A busy week during the British Festival of Archaeology
Building Recording at Raydon airfield, Suffolk
Our Community Archaeologist and a number of local residents, airfield enthusiasts and volunteers have been very busy in the first week of the British Festival of Archaeology. The team have been out recording Raydon airfield in Suffolk, with the kind support of the landowner and tenant’s.
The “Technical site” at Raydon airfield is one of the best surviving sites in the country with over 70% of the buildings surviving. The buildings were photographed, measured and recorded using the most basic building recording skills and identified using the 1942 official Air Ministry site plans. These plans give us very handy information- including what type of building we are recording and what its function was during war time.
Some of the nicest discoveries during the week were two pieces of graffiti. One in concrete and one on brickwork. We’re now in search for information about Mr Bruce Glenn from Fargo, Oklahoma, maybe you can help us?
Nissen huts, parachute stores, petrol pumps and aeroplane hangers; all were recorded so the information can be added to the relevant County Council Historic Environment Record (HER). The HER is an online database of historical sites and buildings that can be accessed by everyone though the “Heritage Gateway” website or the County Councils own “Heritage Explorer” websites.
If you would like to learn how to record your own local airfield or want to help out in future archaeology events then just let us know at [email protected]
Test Pit Excavation with Acton Primary School
On the second Monday of the British Festival of Archaeology, 18 pupils from Acton Primary School, Suffolk took part in an archaeological dig in the neighbouring village of Great Waldingfield. With the kind support of a local landowner the pupils and teachers, with the help of our own Community Archaeologist and Learning Officer, excavated three small test pits on one of the living quarter sites associated with Sudbury Airfield.
The kids really enjoyed the excavation and learnt how to excavate a test pit and how too identify artefacts. Pieces of brick, coal and concrete were found along with reinforced window glass and a broken knife blade, all associated with the WW2 activity on the site.
Our Learning Officer has already worked with the pupils from Acton Primary for the country’s VE day celebrations and you can read about that here.
We’d like to thank Acton Primary School’s students, teachers & staff for making our team feel so welcome, and the local landowner who made the archaeological dig possible.
Don’t forget if you would like to get involved in the project drop us a line.
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