Adventures of the Fob Seal by Athersley South Primary School

Download and read the Adventures of the Fob Seal, a booklet collage of work produced by Athersley South pupils who dug test pits this year.

Adventures of the Fob Seal

Week 3 - Young Archaeologists Dig In

Richard Newman School saw the opening up of 9 pits along the edge of the sports field.  The first group of 50 appeared on the horizon and immediately swarmed down to their pits.  With a brief explanation the young community archaeologists got straight to work reducing the pits in depth and learning and questioning as the went.  The enthusiasm was limitless the volunteers in stunned shock.  However after a revitalising brew with Greek honey we got back to our feet ready for the afternoon session with another 50 young community archaeologists.

Athersley North School allowed us to dig across a corner of the field which unfortunately had been recently landscaped and consisted of made ground of modern building materials.  7 test pits were opened up, but none were completed.  However again the enthusiasm was enormous as was the children’s ambitions to get down to Australia.

Athersley South School was incredible privilege to work at with facilities laid on and the weather was perfect.  Yet again the children were very keen on using all the tools, digging and sieving the spoil.  Beryl’s granddaughter Sophie got a real taste for archaeology, clearly a ‘chip of the old block’ (sorry Beryl). 

setting out the test pits in the morning

Yet again the children were very keen on using all the tools, digging and sieving the spoil.  Beryl’s granddaughter Sophie got a real taste for archaeology, clearly a ‘chip of the old block’ (sorry Beryl). 

We had no real expectations of significant archaeology until during the afternoon Cole turned up a Georgian piece of jewelry.  

Cole's find of the month (TP40)

This was confirmed by the Portable Antiquities Officer for South Yorkshire, Ms Eleanor Cox, as a fob seal of late Post-medieval date (AD 1700-1800).  Fob seals were used to mark the wax that used to seal envelopes and hung round the writer's neck, and evidences just how aspirational and communicative Athersley folk were during the Late Post Medieval period.

So an exhausting but deeply rewarding time had by all, more anon - Chris Scurfield 2013

week 2 (down the pits)

Week 2, saw the targeting of 10 test pits right across the ward, but concentrating on Beryl's garden due the excellent catering.

 TP 13 within the church grounds revealed evidence for the made ground which was characterised by at least two tipping episodes.

 TP 15 was significant as it encountered a dog burial which we were able to confirm, after detective work within the local community, was called ‘Chippy’.  Also still lurking in the TP15’s garden is a ‘Blue Peter’ time capsule so a possible target for next year?

 

TP15: ‘Chippy’ RIP

The Finds comprised mainly of brick and tile associated with house construction with pottery and glass, iron and glass slag.  Some pits we found evidence for clay pipes. Clay pipes survive as either round fragments of stem or the actual bowls many of which were decorated.  The presence of clay pipes probably related to the areas agricultural fields during the 19^th century with farmers stopping for a smoking break.  On a more modern note across many of the pits small quantities of asbestos were encountered, evidence of the original garden sheds erected at each property.

Two different test pits

Today we excavated two very different test pits.

Excavating at Regent Crescent

One in a garden on Regent Crescent near Laithes Lane had very few finds. Was the top soil brought in from somewhere else, after it had been sieved?

Excavating at St Helen's Church

The other was in the grounds of St Helen's church, Laithes Lane. The contrast could not be greater. We dug through a thick layer of building material, iron-working slag and rusty metal. This looks to be a make-up layer of waste to help level the ground. Was it put here during the 1940s-60s when Laithes Lane was built or improved?

Sylvia sieves for finds

 

Brooks digs at St Helen's Church

The Evidence Builds

Week 1, After a lot of digging we are all improving our finds recognition,  and I have 'mastered' laying out  a 1m test pit - not as easy as you would think.


General view of test pits 5 & 6

The range of finds has been amazing.   Modern plastics, sweet wrapers, nylon stockings and fragments of shed roofs,  house slates, bits of brick, tiles and glass have all been intermixed over the years and bear witness to changes in house fashion/decoration and garden architecture.

We can all now recognise iron and glass slags which were probably introduced onto the earlier fields which predate the modern housing, to make the clay soils easier to work.

Going back in history, the 19th century has been represented by clay pipes and scatters of pottery.

Prehistoric activity is suggested by the presence of 'pot boilers' heated stones used to cook food and even a flaked flint has been recovered which was knapped probably to make an arrow head .

 Test pit 7 - with spade marks cutting into the natural clay

For just what will be recovered in Week 2, watch this space

Kate deturfs test pit 2

Test pit number 2 is deturfed - at New Lodge Crescent.

Hands on History Barnsley - Test Pits Day 1 - the video