Second Stage of Archaeological Investigations to Begin
Following promising results from archaeological drillings at Holmscroft Open
Space last September, permission has been given for the team to return for
stage two of its investigations.
And it will be a 'British first' as the sonic drilling equipment to be used
by the team has never before been used to drill to a depth of 12 - 15 metres
in the UK!
The archaeologists, from Durham University, are part of the Ancient Britain
in its European Context Project (AHOB II) which is looking at human occupation
of Britain from its earliest occupation until the end of the last Ice Ace (c.700,000-8,800
years ago).
Their work entails re-analysing old artifacts held in museum collections,
as well as carrying out fieldwork to refine the dating framework and provide
more accurate reconstructions of past environments. The project is being run
in conjunction with the Natural History Museum, British Museum and a number
of other universities.
The Durham University team is interested in Holmscroft Open Space because
of the work of the amateur archaeologist and geologist F.C.J. Spurrell, who,
in the early nineteenth century, collected bones of extinct animals and flint
tools from around the Crayford and Erith area. Some of his finds are held at
the Natural History Museum.
The flint tools were found in old brickearth quarries to the north and south
of the area now known as Holmscroft Open Space, but because these finds were
made so long ago, little is known about their specific context.
However, an initial investigation, which entailed drilling three boreholes
at the southern edge Holmscroft Open Space last September, confirmed that deposits
suitable for dating and environmental analysis are still present at the site.
Now the team will return for the second phase of its investigations on 6 and
7 March, to make a more in-depth study. The team will be collecting more samples
to see whether small mammals' bones, molluscs and pollen are present, as these
are all things which will reveal information about the past environment.
Team Leader, Dr. Beccy Scott, said: "The work should not adversely affect
residents. The team will be drilling two boreholes to take samples. The recreation
ground will still be in use for the public, though the areas immediately surrounding
the boreholes will be fenced off."
She added: "Members of the public are welcome to ask archaeological team
members about their work, but only when they are outside the fenced off area
and away from machinery."
Cllr Gareth Bacon, Cabinet Member for the Environment said: "This is
an intriguing project. I am delighted that the first stage of the archaeological
investigations last September turned up such promising results and that the
team will be returning to make more in-depth studies.
"This is an excellent opportunity for us to learn more about the borough's
past and the information found will be provide an excellent historical resource
both locally and nationally."
The results of the investigations will be published by the London Borough
of Bexley's Local Studies Unit, as well as on the project website at 
www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/ahob/index_2.html
