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NEWS PAGE
 Welcome
to the news page. This will be updated on a regular basis with the
progress of The Alkham Valley Project. We will soon be starting
further Geophysical Surveys in the hope of identifying further sites of
interest for investigation.
We will also let you know how our fund raising is
progressing on this page.
Any general news relating to finds etc will also be
available here.
JUNE 2010 - ALKHAM PROJECT UPDATE
Our
original plans to start geophysical surveys around the valley have been
interrupted by the extremely bad weather over preceding month, despite
these delays the project will commence shortly. Anyone interested in
taking part in this project are welcomed to contact Vince Burrows (see
contacts page). Please note: All volunteers must be registered with our
project team.
In
recent months, the group has received kind offers from local valley
landowners to survey their land as part of this project. If you are a
landowner and feel that your property may be able to add information for
the betterment of our joint historical knowledge of Alkham Valleys
History, please do let us know.
If
you have chanced across interesting flint, pottery, metallic or any other
suspected historical material, please bag it, and label with where it was
found and your details. Vince would be happy to identify these kinds of
finds for you. In fact, any assistance with local ancient maps, land deeds
etc may be of help to our general researches.
Geophysical surveys have now been carried out on land at Green Hill Farm
owned by Nigel & Wendy Burrows and on land owned by Gordon & Janet
Adamson’s at South Alkham. Results from this work will be posted (coming
soon).
WOLVERTON ARTEFACT ASSEMBLAGE
Update June 2010
Thanks to the continuing generosity from the local valley residents
(listed on our supporters page), the Alkham Valley Society, Kent
Archaeological Society and Mark Loveday. Many of the finds recovered from
the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Wolverton are now being conserved. The finds
will be cleaned, X rayed and stabilized at the Conservation Science
Investigation Laboratory (CIS) Sittingbourne. The lab is managed by Dana
Goodburn-Brown (as seen on South-East News recently), and employs over 30
volunteers.
Four
of the skeletons excavated from the site are shortly to undergo survey
work at Kent and Canterbury’s Anthropology Department run by Dr Chris
Deter. These examinations may reveal information about the subject’s
health in life and in some cases, injuries that may have directly led to
their death. For instance, the Wolverton Warrior suffered an unhealed
aperture to his skull. Did this individual depart this life during or
after a battle? The second burial located below the warrior exhibited an
unhealed broken leg, was this an accident?
Further information regarding the untimely death of the Chilton Maiden
(who died around the age of 4.5 years), may also be forthcoming? Other
tests planned are to include C14 (dating of indviduals), Isotope tests (to
determine the region the people grow up), by examining the mineral traces
left in the teeth and bones together with, other anaylsis yet to be
organised.
Further funding is still required if we are to complete the goals set out
on the pages of this site. The final aim will be to display the finds and
other material permanently at Dover Museum and or create a mobile display
for use in local schools etc.
If
you would like to make a donation towards the AVHRG Fund, please send
donations to Susan Lees, Forstal Cottage, Alkham, Dover, Kent, CT15 7DE.
Please address cheques or postal orders to the AVHRG. All subscribers will
be listed on our Website Supporters Pages (optional preference, please let
us know). There are no paid individuals or staff; all proceeds go
directly to the project.
On
behalf of the Alkham Valley Historical Research Group
Thank
You.
FEBRUARY 2010 - PROBLEMS WITH PAYPAL
We are currently trying to sort out a problem with our
Paypal account. Please don't be put off donating. Contact us for
further details.
FEBRUARY 2010 - WOLVERTON & ALKHAM VALLEY
PROJECTS UPDATE
Just recently, I have sent
information to the local press in order to highlight both the funding
and Alkham programmes. I will also shortly email dates for the
commencement of the Alkham Project which will start looking at numerous
sites in the valley. These selected location will include possible
cemeteries associated with the Bronze Age and Anglo-Saxon periods. To
this, we hope to be able to sample areas geophysically on the slopes and
river plains throughout the valley.
The good old method of
fieldwalking and identification of sites through material finds will not
be possible in most cases at Alkham, this is due to the extensive areas
laid to pasture however; our joint researches may enable us to locate
possible locations of occupation.
Alkham Valley in its current
mostly un-urbanised situation, may provide us with sites that will
enhance our general knowledge of rural settlement in the valley
and there associated cemeteries. It may be possible using the situation
of cemeteries to located sites of occupation quite often focused
where the living can look up to the dead and the dead look upon the
living! The project is planned for two years but may extend to three?
I hope to be in a position shortly
to approach landowners for permission to survey electronically
(mainly) on their land. If you have any friends that own land in or atop
the valley, I would appreciate any assistance you may afford in
acquiring such permissions over the coming weeks and months. Dates to
start the work on Neil Burrows land (Alkham Court) will be posted very
soon.
Local support from the community
for the project is my main goal and to this, If you know anyone that is
interested in volunteering for fieldwork, please let me know.
JULY 2009 - HAND AXE FOUND NEAR ALKHAM
A hand axe found near the village of Alkham has been
given a possible date of between 250,000 and 500,000 BC. It is now
being sent to a Palaeolithic expert for confirmation.
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