KAS Committee Round-Up
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
The Committee last met on Saturday 22 January and will next meet on Saturday 23 April, under a new Chairman, Professor David Killingray. The Committee has approved the digitisation of Archaeologia Cantiana, as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Society in 2007. That year will also see the publication of a second and special volume of Archaeologia Cantiana, the contents of which are currently being finalised by the Honorary Editor.
Other publications nearing completion will focus on Faversham and Hadlow. A revised Grant Application Form for the Kent History Fund has been approved. The Committee is considering the possibility of awarding an annual prize for the best PhD on Kentish archaeology or Kentish history.
This is the final report from Dr John Wyman, previous Chairman of the Publications Committee. Dr Wyman has been on the Publications Committee for 31 years, since January 1974; long service indeed.
FIELDWORK COMMITTEE
Excavation and Recording
Abbey Farm: The Society propose to apply for a grant from the Robert Kiln Trust towards the cost of a report on the painted plasterwork. To this end, Chris Pout has sought advice about the plaster from Steven Rickerby of the Courtauld Institute. To make his assessment, he visited the Thanet Archaeological Society’s HQ at Broadstairs, where the plasterwork is held, on the 8 February.
Over the winter months, members of the Dover Archaeological Group have been washing the recovered pottery and worked flints from last year’s excavation at Ringlemere. This site has produced considerable quantities of Grooved Ware pottery and flints.
Ground subsidence at a site to the south of Sittingbourne has led to the location of a two-chambered chalkwell. There might be a third chamber. Members of the Kent Underground Research Group are currently carrying out a survey of the site.
Keith Parfitt reported that Canterbury Archaeological Trust are carrying out a survey of the topography of Sandwich, this to assist with the study of the Saxon and Medieval town. Already a contour map of the town has been produced, the spacing of the contours set to suit this low-lying coastal town.
Andrew Richardson (Finds Liaison Officer for Kent) reported that a gold disc, dating to the Beaker period, had been recovered at Cobham.
Equipment
Sheila Broomfield reported that some of the Society’s equipment is being put to very good use by pupils at Meadow School, Southborough.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Keen members make it to the Maidstone meetings, despite the snow! The ‘CAT Kits’ project for Canterbury District schools is progressing well (Issue No 63) and CAT is soon to partner Canterbury Museums for National Science Week with a 3-day event, ‘Skeleton in the Cupboard’ where schools and public will see what can be learnt from human and animal remains. A big plasma screen presentation of burial excavations at various Kent sites will add a techno dimension!
North Downs YAC has been looking at the history of guns (which included firing a miniature cannon!) and learning about publishing from the new editor of the National YAC magazine, ‘Young Archaeologist’, who hosted a group session. Other events are planned for the summer.
Ian Coulson is, as usual, extremely busy promoting History and Archaeology throughout the county and is involved in many diverse projects and events; ‘Veterans Remembered’ (oral history involving Kent pupils and WW1 veterans) and assisting with plans for a Local History Shop in Folkestone’s High Street (a regeneration project) are but two of them. Society members continue to contribute to their website where 65 title schedules are now posted for easy access. The committee’s chairman will give a presentation at the AGM in May and a display will be set up for this year’s History and Archaeology Show at Maidstone Museum in October.
Bob Spain is retiring from the Council and from the Education Committee. Members thanked Bob for his contribution and Paul Oldham for his constant support of the Education Committee during his term of office as President. We wish him well.
CHURCHES COMMITTEE
‘Tour de force’ is hardly adequate to describe Professor Nigel Saul’s performance on March 12 at St Helen’s Church, Cliffe. Prof. Saul was the main speaker at the Churches Committee’s
CHURCHES COMMITTEE COMPETITION
The Churches Committee is again promoting an essay competition. This time the subject is an archaeological, architectural, historical or aesthetic feature in a Kentish churchyard (excluding the church itself and not botanical). Essays of between 500 and 1000 words in length should be sent to:
Mary Berg, KAS Competition 5 Orchard Street, Canterbury CT2 8AP
The prize is £100. Entries will be judged on clarity and liveliness of description of the feature rather than on academic excellence. Entries are open to KAS and non-KAS members. All ages welcome! Please tell your friends and societies or groups with which you are concerned, as we wish to attract entries from as wide a cross-section of the community as possible.
The final date for entries is 15 July 2005. Good luck!