Dr. Sara Machin is the ceramic building material (CBM) specialist for the Silchester Project.

Emma Corke, Director of excavations at Cock Farm Abinger, will be updating us on yet another successful season on this site of Iron Age and Roman agricultural activity in Abinger. Earlier indications of a human presence include Neolithic pottery and a number of flint implements. Archaeology found in the three CFA19 trenches , including Iron Age, transitional and Roman ditches, and more than 170 postholes, are tying together features from previous seasons to indicate a pattern of activity over several centuries.

James Bromwich is the author of several specialist guide books to Roman archaeology in France. Last season we heard James talking on the garum and salt industries in France and he is back talking to us about Gallic sanctuaries. Sites that will be expanded upon include Le Vieil-Évreux in Normandy and Haut-Bécherel Sanctuary at Corseul in Brittany.

James' detailed guide books will be on sale during the evening.

David Calow, Director of the Flexford excavations, will be talking to members about a number of sites within Surrey where metal detectorist have uncovered large numbers of metal finds. These finds have either enhanced the understanding of activities on a known site or highlighted the presence of a previously unknown site. Come along to learn more.

David Quick, Chairman of Liss Archaeology, will talk to us on the latest excavations at Colemore.

The first of RSG's winter series of talks commences with the group's Annual General Meeting.

Once business is concluded we are lucky enough to have a talk by Dr Clare Rainsford on animal bones in ritual contexts.

South Oxfordshire Archaeological Group is extending its excavations at Gatehampton Roman villa, near Goring-on-Thames into 2019. The focus this year will be the bath house and exploration of  a possible new building. The visit will include an explanation of the site, a tour of the excavations and viewing of the latest finds. Whilst there is no fee for the tour, donations to the project are welcomed.

Following the visit to the excavation there is the option to stay locally for a pub lunch.

Excavations are continuing this year on the bath house at Silchester. For the visit Professor Mike Fulford, Site Director, will put the excavations in context, show the excavation itself and then show some of the finds. 

Following the visit there is the option to stay for a pub lunch and/or view the ampitheatre and walk around the town walls. An audio guide has been produced by English Heritage featuring Mike Fulford that can be downloaded to iPod, mobile phone or mp3 player.

Whilst there is no fee for the visit donations will be welcome to support the project. 

Starting at  11.30am we will be having a private guided visit to the Billingsgate Roman House and Baths lasting approximately 1.5 hrs.

This will be followed by a visit to the Mithraeum booked for 14.00.

The Temple of Mithras was discovered in 1954, and as part of the recent Bloomsberg redevelopment of the site, the temple was reconstructed where it was originally found. There is also a remarkable selection of Roman artefacts found around the site.

The latest season of excavation will take place at Cocks Farm, Abinger June-July 2019. This season will further explore Roman and Iron Age features in the field adjacent to the Roman villa first discovered in the 1870s.  The dates are:

Saturday 15th - Wednesday 19th June

Saturday 22nd - Wednesday 26th June

Monday 1st - Wednesday 3rd July

Saturday 6th - Wednesday 10th July

Saturday 13th  - Tuesday 16th July