Petersfield High Street South Side

Part of front cover designed by Edward Grainger for Petersfield Monographs No. 2 entitled ‘High Street Petersfield’.

Archaeology Group

Peter Price with members of PAHS.

From the outset, the Historical Society created specialist study groups for the members including an Archaeological Group which was set up in 1974. At that time it worked closely with Dr Peter Reynolds at the start of the Butser Ancient Farm Project but many other sites and subjects were studied over the years. Their progress appears to have always been reported in the Society’s bulletins.

Regrettably, by the 1990s the group seemed to have disbanded. Fortunately the Society’s past chairman, Peter Price, is an archaeologist and on retirement, he generously agreed to restart the group and the first meeting was held on 23rd January 2013 at the Flora Twort Gallery.

Now meeting monthly in the Physic Garden meeting room on the third Wednesday of October, November, January, February and March, guest speakers give talks on various aspects of archaeology particularly those pertaining to our locality.

The Archaeology Group has also held study days on the application of geophysics as well as field trips in the summer months. For more details, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Petersfield Archaeology Group News

When is a barrow not a barrow?

Barrows Excavation No 2 - June 2015

The People of the Heath project recommenced in June with excavations of Barrows 18 and 21. Once again, members of the Society joined the team led by Project Directors Stuart Needham and George Anelay.

Barrow 18 with its low altitude and position close to the lake offered the prospect of encountering waterlogged deposits. In the event, no features were found but in the base of the buried soil was a scattering of flint work, which is currently being examined and there is little doubt that these flints have remained undisturbed since they were dropped, probably in Mesolithic times. 

Barrow 21 was more of a surprise as it was discovered that it was not a manmade mound and consequently has now been removed from the inventory of barrows for future management of archaeology of the Heath. It is believed the deception was probably due to natural processes in the sandy environments. Disappointing but perhaps one of the joys of archaeology is the unpredictable outcomes!

The Excavation No 3 takes place from 8–26 September 2015. If you would like to be involved, find out more from www.peopleoftheheath.com.

Where Petersfield Archaeology Group Meets

Physic Garden
High Street
Petersfield
GU32 3JJ
Tel: 01730 269060
Website

How To Join

Contact us for an application form. Membership costs £15 per person or £20 per couple. This includes eight meetings per year with a speaker and five optional meetings of the Society’s Archaeological Group. You will also receive a copy of the Society’s twice-yearly bulletin.

Petersfield Museum

Petersfield Museum

Visit the Petersfield Museum to see some of the archival work PAHS has undertaken.

Musical Festival

Petersfield Musical Festival Petersfield Musical Festival has entertained the town with choral music for over 100 years.

Physic Garden

fritillaryThe Physic Garden is open daily except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s day. Check the website for times. Entrance is free.

People of the Heath

People of the Heath Visit People of the Heath for more on the excavation of the Petersfield Heath barrows.