffee will be available from 10 a.m. and again during the break for lunch. Facilities will be available for members to stay and eat any packed lunch they bring. The business meeting starts at 10.30 a.m. and the afternoon session will commence at 2.30 p.m.
For the afternoon lecture, we are very fortunate to have Mr Peter J. Reynolds, M.A., F.S.A., Director of the Butser Ancient Farm Project Trust, who will give a talk about the work of the Trust.
The Butser Ancient Farm, situated on the Hampshire Chalklands, near Petersfield, carries out experiments designed to increase our understanding of the agricultural economy of Britain at the end of the Iron Age. Since 1972, the Project has been exploring some of the fundamental problems of Iron Age technology and agriculture. Houses have been built, pits dug, iron and bronze smelted, pottery fired, fields cultivated, crops grown, bread baked, beer brewed, and animals reared and fed. In this way it has been possible to test the explanations and theories raised upon archaeological evidence. In reality, the Ancient Farm is a huge open-air scientific laboratory for research into prehistoric archaeology and agriculture.
This year at the A.G.M. there will be displays of work undertaken by members, Affiliated Societies and Subject Branches of the Society. Although we have had displays at other meetings, this is a new venture for the A.G.M. Members will have an opportunity to see and discuss with the exhibitors throughout the day some of the archaeological and historical work that is being carried out in the County. In addition, the K.A.S. Bookstall will be present and will include for sale a large number of past copies of Archaeologia Cantiana and Society Record publications.
An Investigation of the Romano-British Pottery Industry on the North Kent Marshes
by Jason Monaghan, B.Sc.
The following is an outline of a project being undertaken for the postgraduate degree of Ph.D. in Archaeology at the London Institute of Archaeology. It is planned to be completed within the three years normally allocated for postgraduate research. It is totally funded by the Department of Education and Science and by the student, so no further financial assistance is required.
The North Kent Marsh industries remain one of the least understood of Romano-British coarse pottery centres. The project aims towards an understanding of its products and their dating and distribution. It is hoped that the end result will be a corpus of forms and fabrics which should aid all Roman archaeologists in Kent and London. The sites of principal interest are those near Upchurch and those of the Cooling-Cliffe peninsula. It will, of course, be necessary to look closely at other Kentish industries and so other local sites will be investigated, together with kilns in Essex and London.
A preliminary work was carried out during 1981-82 as an undergraduate report at the Institute. This used neutron activation analysis to determine the true provenance of the stray finds on Upchurch Marshes. During this time, some familiarisation with Kentish archaeology took place through useful contacts in local groups and museums. The analysis succeeded in proving that the Upchurch pottery was manufactured near where it was found and so confirmed the postulate of a large Romano-British pottery industry at Upchurch.
The first year of the research project will involve tracing the products of kilns and refuse from kiln dumps currently held by local groups and individuals in Kent and elsewhere. The collections of museums and rescue units will be checked to see the quantity of suspected North Kent wares they hold, and the manner in which this pottery is stored and recorded. Once the bulk of known pottery has been located, an assessment of each collection will be made. Sherds which are adequately published will be cursorily inspected in order to integrate form and fabric descriptions with those being adopted for the project. Groups who are making satisfactory progress in cataloguing their finds will be approached for statistical and typological details, and be offered any assistance the researcher can give. Several collections may, however, not now be having work done upon them through a lack of resources by their finders. In these cases, the researcher will offer to take over, or to assist in the documentation of the assemblage.
When a satisfactory corpus of forms known on kilnsites has been assembled, possibly after one year of working on the pottery itself, the investigation will progress to its next stage. Each fabric identified will be keyed to the Museum of London fabrics collection as a permanent reference. Using such references, the occurrence of the wares within and beyond Kent will be looked at. By this date, Richard Pollard's thesis should be available for inspection, thus much reducing the work that needs to be done on Kent itself. By the end of the year, a picture should be emerging of the industry as a commercial concern and statements could probably be made about their economics.
The third year should be spent collating and writing up the information gathered. It is also the time for looking at the related problems in the marsh sites, for example, the rise in sea level and the supply of fuel. A short NAA programme could be instituted in order to sort out remaining problems of assignation and identification. The whole would be rewritten shortly after it is moderated in the hope of seeing it published.
Summer Excursion: Saturday 7th May
A day visit to Dover, to visit the Castle, Roman Pharos, the Roman Painted House and possibly a current excavation. For details of arrangements, and of further excursions to Bromley and London please write to the Hon. Excursions Secretary, Mr M. A. Crane.
