The Notebook of Curiosity : Volunteering with the South Oxfordshire Archaeology Group

A couple of weeks ago I took a few days off work to volunteer with the South Oxfordshire Archaeology Group (SOAG). I decided them to volunteer with as they seem really active in their fieldwork activities, and I'm considering relocating to Oxford.

Down in the woods

The first two days I spent with SOAG in some woods North of Reading. We were investigating what is presumed to be a medieval/Saxon Enclosure, difficult to see as it lies in a heavily wooded area. Without the trees there would have been a good view from the land it covered on top of a hill. It was clear that there are a lot of earthworks, and there is a definite bank built up to create an enclosure. There are also two ponds within the enclosure, giving a water source - however not the cleanest water!

One of the ponds

We put in two test pits, one in the ditch on the outside of the enclosure, and one at the entrance to the enclosure. Nothing was found in the ditch and we hit natural surprisingly quickly. In the other section it is possible that we found evidence of post or plank holes, and came down onto a stoney surface which is believed to be a later Victorian surface. This makes it likely that this entrance to the enclosure was cut through the bank on Victorian times. Unfortunately however no finds were found in either test pit, so this made dating the features difficult.

Digging the first test pit, complete with dog

Test pit 1, not much going on

Cut through the ditch, with stoney surface and possible post holes

The third day was spent at Ascott Park carrying out a resistivity survey. I haven't carried out any geophysics since university, so I was excited to be given this chance of helping out. The group were very organised and quick at setting up the grid, so the work was carried out quickly. It is in the grounds of a former 17th Century manor house that was thought to have burnt down soon after building had been finished. It is unknown where the house stood, but earthworks of the garden platforms still survive, and it is thought the house stood looking over these. We were surveying the bottom of the garden earthworks, and revealed some interesting features such as possible ditches or walls. The results will be processed and published shortly.