Lunesdale Archaeology Society have been awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to investigate a pre-historic settlement site just south of a known Roman fort in the Lune Gorge. The investigations will be conducted over the next two years and will offer an opportunity for volunteers to learn about archaeological techniques while revealing the past.
The site situated on farming land was discovered through aerial photography in the 1970s and was surveyed in the 1990s, but has not otherwise been examined before.
The project started back in June with an aerial survey using a drone (an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) to create a detailed photogrammetric plan of the site. SUMO, an archaeology firm specialising in surveying, undertook a magnetometry survey of the site. [Magnetometry is a surveying technique that measures and maps patterns of magnetism in the soil. In particular, it detects soil changes, and shows indications of any burnt material.] This was followed by a walkover survey in July – 14 volunteers, led by Greenlane Archaeology, spent a beautiful summers day surveying the features at the site and relating them to the wider landscape.
The UAV prior to take-off
The results from these surveys have been used to identify the trench locations for the excavations this autumn. The excavation will take place between the 27th September and the 12th October. There are still a few spaces left so if you would like to take part contact lunesdale.archaeology@gmail.com.
Get in touch with LAS if you would like to keep up to date with the project. Alternatively check out their website or follow them on Instagram – lunesdale archaeology!
All photos are Copyright Lunesdale Archaeology Society
Featured image shows volunteers doing a walkover survey
