4 minute read
Defending Mam Tor
MORGAUSE LOMAS reports on a young Buxton scout’s “outstanding contribution to community archaeology”
Jack Goodchild, a 10-year-old member of 17th Buxton (St Peters Fairfield) Cub Scout Pack, won the Young Archaeologist of the Year Award at last year’s national Festival of Archaeology.
The award, presented to “a young person under the age of 18 who has made an outstanding contribution to community archaeology or a youth engagement project”, was one of four launched with the Marsh Community Archaeology Awards in partnership with the Council for British Archaeology (CBA). Jack was “ecstatic” to hear he had won the award out of a talented shortlist of three young archaeologists, all of whom were scouts, from all over Britain.
Making the award, Neil Redfern, executive director of the CBA said: “Congratulations Jack, your enthusiasm for archaeology came through in your Mum’s nomination and we’re delighted that you’re so happy. You are an inspiration.”
When Neil asked Jack if there was anything he would like to say about why people should be inspired by archaeology, Jack replied: “I just think archaeology is really good because it teaches you about your past and shows you what you should do with your future and what to not do. It teaches you great lessons.”
Jack’s mum, Emma, related how Jack’s interest in archaeology had begun: “From an early age we have encouraged Jack’s thirst for knowledge and information, and through our own love of exploring, he’s developed a keen passion for the past and different cultures. He’s especially
interested in Ancient Greece, Egypt, the Incas and the Neolithic period. It’s lovely to see him so keen to share his passion with others and we are extremely proud of him.”
Jack was recently introduced to the Young Archaeologists’ Club after joining an archaeology session run by the Derbyshire Scout Archaeology team at his Cub pack. Team Lead of the Derbyshire Scout Archaeology team, Morgause Lomas, said: “This is exactly why we created the Derbyshire Archaeology Badge, so young Scouts like Jack could pursue their love for archaeology, as well as to introduce the topic to youngsters who haven’t heard of it.”
Jack has gone on to inspire many other members of 17th Buxton Cub pack to join up to the Young Archaeologists’ Club and pursue their interest further.
Derbyshire Scouts County Commissioner Sue Harris was excited to hear Jack’s great news. She commented: “We love to celebrate all achievements within Derbyshire Scouting, so I’m thrilled to hear that Jack has been awarded the prestigious Young Archaeologist of the Year, showing that he has really worked hard on pursuing his love for the past.
“Well done, Jack.”
Hobcroft Barn, near Warslow, one of the buildings recorded by the YAC
From barns to bones
MARTHA JASKO-LAWRENCE, Branch Leader, Peak District Young Archaeologists’ Club describes a busy year
After a 15 month hiatus, Peak District Young Archaeologists’ Club meetings resumed in July 2021. We began with a joint session with the Millers Dale Young Rangers learning about charcoal and trying some experimental archaeology making charcoal ourselves.
We joined the “Digging Deeper” project at Under Whitle Farm, which we had previously visited several times as part of the “Peeling Back the Layers” project, to carry out some excavation. For another session, we worked once again with the South West Peak Landscape Partnership to learn about historic barns and historic building recording. The YAC members practised their building recording skills at a wonderful example of a restored field barn, Hobcroft Barn near Warslow.
Rosalind Buck, National Trust archaeologist for the East Midlands, took us on a tour of the parkland at Ilam Park, near Dovedale, to identify some of the archaeological features there. Over the past decade Ilam Learning Centre has been a regular base for YAC so it was interesting to investigate the landscape surrounding it.
There have been a couple of visits to Sheffield Museums venues. We explored the archaeology and Ancient Egypt galleries at Weston Park Museum and enjoyed some archaeology-based party games for our YAC Christmas party. On a second occasion, the group visited the museum store, which is not normally open to the public, and found out about the Bateman collection and how the museum cares for the collections it holds.
Themed sessions have included exploring Ancient Greek art, where we painted ‘vases’ in Greek style, and osteology which involved recording an inhumation burial created by volunteer leader Michelle using a replica human skeleton and ‘grave goods’ she selected from her home.
It has been fantastic restarting the meetings after the pandemic but several of our former members have passed the upper age limit or found other interests, so we are rebuilding the membership numbers. One recent joiner, Jack Goodchild,
Caption
COVER STORY: YAC member Beatrix Lawrence explores making charcoal drawings at Millers Dale
was named Young Archaeologist of the Year (see opposite page) so the quality of our members is high.
Anyone aged eight to 16 interested in archaeology can join. We are also looking for more adult volunteer leaders. See www.yac-uk.org.uk for details of your nearest branch and who to contact.
