Foreword:
ACID Archaeology and Conservation in Derbyshire and the Peak District Editor: Roly Smith, 33 Park Road, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1AX Tel: 01629 812034; email: roly.smith@btconnect.com For further information (or more copies) please email Del Pickup at: del.pickup@peakdistrict.gov.uk Designed by: Phil Cunningham www.creative-magazine-designer.co.uk Printed by: Buxton Press www.buxtonpress.com The Committee wishes to thank our sponsors, Derbyshire County Council and the Peak District National Park Authority, who enable this publication to be made freely available.
ACID
Derbyshire Archaeology Advisory Committee Buxton Museum and Art Gallery Creswell Crags Heritage Trust Derbyshire Archaeological Society Derbyshire County Council Derby Museums Trust Historic England (East Midlands) Hunter Archaeological Society University of Manchester Archaeology Department University of Nottingham Peak District Mines Historical Society Peak District National Park Authority Portable Antiquities Scheme Museums Sheffield University of Sheffield, Department of Archaeology South Derbyshire District Council
ISSUE 19 JANUARY 2022
Archaeology and Conservation in Derbyshire and the Peak District
Scout’s honour New archaeology badge
Inside:
The aerial archaeologist Learning to live with Covid Celebrating the National Park’s 70th anniversary
Finding new ways of working together
R
eviewing this edition of ACID magazine, I am struck by the enormous energy and commitment shown by those who care about our heritage, despite the Covid pandemic. We have all been busier than ever and have found new ways to work and share information. We learn how community groups and heritage sector organisations have overcome Covid restrictions, often gaining new technological skills in the process.
Creative and artistic approaches to engaging people in landscape are showcased by two art projects: GUIDEline and Vestiges. Some beautiful artwork, poetry and digital resources have been produced in celebration of the National Park’s 70th birthday and the 200th birthday of Victorian antiquarian Thomas Bateman. High quality research, survey, excavation and analysis by local archaeological contractors continues to shed new light on how people lived and what they ate, from the Iron Age period onwards (anyone for stickleback soup?). Surely we can take valuable lessons from evidence of medieval management of the River Dove into our future approaches to river catchment management and climate change responses? And managing landscape change will certainly be informed by a better understanding of landscape character, as is explained by Sarah Whiteley. TV’s “Aerial Archaeologist” Ben Robinson reveals the interesting journey through his heritage career, how he has managed to combine this with his love of flying and the huge feeling of satisfaction he gains from seeing investment bring sustainable transformation to our historic built environment. Derbyshire Museums Manager Ros Westwood reminds us of the importance of museum collections. Museums have worked tirelessly through the pandemic to keep their collections accessible, and their audiences engaged, and the creation of new archives of material available for future research is an absolutely integral part of any archaeological investigation. Meghan King showcases her golden ‘Find of the Year’ from the fantastic Portal Antiquities Scheme. The strongest theme emerging from this issue is the value of partnerships and education. Helen Carrington explains how learning something new about a historic building is one of the most rewarding aspects of her role as Conservation Officer. University of Sheffield students have conducted several important surveys, shedding new light on the deserted medieval village at Haddon, the hillfort at Mam Tor and industrial remains at Cracken Edge. Helen Malbon describes how her PhD research could provide useful data for monitoring erosion at historic monuments. Our universities play such a critical role in driving forward research and developing the heritage sector into the next generation and we value these partnerships more than ever.
Our year in numbers and pictures
Morgause Lomas with the new archaeology badge for Derbyshire Scouts at Peveril Castle (see page12)
The views expressed in the pages of this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or publishers. No responsibility will be accepted for any comments made by contributors or interviewees. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers. Archaeology and Conservation in Derbyshire and the Peak District is supported by Derbyshire County Council and the Peak District National Park Authority
I am also thrilled to see contributions from our next generation of heritage professionals and enthusiasts. Kit Bailey inspires us all with his hands-on approach to learning. He turned his own back garden and neighbourhood into a laboratory of research, experiment and enquiry – he is unstoppable! And in our cover story we learn how Morgause Lomas has been motivated to pass her archaeological learning on to others by developing a brand new Archaeology Badge for the Derbyshire Scouts. My sincere thanks to our contributors and all the unsung heroes who have continued to work in support of heritage over the last year – your hard work inspires us all.
Anna Badcock
Treasurer of the Derbyshire Archaeological Advisory Committee
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ACID | 2022
