Conference and AGM at Sedgeford, Norfolk

Sunday 18th July 2004

Tony Clifford reports:

This year's Conference coincided with the National Archaeology weekend, July 17th. The CIA were the guests of SHARP (Sedgeford Historical and Research Project). Under the leadership of Neil Faulkner, the group have been carrying out a longitudinal study within the village of Sedgeford. So it was that many members spent the day (and some the weekend) in the Sedgeford area of Norfolk.

The Conference was preceded by the AGM, (which is reported in the Newsletter). The remainder of the morning session comprised two valuable inputs by Bob Randall and Neil Faulkner. Bob Randall gave an update regarding resistivity and the use of the CIA/TR meter. Some recent resistivity 'plots' provided an opportunity for discussion and interpretation.

Neil then introduced the SHARP project to CIA members by explaining its background, focus and ethos. Neil explained that this long term project was set up in 1995 and is in its 9th full season.

The project focuses on the origins and development of the medieval village and parish settlement of Sedgeford. Much of the work has been focused south of the River Heacham and in particular on the so called 'boneyard' site. Other exploratory work has been carried out around the middle Saxon cemetery. To the north of the river lies the present day village. Here the project has more recently been carrying out a village survey similar to that at Shapwick. The approaches used have included a building survey and the digging of many one metre test pits in gardens throughout the village, similar to Time Team's "Big Dig". A clearer picture of the village development is now emerging through examination of the samples (especially the ceramics) taken from the test pits.

'SHARP is public archaeology'

The SHARP workforce comprises around 75 people each week. They each pay their own subsistence. Tutors within the team run a series of training courses for other members. It was stressed that the team:

• is not overwhelmingly white or middle class.
• Includes many from a working class background,
• is not especially young or especially old,
• has more women than men,
• makes provision for disabled people.

'They have sunk deep roots into the community ... with much goodwill'

Archaeological training provided by SHARP (both induction and more specialist input) is focused around being an 'onsite' experience. Following a grounding in basic excavation, and recording techniques, new trainees move on site and have ownership of an area. They then develop more knowledge about that piece of archaeology than anyone else. This in turn involves them actively in the discussion and decisions made about it. Also supporting the notion of ownership and self motivation is the ethos that those who discover items (however new or experienced) follow through and complete the excavation. Where necessary, additional specialist support and recording systems are put in place. This policy has been consistently used even for the recent and most spectacular of finds (the Iron Age hoard of gold staters) as reported in Current Archaeology No. 192.

'If you know the outcome in advance, then why do it?’'

Neil outlined the realities of field research; the collection of data in the field, the processing of material and the thinking
which accompanies this. He stressed the importance of what he called the three M's and in particular the interactions between the final two:

* Meaning (what it means)
* Material (the evidence)
* Method (the way we collect, where and how)

In this context, Neil used a graphic representation of the SHARP approach drawn up by one of the project team, to demonstrate the non linear nature of archaeology. He posed the question; 'if you know the outcome in advance, then why do it'? The cycle demonstrates a much more 'organic' technique which both allows and supports the growth and development of the work being carried out.

The project has an eight week season. This comprises six weeks of fieldwork plus a week to start up and a week to close down. The fieldwork, desktop, synthesis and much of the post excavation work run in tandem so that by the end of Week 8 all processing of pottery and human remains is completed. Throughout the season there is a constant and complex cyclical process of feedback and interaction aiding the understanding of the site.

'In doing independent research archaeology well,
it is possible to make a model of
independent archaeology working well'

After lunch the afternoon session comprised a tour of the present day village and the excavation site. This was led by members of the SHARP team and started with a familiarisation of the village, a walk to the church and across the River Heacham to Saggy Horse Field (an interesting one for place name aficionados). The SHARP base in the Old Village Hall and an introduction to the finds department were next on the agenda before we were taken out to the main Saxon and Iron Age excavation.

This is a big and interesting site in terms of the large area under excavation, the number of people involved and the infrastructure supporting the team. Our guides gave an explanation of the work in progress and we gained a view of the logistics of the site. Visitors had the opportunity to visit the well stocked shop and purchase a variety of SHARP merchandise and memorabilia. The day was rounded of with a separate talk and viewing of some of the skeletal remains found on site.

Like many of the visitors, I had previously read and heard much about the work being conducted at Sedgeford but this was my first visit to the site. I found it to be an interesting and very worthwhile experience and a very enjoyable visit.

Tony Clifford

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