MSFAT Projects

Mid-Sussex Field Archaeology Team undertake practical research projects. The main project for 2006 is the continued excavation of a substantial Roman villa at Barcombe in East Sussex (UK). Many exciting discoveries were made in 2005 that raised some interesting questions regarding the development of Roman Sussex.

The team do however also undertake other smaller projects, surveys, and research throughout the year. These projects are usually initiated at the request of private individuals, landowners and special interest groups. The work is carried out by MSFAT members under the close supervision and guidance of trained and experienced archaeologists.

Below is a summary of some of our Field Projects (most recent listed first), for more detailed reports please click on the navigation menu to the left or the summary title.

Barcombe Roman Villa (2007)

The 2006 season saw some changes in the organisation of the Barcombe Villa excavations, with UCL withdrawing from the project, leaving MSFAT and the University of Sussex as the remaining two bodies involved in running the project.

Our objective for the 2006 season was to confirm the south-west corner of the villa complex, which we thought we had found in 2005, and to start investigating the courtyard area between the from wall of the villa complex and the villa building itself. We were therefore surprised to find, that as we stripped back the topsoil with a JCB, a completely unexpected building was located outside the villa courtyard in the south-west corner.

Keymer Burial Ground (February 2004)

On the 26^th and 27^th February MSFAT carried out an assessment excavation at Keymer, on the site of a proposed new burial ground. This is located opposite the church, and may have originally been on the Medieval road frontage.

Arlington Roman Villa (October 2003)

Earlier this year we carried out a resistivity survey and fieldwalking at a Roman site near to Arlington reservoir. Over a number of years local metal detectorists had been finding Roman coins and other artefacts at the site, but now wanted to know more about their site.

Great North Barn, Hamsey (October 2003)

Lewes Archaeological Group were asked by the County Archaeologist to carry out a watching brief during the excavation of a lake at Hamsey. Anne Locke and Sue Rowland began to find various archaeological remains, and asked for assistance.

Wealden Iron Furnace (October 2003)

MSFAT were approached by Jeremy Hodgkinson of the Wealden Iron Research Group (WIRG) asking for assistance with the excavation of an iron furnace that had been found during one of their forays. In excavating a number of test pits to date a large slagheap, they had encountered the top of a furnace. The three sherds of pottery found in the test pits were East Sussex Ware, suggesting a late Iron Age or Romano-British date for the furnace and slagheap.

Wilmington Long Man (November 2002)

A project carried out in conjunction with a TV company and Martin Bell of Reading University in an attempt to date this ancient Sussex hill figure by looking at the hill-wash deposits that had accumulated below.

Clayton Manor Villa  (March 2002)

During the excavation of a service trench at Clayton Manor in March 2002, an area of Roman floor tiles and walling was exposed. This was recorded, and subsequently a larger trench was opened on the front lawn of Clayton Manor to investigate these features. The trench revealed the tiled floor and remains of walls of a Roman bathhouse. This building is almost certainly the same building that was originally discovered and exposed in the early part of the 19^th century, as numerous finds of this date were recovered during this excavation.

Tilgate Lodge (March 2002)

Over two weekends in February 2002 and March 2002, we carried out a survey of some earthworks at Tilgate Forest Lodge, between Handcross and Pease Pottage. The earthworks had been discovered whilst clearing woodland, and comprised a series of earthen banks, which could be traced for some distance across the property.

Church Field Barcombe (2001)

Prior to submitting a planning application for a car park, and after discussions with the County Archaeologist, the Church Warden, Mr John Simpson, approached the Mid Sussex Field Archaeological Team to carry out a geophysical survey of the proposed site. The geophysical survey suggested the presence of archaeological features, and was subsequently followed up with an assessment excavation to investigate these.

Danny Lake, Hurstpierpoint (2001)

A planning application to dredge Danny Lake and spread the resulting sludge over an adjacent field was submitted to Mid-Sussex District Council by the owners. John Mills, the Assistant County Archaeologist, asked the Mid Sussex Field Archaeological Team to carry out a watching brief during the topsoil stripping of the adjacent field.