This summer we will be continuing work in the field north of the Roman villa looking for further evidence of Iron Age and Roman rural activity. Volunteers are welcome, with Surrey Archaeological Society and its Roman Studies Group members having priority, but other volunteers, experienced or not, are welcome. If you have not dug on the site before you will be asked to commit to five days attendance over the month. The dates for 2020 are as follows:

Saturday 13th - Wednesday 17th June

Saturday 20th - Wednesday 24th June

Monday 29^th June -Wednesday 1st July

Following the great success of the 2018 conference on the transition from Roman to Saxon in the South-East, the Roman Studies Group is arranging another such event, this time focusing on the end of the Iron Age and the start of Roman Britain in our area.

Rob Briggs, who has worked for the HER for more than two years, and has been an active SyAS member for much longer, will be talking to us about the Surrey Historic Environment Record (HER) database and how it can be used in conjunction with other evidence to identify Roman rural settlement sites in the county. Rob's research interests focus on the early Middle Ages and has also had experience of working on Roman and earlier periods through years of parish-level research into the archaeology and landscape of Puttenham parish.

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.

Roman Ewell: what was it like to live under an Empire? Discover how life changed for local people and have the chance to handle some objects.

School holiday event. £5 per child.

More information on this and other summer events can be found on the attached pdf.

Contact: dbrooks@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Finding Farnham is back, and Surrey Archaeological Society is running not one, but two community archaeology test pitting events in 2019 in Farnham! 

On Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July, there will be two days of community test pitting (10:00-16:00) at Holt Pound, where members of the public are welcome to sign-up and have a try at digging, sieving or helping to process the finds. 

Free for all - open to all ages

All sessions must be booked in advance – for info, contact outreach@surreyarchaeology.org.uk.