Monday 23 July 2018

Suffolk Archaeology Open Day


On Saturday there was an Archaeology Open Day at the company where our son works (as a Project Officer)  so I went to have a look.(He wasn't able to be there - previous engagement at a friend's son's 2nd birthday party!)
 Suffolk Archaeology was originally Suffolk County Council Archaeology Department but as with most parts of the County Council it was "divested" and became a Community Interest Company. Son M did his high school work experience with them when he was 14, worked for them again for a year after finishing uni and now has been back with the new version for the last few years.

The open day was mainly aimed at families with children and there were "have a go sessions" on whittling a butter knife from wood, making a Roman coin from clay and weaving on a Roman loom.

I thought their storage area looked fascinating, all those boxes full of finds, but it was fenced off

I was very interested in their display about  The lost Elmswell aerodrome.

I hadn't realised that below the old WWII airfield where I learned to drive (and spent a lot of time with a boyfriend from Elmswell who, with friends, kept an old car there to roar around in!) there was a much earlier airfield. Suffolk Archaeology helped Elmswell history group research and catalogue their finds.

One of the WWI hangers was moved to Stowmarket to become  a Cattle market and sale-yard from the 1920s' through to the 70's

 which I can remember. It was  demolished in the 1980's and this is where Asda and the main car park is now situated in the town.

More displays from excavations elsewhere in Suffolk



They had some trays of Roman pottery to handle. This is the poshest Roman Samian Ware pottery.
When the Romans left Britain it took nearly 1500 years for pottery of this quality to be made in Britain again - What The Romans Did For Us was forgotten.

I'm so pleased that M has been able to work in his chosen profession ever since finishing university.

So I got through another weekend........................hope I get through today................. dentist appointment for the second part of the root canal stuff - Dreading it!

Back Tomorrow
Sue



53 comments:

  1. Good luck with your dental work, Sue. xxxxx

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    1. Thank you.All done - I survived!

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  2. Best of luck with the dental appointment.

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  3. When I had this done Sue, the dental assistant told me to take painkillers before the numbing wore off and it did help a bit. I can only take paracetamol but if you can take nurofen it works much better I’m told. Fingers crossed it’s not too bad.
    I would have loved to see the archeology centre on its Open Day.

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    1. The open day was in their big warehouse and interesting

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  4. Suffolk has a rich history, especially Anglo Saxon. Lots of ‘sites’ and finds where I am. One of the most important nearest to me (found a quarter of a mile away) which not long ago featured on Radio 4, is something called the Undley Bracteate. Have a google.

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  5. Not pleasant but I have never regretted having it done.

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    1. Dentist now tells me it may need a cap - Ugh more work

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  6. Oh, lovely pottery & so thrilling when you can handle it! I spent 2 weeks last month volunteering on an archaeological dig in Greece and dug up hundreds of sherds not seen in the light of day for around 2500 years. It's like holding hands with someone through time. I'm going to do some posts on my blog about it when I've got my gazillion photos sorted...Hope your trip to the dentist goes well.

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    1. Wow, what an interesting trip for you!

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    2. That sounds a fantastic chance to dig into the past.
      Son hasn't done any work overseas

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  7. It looks to have been a fascinating day out.
    Arilx

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  8. That's a very interesting exhibition, always good to know the past and be aware of it.
    Good luck at the dentist.
    https://ruraltownliving.blogspot.com

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    1. Dentist done and dusted for a while. It's interesting having an archaeologist in the family

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  9. Best of luck at the dentist. An easy time afterwards with a good book? X

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    1. Yes very good book and too hot to do anything else!

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  10. Dentists aren't too bad these days, it is just our DREAD of them;). Our world slowly unfolds through the dissection of the past. Pieces of Victorian pottery in the garden always thrill me.

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    1. It was finding bits of pottery in his Nan and Grandads garden that started of our sons interest in Archaeology

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  11. Was what they are calling the Elmswell aerodrome in the photo the same WWII airfield called Great Ashfield in WWII? My father was stationed there during the war for several years with the USAAF 385th BG. I have very strong ties with that place. I've driven on it, too.

    Good luck at the dentist.

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    1. Yes one and the same. It must be on the edge of both villages. Our son worked for a couple of years on a community interest project called 8th in the East, gathering together all the information on the 8th Airforce here in WWII and making it more accessible

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  12. I find these kinds of exhibits fascinating. when we travel its the history exhibits that draw our interest ever time.

