Exploring the archaeology of Suffolk's aggregates
landscape.
At the end of April 2007, the Archaeological Service received
the news that approval had been given to launch an experimental
archaeological project designed to excite and enthuse young people
throughout the county.
The funding was approved by English Heritage and made available
through The Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund; a scheme which in
part aims to address the environmental impacts of past aggregates
extraction through local education, outreach and community
involvement. For further information, read English Heritage's
page on the
Aggregates Levy Sustainablity Fund.
With the formation of a steering group made up from members of
the archaeological service, aggregates industry and education
department plus working partners from The Suffolk Wildlife Trust
and West Stow Anglo Saxon Village, the project aims to work with
young people and their teachers/tutors on a series of practical
activities both in schools and on location.
Through this work the students will have the opportunity to study
the
archaeological evidence from sites excavated prior to gravel
extraction taking place and from this develop and build
re-constructions such as Roman pottery kilns and Iron Age
roundhouses to test their theories. They will also study the impact
gravel extraction has on local communities, its importance as the
raw material for much of the road and house-building throughout the
country and how former gravel pits are subsequently regenerated,
often as wildlife and leisure centres.
During these events a film crew will track the students’ progress
and the action and students’ responses will become a resource for
teachers and tutors wishing to develop similar activities.
So what is the purpose of all this work apart from it being very
enjoyable to all taking part?
Within the project design the following aims were identified as
being central to its success:
- It will excite and engage a range of young people in their
local heritage.
- It will develop the interests and knowledge of young people in
their local area.
- It will raise young peoples’ awareness and understanding of the
gravel extraction industry, its importance and the legacy it leaves
behind.
- It will use archaeological evidence from Suffolk’s river
valleys to experiment with and experience ancient technology as a
means to better understand and appreciate life in the past.
- It will provide a cross curriculum training package for all
schools, educational centres and steering group members.
- It will give young people the opportunity to co-operate and
socialise with a range of adults and peers.
Just as importantly the project will allow students to think,
discuss and develop ideas with others, accept compromise, take
responsibility and gain confidence in being able to investigate
problems and find solutions; all skills which are essential in the
wider world.
We will be keeping track of progress
on our experimental archaeology
Camp Diary pages through pictures, text and hopefully film
footage and hope you will be as impressed with the students as we
are.
For more information download the
Project Design (PDF, 442Kb)
or contact:
Duncan Allan
Outreach Officer and Project Manager
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service
St Edmunds House
Rope Walk
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP4 1LZ
Links to relevant sites
Aggregates Levy
Fund
English Heritage
Quarry Products
Association
West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village
Slamnet -
Educational resources
Hampshire and
Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology
Sustainable Aggregates