Last week saw the first official WallCAP Heritage at Risk fieldwork project at Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland. The survey work that we undertook last week is a continuation of the hard work of the volunteers who came and helped out during the Development Phase of the Project. The work at Heddon centres around trying to understand the affects that cultivation have had on the survival of the monument. Below, Ray Purvis, one of our WallCAP volunteers, talks about what to expect as a volunteer and what we did over three days.
(Editor’s note: The survey area lay to the east of the recent section of the wall that was uncovered during development. For more information see this blog post from the Heddon-on-the Wall Local History Society).
April 8th, 9th and 10th 2019, saw more of the WallCAP project’s fieldwork being carried out in the first of three fields situated in Hadrian’s Wall mile 11.
LiDAR image of Vallum earthworks to east of Heddon-on-the-Wall
The survey is concentrating on recording the Vallum in the first field after the upstanding section of Hadrian’s Wall, travelling east towards Throckley. This area has been designated as ‘At risk’ so all of the information gathered will go to assess its current condition and be used for planning the future management of the site. The first field is open pasture and used for grazing livestock. We had the field all to ourselves on the survey days! Lumps, bumps and hollows identify the course of the Vallum earthworks that lay on the south side of Hadrian’s Wall. It is here where WallCAP Volunteers are instructed in the basics of the archaeological topographical and geophysical surveys. This sounds very complicated, but essentially topographical survey is the study of the shape and features of land surfaces and geophysical survey is used to detect the features underground. Comprehensive instruction and practice in all types of equipment used on the day was given by WallCAP staff. Time Team used to show all of the various methods used. It is great to be able to get to use the equipment and be part of providing the valuable data for such a sensitive site along the route of Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland.
The weather in April can be unpredictable; for my day on site it remained dry but chilly and we even had some glimpses of the sun. The day on site began with a walk to the eastern end of the field being surveyed with Paul Frodsham, the WallCAP Community Archaeologist. We had a general talk and discussion about the aims of the survey and information relating to the earthworks of the Vallum. We were then introduced to the various types of survey equipment.
There were four different types of survey methods in operation:
- Global Navigation Satellite System
- Leica Builder Total Station
- Ground Penetrating Radar
- Earth Resistance
Techniques 1 and 2 were used in the topographical survey of the site (shape and features of site) and Techniques 3 and 4 were used in the geophysical survey of the site (underground features). In the morning, I was instructed in the use of the Leica Builder Total Station to record points, to map out the shape and features of the Vallum. For the afternoon session. I helped carry out an Earth Resistance survey over the earthworks of the Vallum. After instruction, we used the technique to detect the buried features of the Vallum.
WallCAP’s own Kerry Shaw showing them how it’s done
I could only attend one of the scheduled three days of the survey. All of the WallCAP staff make it an interesting and informative day for anyone to come along and ‘have a go’. Thanks to all involved in its organisation and delivery, looking forward to the next projects and surveys. Put in Wallace and Gromit terms ‘A Grand Day Out’.
Ray Purvis (@RaymondPurvis)
Editor’s note: The survey at Heddon will continue later in the year, although we will post some preliminary data on the Results section of our website soon!
The survey work at Heddon is just the first of a series of Heritage at Risk projects that will be undertaken along the line of Hadrian’s Wall in 2019. All events are free and all training is provided so no previous experience is necessary. We are hoping to advertise the next few projects shortly – if you’re interested in taking part, or would like to find out more about the project, please sign up as a volunteer by clicking here and we’ll be in touch.