KAS Photographic Competition 1983
Do you take good photographs? Would you like to see them appear in our Newsletter? If so, enter the first ever K.A.S. photographic competition. Good photographs are an essential part of all archaeological and architectural records. Here is your chance to let us all see what you can do.
All entries must be on a Kentish theme and they may be either prints or slides. There will be three categories of entry as follows:-
A. Field excavations (1) Prints, (2) Slides.
B. Architectural subjects (1) Prints, (2) Slides.
C. Individual objects (1) Prints, (2) Slides.
Rules
1. The competition is open to individual members, also entries may be submitted on behalf of Affiliated Societies and Institutional members.
2. Prints may be either in colour or black and white, and within the size range of 7" x 5", smallest, to 15" x 12" largest.
3. Prints should preferably be mounted, the largest size of mount being 15" x 12".
4. Captions must be tastefully displayed on the front of the mount, with any other information appearing on the back, including the name and address of the entrant.
5. A statement must be made as to the degree of involvement with the entry, e.g., commercially processed but self-printed.
6. Slides must be similarly noted and be ready for projection (titles must appear on the mount of the slide but other information may be submitted on a separate information sheet).
7. The right to free reproduction rests with the organizing body but copyright will be retained by the owner.
8. In addition to the six categories, an overall 'best' photograph will be selected.
9. Photographs will be judged by Mr A. C. Harrison, Hon. Gen. Sec., Rev. Robert Pitt, A.R.P.S., Victor Heppelthwaite, A.R.P.S., and Brian Tremaine, A.R.P.S., F.R.P.S., F.R.F.A.
10. All photographs/slides must be received by the Kent Archaeological Society, c/o E. P. Connell by 1st October 1983.
11. If return of entry is required, each entry must be accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope and appropriate packaging material.
The winning entries in all categories will be printed in the January 1984 Newsletter.
The KAS Library
As most members are aware by now, the Society is fortunate to have a library, which is housed in Maidstone Museum. The K.A.S. Library is open to members during normal Museum opening hours (Mon - Sat 10am to 5.30pm).
We show below two photographs of the Library. It is a room of considerable style and attractiveness, now that reconstruction work by Maidstone Corporation has been completed, following the fire in 1977.
The room is decorated in the Queen Anne style, with a very fine plaster ceiling and central chandelier. The sides of the room are lined with bookshelves and there is a fireplace at one end. The central portion of the wooden floor is covered by a magnificent Chinese carpet in Adam Style design contemporary with the room. There are twelve chairs with at present a small table on loan from the Museum. We would be most grateful if any member could assist the Society in obtaining a suitable table for our Library, to complete the furnishing of the room.
The room is light and airy and a pleasant place to study. The books are easily accessible, being arranged on open shelves, with library steps available for reaching those books near the ceiling.
Arranged around the top end and right-hand side of the room are some thirty-nine series of Journals from National and other County Societies. The majority of these volumes have been obtained over the years by the exchange of Journals for Archaeologia Cantiana, from Corresponding Societies, a list of which appears each year at the beginning of Arch. Cant. These Journals provide a vast corpus of information about archaeology and history throughout Great Britain and Western Europe.
The section on the left side is devoted to Kentish topographical and genealogical material. Rare or valuable material is only available on request from the Hon. Librarian.
In the bottom left-hand corner are drawers containing a series of Ordnance Survey maps, prints and drawings. In the cupboard above are various miscellaneous notes, diaries, and documents. In the same corner is a comprehensive catalogue of all the books in the Library, compiled by Mrs W.F. Bergess F.L.A.
The transformation of the Library from the rather dreary place that it was before the fire to this fine room is due to the work of the Hon. Librarian, Dr Peter Draper. He has spent many hours each week on behalf of the Society consulting with Maidstone Corporation, arranging temporary storage for all the books during reconstruction work, organizing volunteers in the major task of cleaning and re-shelving the Society's collection, seeking out and purchasing new books to replace those destroyed in the fire and finally arranging for the collection of books to be cataloged. The Society is much indebted to Dr Draper and I'm sure members would join me in thanking him for his efforts on our behalf.
Although work is carrying on in the Library, it continues to be available for members to carry out their studies and researches. It is hoped as many people as possible will make use of this enviable asset of the Society. Please remember that admission to the Library is only on production of your Membership card. Those who have mislaid their Membership cards may apply to the Hon. General Secretary for a replacement.
