Fieldwalking

We are fortunate in having local farmers who are willing to allow members of our research group to walk their ploughed fields before the newly planted crops begin to grow.

Before we start, the field is marked out into regular grids (usually 20 metres square), and a map made showing each grid square marked with a reference number. Each walker is then allotted a grid square and given a plastic bag marked with “their” grid reference, and asked to pick up anything man-made i.e. made of metal, glass or pottery. At the end of each session the finds are collected and discussed and any interesting finds are marked in the relevant grid square on the map.

As a result of using these techniques the Group has been able to identify worked flint, possibly more than 3000 years old, Roman pottery, glass and tiles associated with a previously unrecorded homestead, mediaeval pottery and C18th clay pipes.

It is hoped that at some future date the funds may become available for further archaeological investigation of the “hot spots”.

Finally expert identification of the finds.
This is first undertaken “in the field”.
Later, the finds are washed, listed and mapped onto a grid to identify if there are any “hot spots” which might indicate a site of occupation.

For details of pottery found in Worcestershire go to

Worcestershire Ceramics