Valdoe Dispatches

Completion of Assessment Phase

2007-05-02T12:25:00.000+01:00

The assessment phase for the Valdoe Project has now been completed and we await word on the commissioning of a full analytical programme for the site. Regular visits are still made to the quarry to monitor the pit but formal excavations have now ceased. Results from any further analysis will be posted here.

Assessment Phase in preparation.

2007-01-01T09:36:00.000Z

Following a successful year of excavation at the Valdoe site we are now engaged in preparing for the Assessment Phase. During this stage of the project a team of specialists are brought together to work on different aspects of the recovered material (stone tools, fauna, pollen, ostracods) to assess the potential for further detailed analysis. Once the go-ahead is given the team will begin work on a small sample of material from the site and together we will build a case for further work if its considered warranted.

In-situ landsurfaces found in extraction area

2006-11-02T21:17:00.000Z

As out test pits are opened up ahead of extraction they are revealing in-situ landsurfaces across the entire north-western part of the quarry.

In each test pit small quantities of in-situ knapping debitage are present showing that this was an area actively occupied by Middle Pleistocene humans. Perhaps on the fringe of key hunting and butchery areas. We have yet to locate these in the Valdoe environs but the quantities of background evidence in the form of diffuse scatter of flakes makes their presence locally a virtual certainty.

Valdoe Contingency Phase begins.

2006-10-02T18:20:00.000+01:00

English Heritage, through their administration of Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, have given the go-ahead to the Valdoe Contingency Phase. This three-month project will work ahead of renewed extraction to sample sediments identified as containing in-situ archaeology in the north-western part of the Valdoe Quarry.

The Contingency Project has provision for five archaeological test pits and a further five boreholes. Through these the nature of the sedimentary sequence, stone age archaeology and environmental character will be ascertained

Further Extraction Possible for Autumn 2006

2006-07-07T20:57:00.000+01:00

We are now almost certain that a new phase of extraction will proceed in the north-west corner of the quarry in an area identified as preserving sediments identical to those at Boxgrove which contained in-situ archaeology. We are now in the process of developing a contingency plan for rescue excavations which can be put into operation should this extraction go ahead.

Valdoe Assessment Survey Fieldwork finishes.

2006-06-01T20:44:00.000+01:00

The initial Assessment Phase of fieldwork has now finished. Since February a series of seven boreholes, five test pits and numerous exposure recordings have allowed us to accurately produce a detailed model of the geology in the Valdoe Quarry.

We have been given an enormous amount of uninhibited access to the Quarry through the continued, kind permission of Dudmans LTD.

As a result we are now able to predict where deposits containing archaeology and environmental indicators are luckily to be preserved. Should any further extraction take place we shall therefore be in a position to develop a suitable plan for mitigation/rescue.

In situ artefacts found

2006-04-07T09:23:00.000+01:00

Test Pits 5 and 6 have both produced in situ artefacts this week. At both localities we now have definite evidence for a human presence in the form of small quantities of late stage biface thinning debitage. The evidence, combined with local surface finds of handaxes and further artefacts in the overlying Head Deposits, suggests the habitual use of the Lavant Valley mouth during the same period that Boxgrove was occupied. Unless behaviour was significantly different in this context, the evidence suggests the likelihood of larger, more intensively occupied locales are present within the vicinity of the Valdoe.

Worthing Archaeological Society

2006-03-29T08:20:00.000+01:00

The project is extremely thankful to Worthing Archaeological Society who participated in fieldwork at the Valdoe during late March and early April. Under the daily supervision of Pat Jones (Sussex University) Jill, Pete, Bob, Keith and the rest of the team quickly got to grips with deep Pleistocene excavation, hours of daily bailing-out and metres of largely barren geology with good humour and professionalism. The reward for their toil was the discovery of in-situ material within the newly identified palaeolandsurface and the first chance anyone has had to see and excavate an extensive area of the Boxgrove palaeolandsurface in almost a decade.

After the success of this field season, we hope to collaborate with Worthing Archaeological Society on future projects.

Palaeolandsurface Found

2006-02-22T21:46:00.000Z

In line with expectations, the Boxgrove palaeolandsurface has been located in the Northern part of the Quarry, an area potentially under threat during the new phase of extraction. These sediments are identical to those which have produced in-situ archaeology, human remains and butchered animals carcasses dating to over half a million years old at Boxgrove.

Now that this key horizon has been identified surviving within the Valdoe Quarry a plan can begin to be formulated to mitigate against any extraction work which impacts upon it.

New Project Vehicle

2006-02-22T21:23:00.000Z

As the work horse for the project we this week took possession of a 1972 Series 3 Landrover. Throughout the past few days this truck consistently out-performed the Toyota Hi-lux driven by our borehole team both in terms of horsepower and off-road abilities.

The landrover, a short wheel base which now qualifies for Historic Taxation Class, will handle all off-road and quarry driving for the duration of the project.

Boreholing Commenced

2006-02-18T21:37:00.000Z

In order to determine the presence of the Boxgrove palaeolandsurface within the threatened areas of the Quarry a series of boreholes will be sunk this week to map the subsurface geology.
A team from West Wight Drilling have been hired to undertake this work using a standard Dando percussion rig.

5-6 boreholes should be all that is required to create, when combined with exisiting data sets, a local geological model of the area.

Extraction of 'Haul Road' begins.

2006-02-14T21:54:00.000Z

There are two areas within the Valdoe Quarry where renewed extraction may impact upon the Boxgrove palaeolandscape. One lies beneath the old north-south haul road which cuts through the eastern part of the quarry.

This week the first phase of extraction began here, removing the overlying decalcified gravels, or Hoggin, and exposing the underlying calcareous coombe rock. Within the next few weeks it should be possible to determine the actual distribution of the landsurface within this area.

Topographic Survey

2006-02-05T21:03:00.000Z

With the aid of Mark Savage (Archaeology South East), an initial topographic survey of the Valdoe Quarry was undertaken. The aim of the survey was to provide an accurate and up-to-date snapshot of the quarry topography and layout prior to the commencing of any new extraction. In addition the survey provided a series of benchmarks around the quarry perimeter, these will allow the subsequent accurate surveying of boreholes, test pits and new extraction areas. The survey was extended beyond the perimeter of the quarry to tie into the surrounding landscape.

The survey was undertaken using Leica GPS equipment which, given the open conditions of the quarry, was immensely more efficient than using a total station. The surveying marked the first phase of fieldwork in the Valdoe Assessment Survey, an occasion marked auspiciously by a Spitfire fly-past from the nearby Goodwood airfield at the close of play on the first day.