Ted Connell
Secretary, Library & Muniments Committee
Bookshelf
The Society continues with its programme of publication of its Monograph and Record Series.
Volumes 1 and 2 of the Archaeology of Canterbury were published in 1982, and volume 7 of the series is due to be published later this summer, details are given below. Other volumes submitted and awaiting publication in the near future include: Studies in Modern Kentish History (details below), The New Goal Order Book, 1805 - 1823, by C. W. Chalkin, The Visitations of Archbishop Warham by Dr K.Wood-Leigh. Ed., and Watermills, by M. Fuller and R. J. Spain.
For a complete list of K.A.S. publications still in print please consult list enclosed, or write to E. P. Connell.
Volume VII: Excavations in the St. George's Street and Burgate Street Areas by S.S.Frere and Sally Stow. 28 x 22 cm. approx. 250 pages, 143 figures, 36 plates, hardback cloth bound with two colour dust jacket. This report covers all the main excavations in this area between 1947 and 1957. It contains the full publication of the well-preserved St. George's Street Roman bathhouse as well as other Roman buildings in the area. There is also a very important group of mid-ninth to mid-tenth century pottery from the east side of Canterbury Lane and a full report on the contents of a remarkable fourteenth-century well. There are also appendices on more recent discoveries in the area by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust. Price: £17 (£10.50 to K.A.S. members).
Studies in Modern Kentish History, Edited by Alec Detsicas and Nigel Yates.
27 x 21.5 cm., approx 250 pages, 7 figures and 22 plates, hardback, cloth bound with a four-colour laminated dust jacket. This volume of essays is being published in July 1983, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Kent Archives Office, and in honour of Felix Hull, County Archivist 1952-80, and Elizabeth Melling, Assistant County Archivist 1950-80. It will consist of essays on various aspects of modern Kentish history from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries by established scholars, including past and present members of staff of the Kent Archives Office. See enclosed leaflet for list of contents.
Publication price £16 (£12 to K.A.S. members) but will be available at a special pre-publication subscription rate of £12 (£8 to K.A.S. members) for orders placed before 30th May 1983. The names of all subscribers will be printed at the back of the volume. Orders for volumes, with cheques made payable to the Kent Archaeological Society should be sent to Mr A. P. Detsicas.
Archaeologia Cantiana
Of all the Society's activities, without doubt the most important has always been and continues to be that of publication. No activity, be it documentary research, archaeological excavation or field study, is of value unless and until it is published and its results made available to other workers in the same field.
Since 1857 the Society has published Archaeologia Cantiana which is now in its 98th volume. Published yearly and issued free to members, Archaeologia Cantiana is attractively bound in blue cloth, with gilt lettering and the Society's emblem embossed in gold on the front cover. Usually of some 300 pages, it reports on the activities of the year and contains papers, many of them illustrated, upon a wide variety of Kentish subjects. It is of international interest, being circulated to individual and Institutional members throughout the world. The high standard of each volume is maintained by the professional competence of our Honorary Editor, Mr Alec Detsicas, B.A., M.A., F.S.A., F.S.A.Scot, who has fulfilled this role since 1970.
Archaeologia Cantiana continues to be of extremely good value to members: the publication costs are still greater than the recently increased subscription rate. Volume 98 due to be published in late July, will include the following:-
N. Yates, Francis Henry Murray, Rector of Chislehurst; D.Sherlock, A Sun-dial Tile from St.Augustine's Abbey; J.Monaghan, An Investigation of the Romano-British Pottery Industry in the North Kent Marshes; R. White Danson Park, Bexley; F.Hull, The Domesday of Dover Castle; T.Tatton-Brown, The Topography and Buildings of Horton Manor; E.W.Parkin, The Old Court Hall, Lydd; C.J. Arnold, Excavations at Eastry Court Farm, Eastry; J.A.Davies, A Hoard of 'Radiate' Coins from Allington; J.D.Ogilvie, The Mammill Ritual Shaft; J.Boyle, The Loss and Recovery by Edward Hasted of his Estates; J.P.Hayes, Excavation in St. Bartholomew's Chapel, Chatham; T.P.Smith, The Geographic Pattern of Coaching Services; Interim Report by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, Miscellaneous Notes, Reviews, etc.
