Archaeology Review - Autumn 2002

Even though there are no major digs in progress, the Section remains very active, not least in keeping an eye on work in progress at both Mont Orgueil and Elizabeth Castles, washing the many finds from the former site and then labellng them, endeavouring to reassemble some pottery.

On a winter walk, Mr Brian Philipps had noted a row of stones on the dunes at Blanches Banques which had been uncovered by wind action after a storm. Might this have been part of a mediaeval long house or a field boundary when this area was stil inhabited? Planning permission to examine the site was obtained but in the meantime several of the stones had been moved, probably by children. We were able to examine the site on 27th June when five members were present. Nothing whatever was discovered apart from a layer of sand between 6 and 10 inches deep stained with iron. The conclusion was that the stones had been placed there in modern times, possibly during the German Occupation. Nevertheless, the incident does indicate the need for vigilance for anything unusual and the need for ma,chinery to be set up to enable the Section to react rapidly where clues to island history may exist and which can be lost within days from human or natural interference.

Several major building sites have been developed in St Helier recently, on Victoria Avenue, La Motte Street, Great Union Road, the Esplanade and elsewhere, all involving deep excavation and pile driving with no archaeological examination. Much irreplaceable archaeological heritage is almost certainly being lost, totally unrecorded. The island desperately needs a full-time field archaeologist, someone with the time and authodty to visit building sites and, where necessary, to organise a team of volunteers to undertake a quick "rescue dig" This has been done successfully in Guernsey which does have such a professional archaeologist, under whose initiative and direction, dramatically important discoveries of Roman and mediaeval settlement have been made in St Peter Port in recent years.

Other matters are receiving our attention such as the completion of drawings and photography at Tesson Mil, the recently discovered bronze age hoard at St Ouen and fragments of a bronze sword at St Saviour.

Bob Le Sueur