Société Jersiaise - Archaeology Review

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Archaeology Review - Autumn 2004

During the summer the Section has continued to be busy although no major excavations have taken place. The Thursday evening meetings have continued with processing finds from previous digs, including Mont Orgueil Castle, and Tesson Mill, and the collections from field walking. In the longer evenings the members did two field walks in the fields to the north of La Hougue Bie but nothing relating to the Pre-historic site was found.

Visits were made to inspect La Hougue du Grosnez Dolmen and a nearby standing stone together with assessing the condition of La Fontaine Martin. A summer visit was made to Noirmont to identify La Hougue de Vinde and another was spent at Les Platons when the boundaries of the Société property were measured around Les Hougues.

New members are always welcome at the weekly meetings held at 8.00pm each Thursday at La Hougue Bie. While there is plenty of work to do there is also much informal discussion and a good working atmosphere. Please check the programme at the Société Office.

The major archaeological event of the summer was the 150th Summer Meeting of the Royal Archaeological Institute of Great Britain which was held in the Channel Islands and involved the Section together with other Sections and members of the Société. The visitors wanted to see as many of Jersey’s sites as possible in three and a half days and their interests ranged from the palaeolithic to the fortifications of the Second World War. The logistics of moving 48 enthusiasts of widely ranging agility through 125,000 years via Jersey’s tortuous roads was formidable. With the co-operation of a great many individuals and organization the members of this Ancient Institute enjoyed an over packed programme. The sites included Gorey and Elizabeth Castles, La Hougue Bie and Faldouet, the modern church of St Matthew and the Ancient Chapel at St Brelade, Le Câtel de Rozel, Le Pinacle and Grosnez Castle and many other places were explained as the party rode past in the coaches. Guides and speakers were available to explain an enormous amount about each of the sites. It is hoped that their visit has increased the awareness of Jersey’s rich and concentrated archaeological resource both outside and within the island. Any increase in interest can only help in the protection, preservation and sustainability of our historic environment.

During August we had a visit from two Graduate Students from Bristol University who explained the use of the geophysics technology of resistivity and magnetometry surveying at an evening meeting. They invited members to help with their surveys of various sites including a field within Le Câtel de Rozel. We look forward to hearing further when the measurements have been analyzed.

Wind, Water and Steam Mills of Jersey

As part of an on-going project which it is proposed will lead to a publication on the history of milling in Jersey we would like to hear from any Member who may have any old photographs or pictures of Jersey Mills or memories of their working days. Since the 13th century we have recorded the sites of 48 water mills and 24 wind mills in Jersey, of these some half a dozen also had steam engines in the latter part of the 19th century and there were at least 3 independent steam mills. Despite many remaining in use into the 19th, 20th century photographs and memories are elusive and some due to alteration are proving unidentifiable. If you have photos or family memories, please contact either Philip Stevens or Chris Aubin c/o Société Jersiaise, 7 Pier Road, St Helier, Jersey.

John Clarke-Vice-Chairman