For those interested in the study of the archaeology and history of Kent, the possession of a complete set of Archaeologia Cantiana comprises an enviable asset. Regrettably due to the scarcity of earlier volumes this is relatively uncommon. However for those wishing to obtain individual volumes, the Society frequently reacquires volumes of its publications which are offered for sale. The current prices from the Society are as follows:-
Vol.1, £20; Vol. 52 (Index), £30; Vols. 2 to 36, £6; Vols. 33 to 50, £4; Vols. 53 to 92, £2.50; Vols 93 to 97, £4.50.
As a guide most volumes come to hand at least once within any twelve month period. Please consult the list enclosed, or write to E.P.Connell for an up-to-date list of volumes for sale.
Romano-British Building in Snodland
By A. C. Harrison, B.A., F.S.A.
The existence of a Romano-British building at Church Field, Snodland, has been known since 1844 but only one part of what was clearly an extensive site has been excavated in 1964 and 1971 by our member Mr M. A. Ocock (Arch.Cant. Vol. 82 1967 p.192 foll.). Last year an additional area became available through the demolition of a building, latterly a canteen but previously a Chapel, the Baptistry of which is just visible in the centre of the photograph. At the invitation of the land-owners, The Lead Wool Company Limited, an excavation has been undertaken by the Maidstone Area Archaeological Group under the direction of the writer. Results have so far been encouraging and it is possible to trace the plan of a range of rooms parallel to those discovered previously, suggesting that two sides of a quadrangular structure have been located. At least two periods of building are involved and the evidence of pottery, etc. indicates occupation from about 150 A.D. to about 350 A.D. The existence of walls exposed in the bank of the adjacent River Medway and noted by C. Roach Smith in 1845 has been confirmed. Among the finds are a well preserved toilet-set and a silvered bronze seal-box of a "cog-wheel" shape which can be paralleled in brooches but not apparently in these articles. It is intended to continue work on the site during the summer of 1983.
Excavations and Fieldwork Grants
by P. J. Tester, F.S.A.
Since 1971, the Kent Archaeological Society has made grants to assist undertakings in the county to a total of £5,220. This has been dispersed, after due consideration by the Fieldwork Committee, in sums varying from £25 to the Thameside Archaeological Group to £2,400 granted to help finance the Dover excavations directed by Mr. B.J. Philp. A large number of organizations and individuals have benefited in this way, and it is hoped that the financial state of the Society will allow a continuation of the practice.
In the current year, the following grants have been made:
MAIDSTONE AREA ARCHAEOLOGICAL GROUP has been awarded £100 to help with the excavation of a Roman building at Snodland, under the direction of Mr. A.C. Harrison. An account of earlier work on this site was published by Mr. M.A. Ocock and Mr. J.E. Sydell in Arch. Cant. lxxxii.
KENT UNDERGROUND RESEARCH GROUP will receive £300 to purchase necessary surveying and safety equipment for the work of this newly formed organization of the K.A.S.
GRAVESEND HISTORICAL SOCIETY has been given £150 for photographic and other equipment used in connection with an aerial survey conducted by means of a kite operated by P. Connolly and A. Ridgers - a novel venture with interesting possibilities.
An early experimental example of the results obtained using this new technique of aerial photography: Milton Church in the foreground and the River Thames and Tilbury Power Station in the background.
FAWKHAM AND ASH ARCHAEOLOGICAL GROUP will be assisted by a grant of £250 towards the cost of an aerial survey of the Longfield valley, an area of considerable archaeological potential.
THE BADEN POWELL QUATERNARY RESEARCH CENTRE, OXFORD. Two post-graduate research students, N. Barton and R. Holgate, are to receive £200 towards financing their field-walking survey of areas in Kent likely to provide evidence of Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic settlement. These periods have been hitherto sadly neglected in the archaeological record of our county.
MRS. J. EDISON has received £150 to assist with her researches into the controversial subject of the development of Romney Marsh.
MR. F.H. THOMPSON will be assisted by a grant of £150 towards a research excavation being undertaken under the auspices of the K.A.S. at the Iron Age Hillfort at Oldbury, near Ightham.
Any application for grants for work in the year 1984 should be made to the Hon. General Secretary by 1st November 1983.
Summer Social Evening - Beltring Oasts
An opportunity to enjoy a conducted tour of the famous Beltring Oasts, near Paddock Wood, by courtesy of Whitbread Ltd, followed by a social evening with light refreshments and wine, has been arranged for K.A.S. members on Saturday, 18th June, commencing at 7:30 p.m.
