Archaeology Review - Autumn 2007

The investigation of the lavoirs was entered in the Island Insurance Connservation award and was commended in its ongoing work and is nearing the point of publishing details of extant sites.

During the summer, the Section tried to take advantage of the longer evenings to visit the various dolmen sites in Jersey. The weather defeated us on most Thursdays in June and July. A few windswept members visited Le Pinacle and reviewed the site and previous excavation reports. At Castel Sedement Mr RW Le Sueur gave an erudite talk about the history of the site.

In July an investigation began on some ruined walls in an isolated location in field 1285 near La Saline slipway, St Ouen. No historical record has been found to indicate their purpose but this area is associated with the accounts of the inundation of the Manoir de Brecquette by sand in 1356. Mr Brian Philipps organised the trenches to record the foundations and possible floor levels. Articulated parts of a skeleton were found which were determined to be those of an ox by cautious excavation. A rusty iron find was collected, brushing revealed it to be the remains of a gramophone! The base of a third wall was exposed. The foundations were of large sea-worn shale blocks laid directly on sand and the walls of granite quarried from local outcrops. No finds were made that will determine the centruy of building or to indicate the original use of the structure. The site will be returned to its previous state.

On the 7th August the Planning and Environment Department published a White Paper : Archaeology and Planning: sites of archaeological interest. This document is an extensive list of Sites of Special Interest (SSIs), Archaeological Sites (APs) and Areas of Archaeological Potential (AAPs). It contains details and maps of 165 locations compiled from published and unpublished sources. The Section was asked to contribute and comment during the compilation of the Schedule.

This winter, we hope to see some improvements in the Section workroom at La Hougue Bie with the propsect of new windows. This will involve moving fixtures and emptying cupboards.

We shall continue to meet most Thursday evenings at 8pm. Margaret Finlaison meets every Wednesday morning from 10am until 12.30pm to work on the finds collections of pottery and of tobacco pipes and to continue the lavoir project in the research room at La Hougue Bie. We would like to increase the numbers in this group so if there are and Société members who are available at this time they are invited to come along or to contact the Section.

John Clarke - Chairman