We have been involved in a number of different projects over the last few years.

Below is a list of some of these projects.

Reports will be available for download shortly.

Jacksdale Community Excavation, 2009

Volunteers and Community Archaeologist braved terrible weather conditions to excavate a canal basin, tram tracks and the oldest buildings in Jacksdale called Stone Row. The excavation was a great success, with many people joining in with digging and recording, as well a lots of intrest from the passing public.

A report is in the process of being written, and descriptions of what was found will be available shortly.

Hayman Rooke Enclosure - Topographic Survey

Spring and Autumn 2008

Along with a number of volunteers, we undertook a topographic survey of an earthwork in Sherwood forest country park. The survey has shown this to be a ditch feature, sub-rectangular in shape with a partial outer bank. It has been suggested that this is the earthwork discovered by Major Hayman Rooke in the late 18th century, which he called an Ancient work in Birklands. The survey has revealed that the earthwork is of similar scale to that recorded by the Major. It is hoped that further field work can be undertaken in the coming year.

West Burton Deserted Village Topographic Survey

We undertook a topographic survey, of the earthworks of the deserted village, of West Burton, as part of the Nottinghamshire County Council’s “Building Better Communities” Scheme, and in partnership with EDF Energy and Groundwork Ashfield and Mansfield.

A map of the site was produced in 1750 by Sheffield surveyors the Fairbanks, and shows buildings, earthworks and field boundaries, along with the names of the occupiers and tenants. A number of earthworks recorded by the survey have been linked to the boundaries and buildings on the 1750 Fairbank map. These include the location of the village Pinfold, and a plot of land named as T.Billets yard. A visit to Stirton le Steeple churchyard, revealed a Thomas Billet, recorded as having died in his 90s in the late 18th century.

The survey was a great success as an example of public involvement, with schools, history groups, and adults with learning disabilities, all visiting the site. The Community Archaeologists, and Maddie Holroyd from Groundworks, were able to accommodate trips around the site during the survey, as well as providing hands on opportunities to handle artifacts, and view sources of local history.

The earthwork Topographic survey will be completed in 2009. The map and a short account of the work so far will be available to download shortly.

Halam Churchyard.

A map of grave locations was also made in Halam churchyard, using a TCR805 EDM Total Station.

As part of this survey, notes were taken on gravestone inscriptions, and the size and form of stones was recorded. This information was then associated with the survey data, as attributes tables within GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software. It is hoped that Southwell University of the Third Age Archaeology Group will be able to use this information for further research within parish records, and that the plan will be available for those interested in local history and genealogy. This project was funded by the Nottinghamshire County Council.

Bestwood Park Gardens

Volunteers at Bestwood Country Park, aided by the Bestwood Rangers and NCC Community Archaeologists have been uncovering the formal Japanese gardens, planted when Bestwood was the country estate of the Dukes of St. Albans.

Japanese culture, especially the creation of formal gardens laid down to Japanese designs, often by Japanese garden experts, was in vogue during the early years of the 20th century after Imperial Japan ended its isolation and began to interact with the West.

The garden at Bestwood seems to be an excellent example of a planned garden, with deliberate plantings of Japanese plants to frame a series of linked, stone lined water features.

The work of the volunteers has begun clearing the overgrown shrubbery choking the garden, allowing the formal stonework and planted features to begin showing through once more, and has also uncovered the footpath designed to let visitors follow the route of the garden to its best effect.

The project will continue with a further series of volunteer days, for more details contact the rangers of Bestwood Country Park.

Bestwood Park Country park tel: 0115 927 3674. e-mail: bestwood.country.park@nottscc.gov.uk

Besthorpe Excavation

July 2008

This was a very successful weeks digging for volunteers. The excavation was ran by University of Manchester Archaeological Unit, and Nottinghamshire Community Archaeologists helped with the volunteers. The excavation was a of a Romano British site, which is being developer funded in a future gravel quarry.

Sherwood Forest Country Park - Archaeological Survey

2004 to present

This was the first project to be undertaken by Nottinghamshire Community Archaeology. It is also the biggest.  The project was to examine Sherwood Forest Country Park for archaeological remains and record their location.  A great number of volunteers have helped with this project over the years, and it is now in the final stages.