In the first part of the evening, small parties will be shown over this famous monument to the Kentish Hop Industry, the largest group of oasts in Kent.
The oasts have recently been restored and some roundels and galleried barns are now devoted to exhibitions of various aspects of rural life. In one there is an ever-growing collection of old carts, hop-picking machines, cultivators and other relics from the past. Another barn has a museum full of bygones, tools and implements once commonplace to the blacksmith, the wheelwright or the farmer's wife.
The tours completed, you will be able to enjoy some wine and refreshments in the convivial company of fellow Society members.
Beltring Hop Farm lies about 1 1/2 miles north of Paddock Wood on the B2015 from Wateringbury to Pembury, and has adequate car parking facilities.
For those coming by British Rail, Beltring Halt a quarter of a mile distant, is served by trains from Maidstone and Paddock Wood, with connections from Ashford, Tonbridge and London. Buses from Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge pass the farm.
We therefore invite you to come along and have an enjoyable evening with the Kent Archaeological Society.
Tickets may be obtained, priced £3, from Mr C. P. Ward. (Cheques should be made payable to Kent Archaeological Society).
Current Excavations
K.A.S. Training and Research Excavation Sarre 1983
In August 1983, the first stage of a new K.A.S. Research and Training Excavation will be undertaken at Sarre in the Isle of Thanet. Several summer seasons (as well as field survey work) are planned on a site that was first partly dug by the Kent Archaeological Society 120 years ago (see Arch. Cants. V-VII), and it is proposed that excavation will be carried out not only on the famous Anglo-Saxon cemetery site but also on the associated cropmark and parish church (i.e. possible settlement) sites.
The excavation will be a training excavation and volunteers are invited to apply. Priority will be given to K.A.S. members and those who can stay the whole time. Applications should be made (enclosing an S.A.E. and giving previous experience, if any) to Tim Tatton-Brown at 92a Broad Street, Canterbury CT1 2LV. No accommodation is available but a campsite is being sought.
Oldbury Hill Fort, Ightham, near Sevenoaks
An important research excavation will be carried out this summer on the Iron Age Hillfort of Oldbury at Ightham. The excavation, under the auspices of the Kent Archaeological Society, will be directed by Mr F. H. Thompson, the General Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries. Mr Thompson has previously carried out work on the Bigberry Hillfort near Canterbury. (Arch. Cant. Vols 94, 95 and 96).
The aim of the excavation is to elucidate, in the light of modern research, the earlier work carried out at Oldbury in 1938 by the late Mr J. B. Ward Perkins. (Arch. Cant. Vol 51, 1939).
It is expected that the work will consist of sections through the defences, and investigation of internal features located by geophysical means.
The excavation will take place from mid-July to mid-August, and volunteers will be most welcome. For further information, please write to Mr F. H. Thompson, Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1Y 0HS.
Canterbury Archaeological Trust
The Trust will be undertaking excavations this summer on the site of the Archbishop's Palace, Canterbury and on the Watling Street car park, Canterbury. Volunteer diggers are most welcome as are any helpers willing to assist with the processing of pottery, finds, etc. Anyone who is interested should apply to the Director, Mr T. W. T. Tatton-Brown, B.A.
Are you interested in the history and archaeology of the County of Kent?
The Kent Archaeological Society was founded in 1857 "to promote the study of archaeology in all its branches, especially within the County of Kent". Membership is open to anyone who has an interest in the local history of Kent, in its churches, in the recording and preservation of its ancient buildings, in the lives and achievements of its men and women, and in the study and publication of its records.
Of all its activities the most important has always been, and continues to be that of publication. Every year the Society publishes and issues free to members, Archaeologia Cantiana, an attractively bound volume of some 300 pages, reporting on the activities of the year and containing papers, many of them illustrated, upon a wide variety of Kentish subjects. To maintain contact with members a Newsletter is also issued giving details of activities within the County.
The annual subscriptions is £7 (£3 for persons under 21) and Joint Subscription . (Husband and Wife) £9. Institutional membership is £10. Write now to Mr A. C. Harrison, B.A., F.S.A., Honorary General Secretary.
Published by the Kent Archaeological Society, Faith Street, Maidstone, Kent.
Produced and printed for the K.A.S. by Elan Litho Limited, 5-25, Scrutton Street, London, E.C.2.