Community Archaeology - Nottinghamshire 2011

Update from Community over their 2011 projects:

 Much of our funding over the next few years will focus on the ‘Trent Vale’ area.  This includes riverside parishes and communities along the Trent, from Newark to Gainsborough.  For those of you who were able to attend the Time Travel Trent Vale event in the summer at Newark Castle, this was the official launch of the project. 

We will still be doing projects when they arise across the rest of the county, but this is where our focus will be for the next two years.  We have included here some background to the project, and some information on what will be happening as part of it.   We hope you find it interesting, and that you see something that you would like to get involved in.

We are still looking for project ideas and suggestions, both in Trent Vale and the rest of Nottinghamshire, so please send them in!

Trent Vale goes live!

The River Trent in the Trent Vale, once an integral part of life for those living on its banks, is now often hidden from view and difficult to visit.  Trentside communities have, in many places, become disconnected from this natural feature that has influenced where and how they and their ancestors lived.  Industry, agriculture and canalisation have all made their mark, and what we see as the river now is a very different picture to what people would have seen even a few hundred years ago.

Trent Vale focuses on the riverside communities of the Lower Trent Valley , between Newark and Gainsborough, in both Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire .  It has been awarded money from the Heritage Lottery Fund, to be spent on a wide range of projects and schemes over the next few years.

Projects include (amongst others):

• Riverside Audit – to map and record archaeological features on the riverbank; including everything from ruined barges to clapper gates.  We are looking for volunteers for this project NOW!  So please let us know if you want to be involved.
• Roman Roadsides and River Crossings – this is an extensive fieldwalking project that will be looking to shed light on Roman settlement in the Trent Vale.  There are a number of well-known sites in the area, but relatively little is known.  The fieldwalking will take place either side of Roman roads, and aims to provide a good body of evidence to help us to understand the pattern of settlement in the area.
• Archaeology Clubs – We will be running a series of archaeology clubs for children, at locations across the Trent Vale area, during school holidays.  Children will get the opportunity to try all sorts of activities based on the archaeology and history of the river.
• Workshops, talks and guided walks – It’s not just children that get to have fun with Trent Vale!  We will be putting on workshops, talks, and guided walks around the area for people of all ages to get stuck in to. 
• Excavations – there are a number of excavation opportunities over the next few years.  Watch this space!
• Graveyard Surveys - Some of you have already joined us on the 'Graveyard Shift', to record the information and condition of gravestones in various churchyards.  We intend to start looking at churchyards in the Trent Vale area, so there will be plenty more opportunities for you to come along and take part.  All welcome, from green beginners to hardened veterans.

How To Get Involved

If you are reading this you are already on our general email list, in which case you will receive regular news updates and information.  If you have an interest in any projects in particular, or have questions or suggestions, please get in touch.

Everyone is welcome to join in, and because the range of projects is so wide we should be able to find something for everyone, of all ages and abilities.  Join us for a day, a season, or longer!  No experience is necessary and training will be provided.

Trent Vale involves a lot of partner organisations, so by expressing an interest in our projects we can also link you up with projects run by our partners; such as conservation opportunities with the Wildlife Trust.

Check out the following website for more information.....

http://trentvale.wordpress.com/

This is the best place to keep up to date with what's been happening in Trent Vale.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this rather epic mail. 

All the best

The Community Archaeologists