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    1. Yes it was good to see some of the things that had been found in the County

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  13. I have a pile of old (mainly 1950's) Suffolk Institute of Archaeology soft cover books, they cover all manner of archaeological finds in and around the area. Your son probably already has them, but if not, would he care for them? I don't want anything for them.

    I also have probably twice as many on Norfolk, but I suppose that is out of his area?

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    1. Thank you. I'll ask him although DIL may ban anymore Archaeology books from their house!

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    3. Ohhhhh yes please to all. We work north of the border as well so would love to have a read of those too.
      From the Son. P.s. don't tell DIL.

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    5. Thank you. I hope he has emailed.

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  14. that's what my sons chosen profession is.. just graduated and hopefully a short contract job if he passes his health and safety test in August.
    Lincolnshire for him first

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    1. Short term contracts are how son started, then he got a job with a company that went bankrupt but luckily by then he had enough experience to get a salaried job.
      Very few of the people son studied with at uni have managed to keep working in archaeology. Good luck to your son I hope he gets on well

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  15. Archaeology is such a specialized field and it’s so great that your son is able to make it a career.

    Good luck at the dentist.

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    1. Thank you - survived the dentist.
      Archaeology is a small world and difficult to stay working

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  16. Looks like a great exhibition, always a bonus if there is activities for the children. It is brilliant that your son is able to work in his chosen field, the jobs are so limited. I am told that alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen helps.

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  17. What a great place to visit, Sue, thank you for showing us all that.
    Re dental work, root canal work should not hurt! I was dreading it a year or two ago when I had to have some root canal work done, just on one tooth. I had to have three appointments … the preliminary work, the root canal work, and then the fitting of the crown. None of it hurt, none of it at all. I have a lovely Polish dentist and he said there was no need for any pain with the correct dental treatment. When he numbed my face I said that I didn't think it was numb and he said, "I think you'll find it is!" and it was. The technique now is for a very localized numbness, your whole face isn't numb. And it really wasn't a bad experience at all. Indeed, from hating visits to the dentist when I was a child (we're talking about brutal treatment in the 1950s here) today it's an absolute doddle. Husband and I go every 6 months for check ups and also every 6 months to the hygienist. But if people clean their teeth properly this will eliminate a lot of treatment - correct brushing and flossing at least once, if not twice a day. I floss every single day and it pays dividends. It takes a little time, but it's worth it. But best of luck, Sue, although I'm sure the only pain will be in your wallet!!!
    Hugs from here,
    Margaret P

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    1. It's the sitting there with my mouth wide open that is my problem and thankfully it's done and no pain.

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    2. Glad it's all over for you, Sue. I don't mind the mouth-open bit, and my dentist is so gentle and so friendly, I have no qualms any more about visiting. I hated the hygienist and the cold water spray, so even she will do the job by hand and not use the water treatment!
      Margaret P

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    3. I hsvh the same problem Sue, it's the sitting with my mouth open that's the worst thing. My jaw used to click out of place regularly, and very painfully and I think it's partly the fear of that happening again. I'm just into a series of crowns being fitted and I'm hating it ☹️

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  18. What a wonderful day out! I've often thought I would have loved to be an archaeologist. What an interesting field for your son. I hope the dentist appointment went well. I've had several root canals and know they are not fun. It is always nice to have the dental visit behind you! Have a good week Sue.

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    1. The threat of the dentist hangs over me for a week before!.

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  19. Now THAT'S a day I would have enjoyed. How very interesting. I never used to worry about the dentist, but I seem to have got mardier the older I get!
    Gillx

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  20. I enjoyed that..... mind you the handle of that scraper in the first photo made me sit up

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    1. It's a Trowel actually! You are awful but I like you!

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  21. As a potter.. those Roman pottery shards fascinated me.. how amazing to be able to touch something with that much history. I hope your week goes.. "swimmingly". ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. From so long ago it's wonderful to get the chance.

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  22. Good luck with the dentist.

    I loved when we went to visit our son at the dig he was working on in Manitoba. It was very interesting.

    God bless.

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    1. There is something special about finding the past

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  23. We started off in the downstairs pub area and then moved to the upper level, many tables were already reserved at event venues here but we commandeered some sitting space in front of a fireplace that was just the right size for our group of happy campers.

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