Mansfield Woodhouse Little Big Dig

Excavation recommenced in September 2008 for the second year in this ongoing project to look for evidence of the fire that burnt mansfield woodhouse to the ground in 1304. Test pits have been dug to try and locate a burnt layer left by the destruction of the fire. A number of test pits were dug in gardens around and inside the historic core of Mansfield Woodhouse. So far results from have yielded Medieval pottery, and a number of sites have had samples of charcoal taken away for Carbon-14 dating.

Clipstone Stone Amnesty

September 2008

In September of 2007 the community archaeologists were invited to Kings Clipstone to look at pieces of stone that the residents had found in their gardens.  We were looking for stone that might have come from the Palace, and a number of interesting pieces of carved stone were recorded.

Bothamsall Castle - Earthwork Survey

October 2008

In conjunction with the Castles of Nottinghamshire project, a Total Station Topograpic survey was undertaken of the earthworks of the Motte and Bailey castle at Bothamsall.

Interpretation of the surviving earthworks, the history of the site, and the castle in its wider geographic setting will be included in a report.

Bramcote Sunken Church Yard - Graveyard Survey

This is an ongoing project involving the Tower and graveyard of the Church of St. Luke's. It aims to address the conservation of the tower building and the recording of the local heritage interests of the graveyard. The project is being run with NCC specialists assisting the local community groups in recording and interpreting this important aspect of their local history

Eakring Brail - Archaeological Survey

March to April 2007

The Community Archaeologists were contracted by the Forestry Commission to undertake an archaeological survey of historic Eakring Brail woods.  With the aid of volunteers this survey is now complete.  The landscape of the woods told us a story of changing ownership and woodland management.

Thieves Wood Topographic Survey

February to March 2007

The Community Archaeologists were contracted by the Forestry Commission to undertake a topographical survey of a mound in Thieves Wood, Mansfield.

Gringley Wharf Community Excavation

May 2006, and January 2007

A community excavation by the Chesterfield Canal at Gringley-on-the-Hill.  The site, owned by the Parish Council, was excavated prior to the development of the site into a picnic area (as part of the Building Better Communities Scheme).  On the second weekend of excavation the remains of the building that had once stood on the site were unearthed.

Collingham Community Excavation

January 2007

A community excavation that was led jointly by Pre-Construct Archaeology and Nottinghamshire Community Archaeology. The site, located near St John the Baptist Church in South Collingham, was due to become an extension to the present graveyard. Members of the local community were involved in the excavation in this part of the historic core of the village. Early results indicate an extensive range of post mediaeval pottery, as well as signs of earlier Mediaeval, and also late Anglo-Saxon occupation. A number of fragments of Saxon pottery were also recovered.

East Bridgford – Pancake Hill Community Excavation

September 2006

A community excavation that was led jointly by U.L.A.S. (University of Leicester Archaeological Services) and Nottinghamshire County Council. The excavation took place in the field adjacent to the Scheduled Ancient Monument of Pancake Hill. The aim of the excavation was to shed light on the age and purpose of the earthworks, which are thought to be the remains of a motte and bailey castle.

Fox Wood Community Excavation

June to July 2005

A community excavation that was led jointly by Pre-Construct Archaeology and Nottinghamshire Community Archaeology. Fox Wood contains earthwork banks and ditches which are thought to be Iron Age in origin. These earthworks are a Scheduled Ancient Monument and are protected by law. Aerial photography has shown that there are features in the surrounding fields, and some of these features were the subject of the community excavation.

Raymoth Lane Community Excavation

June to July 2004

A developer-led community excavation that was led jointly by Pre-Construct Archaeology and Nottinghamshire County Council. The site near Worksop was due to be developed into housing. Aerial photography had revealed the existence of an enclosure on the site, which test-pitting confirmed. The excavation involved professional archaeologists, students, and members of the local community working side-by-side.

Moor Pond Wood

2004-2006

A series of archaeological works have been done by Nottinghamshire Community Archaeology and the volunteers on the remains of a mill-system in Papplewick. Test-pits have been dug to investigate the actual depth of channels, and part of the site has been topographically surveyed.