After four seasons collecting metal from the area of the battle a selection has now gone to the conservators for detailed analysis. Some results

Sadly, access to the core of this site has been denied by landowners, acting under instruction from the developers. This attempt to prevent the gathering of evidence is, sadly, sanctioned by the English planning process.

Over 1000 metal items have been x-rayed and examined. A second batch is waiting to be processed. After that, we hope to examine all the non-ferrous material.

The detecting plan (see methodology for more details)

We didn't know where the battle took place so we covered a wide area - Perhaps the number of fragments would be significant. So for statistical purposes, some outlying areas were surveyed. T

The overall pattern might also prove significant but there is no methodology available yet. But we are working to develop such a model in case the distribution indicates hotspots of fragmentary metal.

The density of unidentifiable ferrous material in the core area is several orders of magnitude higher. However, the significance of this difference in find density cannot be fully appreciated. We need to compare our figures with other sites. 

The Plan

Work began in 2001. Over 5000 metal items were recovered during the monthly fieldworking during 03/04. This has provided much evidence of how the land has been used over the years.

Half of the material was been examined after 3 years and the rest 1 year later. The most significant discovery was not any particular artefact but produced compelling evidence of some short-term metal working.

This can be interpreted as an indication that there was a lot of short-term glut of metal in the area. It was hoped that this can be further investigated but the developers have repeatedly refused access.

This is the area we hope to survey. The read areas have been done. The green areas have yet to be visited. Access to most of these have been blocked by the developers.

· A search of much of the site has not yet been permitted. There have been no existing finds to tie this area to the battle. Battlefields of this era have not yielded any significant finds. The evidence of metal working we have uncovered might explain this.


What have we discovered so far?

  1. We have hundreds of interesting looking fragments but the technology to prove that these are parts of weapons is very expensive and because they are scattered about, would prove little. However, we will keep these under review.
  2. The evidence of metal working calls for much more work. When we are allowed to do so, we hope to see if this represents the reprocessing of metal gathered on the battlefield. The results would have a profound effect on battlefield archaeology.
  3. The density of finds has yet to be plotted accurately but there are a number of 'hot spots'. These seem to relate to the shape of the land. Metal 'sinks' towards the dips. This might make it worth excavating some of the paleo channel identified around the site.

Attached to most pages is a chart of the number of finds for 03/04.

Charts of the assemblage mass

January/February

May

June

July

September

October

November

December

Investigating ferrous material

Evidence of smithing on the site