It was wet, it was cold, it was windy. But that didn’t stop a loyal band of Heritage Action members from congregating at Avebury, twelve years to the very day since a group of megaraks met at the Uffington White Horse to plan what they could do to help combat damage to prehistoric sites. Many of the same people and a whole bunch of others came together at the weekend for the umpteenth (we’ve lost track) ‘Megameet’.
Admittedly, several Founder members couldn’t make it this year but they were replaced by a number of new attendees, some very young, which bodes well for the future. But considering we’re in July, I’ve never seen the circle so devoid of people generally on a summer weekend!
Those who did turn up met with old friends, had an enjoyable lunch in the Red Lion and discussed all things megalithic until the weather cleared enough for some to attempt a brief circumambulation of the henge, including the obligatory ‘selfie’, courtesy of artist and founder member, Jane Tomlinson.
But we weren’t the only people to brave the weather. At the far end of the West Kennet Avenue, an archaeological excavation is taking place over three weeks. The Between the Monuments Project – a collaborative research project between the University of Southampton (Dr Josh Pollard), University of Leicester (Dr Mark Gillings), Allen Environmental Archaeology (Dr Mike Allen) and the National Trust (Dr Ros Cleal & Dr Nick Snashall) – is attempting to answer the tricky question ‘Where and how did the people who built these monuments live?’.
The main Avenue trench. Faulkner’s Circle is by the dark tree in the middle background, top centre.
Two trenches have been opened up, one immediately between the stones of the Avenue, and another off to the side. Despite the weather, some of the principals and volunteers were busy mattocking the side trench, part of which has already been excavated down to the natural layer, exposing some ‘periglacial striations’ in the underlying chalk.
The side trench, showing the ‘periglacial striations’.
Sadly, I had no time to stop and chat (and I think they wanted to get on with the dig while the weather allowed it!) as I stupidly had no coat, and a long drive home in the rain ahead of me. But it was good to see everyone again, and I’m sure we’ll do it all again next year, if not sooner!
The Heritage Journal 
3 comments
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29/07/2015 at 21:04
Quaifier
How many turned up? Was it just six people as per the pic?
29/07/2015 at 21:10
Alan S.
No, they were just the ones that braved the weather. I didn’t take a headcount, or stay for the duration but I’d estimate between 15-20 people, which is down on previous years, but good considering the conditions. The fact it was the first weekend of the school holidays, and the last of the CBA’s Festival of Archaeology probably didn’t help either – too much going on elsewhere!
30/07/2015 at 08:25
Nigel S
Alan, a really sad old detectorist has spammed us more than twenty times in different names, always trying to reduce our morale and minimise us. He has spent 2 hours a day (he says) for 40 years exploiting for his own benefit and always attacks conservationists who haven’t!