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The post SSD in Action – How to Use the Stone Recording Database appeared first on WallCAP.

In parallel with this we have been developing a set of tools and guides which will allow you to continue to do this work once the WallCAP project is finished.

This session will kick off a pilot study and will introduce you to the set of tools and guides which will further enable the work which you have been doing for Stone Sourcing and Dispersal. We will talk through a set of targeted locations to look at for this pilot study, for you to go out and try out these tools and guides. By doing this we can not only collect more information to support the work of the SSD project but also make sure that the tools and guides work to properly support future work on the wall stones.

What we will be doing:

Giving an overview of what the pilot study is about and how it fits together.

Explaining the new tools and techniques:

• The SSD app

• The SSD database

• Archival work

Walking through the target sites for this pilot study

Talking through the set of guides:

• Geology

• Masonry

• Quarries

• Repurposed stone

• Archival research

• SSD App

• SSD database

Explaining how this work will be supported, for example through drop-in sessions.

Click here to register for this event.

The post SSD in Action – Pilot Study appeared first on WallCAP.

What we will be doing: This “Understanding the Geology” and “Unearthing the Wall’s Rocks” trip gives an opportunity to see the Whin Sill freshly exposed by modern quarrying activity. This provides a way of comparing the contemporary quarrying methods with those used by the Romans. It also gives a way of understanding more about the Whin Sill and how it formed and its interaction with the Carboniferous sedimentary rocks around it.

Tarmac have kindly arranged for us to view this actively operating quarry at close quarters so that we can see at first hand the way in which this very hard material is being exploited. Before touring the quarry, we will have a briefing on the quarry and safety procedures along with a talk about the Whin Sill and its relevance to Hadrian’s Wall.

The visit will involve a minimal amount of walking with transport around the quarry being provided by Tarmac. Tarmac has a rigorous safety regime in place which we will be required to follow at all times whilst in the quarry.

Click here to register for this event. *Timings to follow*

COVID information: COVID-19 is a serious illness which is readily transmitted between people. To minimise the risk of passing on this disease during geo-walks, a process has been put in place. Whilst this gives a structure to manage the risk of transmission, for it to succeed there is a need for us to take individual responsibility to make this work. This is nothing new and I imagine you will already be doing this when you go out for shopping and other activities where you will be meeting people outside your own household. The three things that I would like us to do are:

• to be aware,
• to be considerate, and:
• to communicate.

To be aware of others around you so that you can negotiate how to remain distant from them

To be considerate. This is a difficult time, and we know that some people are more vulnerable than others. This includes the way that we feel about the situation and it is important to be aware of and respect others’ feelings and needs as we proceed.

To communicate. Humans are good at working out where we are physically in relation to others, however, to get the distancing sorted, using your awareness and consideration to communicate and negotiate your way around the walk is vital. Smiling, “you-go-firsts” and “I’ll leave the gate for you” amongst other considerations will oil the wheels of how this works, as well as making the day out more enjoyable.

Participants will be asked to perform a self-assessment of their health on the day of the walk. If they feel generally unwell and especially if they find that they have any of the currently recognised symptoms of COVID19, they will be asked to self-exclude from the walk and to let the leader know that they will not be attending.

The currently recognised symptoms of COVID19 illness can be found here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51048366

If participants find that they develop symptoms within 10 days after the walk please can you get in touch directly so that we can work as required with the government Track and Trace process.

Volunteer information:

• No previous experience required just come along and have a great day investigating Wall stone!
• Please bring your own hand gel and mask if you wish to wear one.
• Please bring appropriate clothing and wear appropriate sturdy footwear. You will need waterproofs if it is raining.
• Volunteers will need to arrange their own transport.
• Please bring your own water and picnic lunch.

The post Barrasford Quarry Trip appeared first on WallCAP.

What we will be doing: On this “Unearthing the Wall’s Rocks” walk we will visit Hadrian’s Wall at Planetrees, and two quarries which may have supplied stone to Hadrian’s Wall. The first stop on this walk will be Fallowfield Fell quarry, a large Roman sandstone quarry which covers over 55,000 m2. We will investigate this quarry to find the toolmarks and other traces left behind by the Roman army nearly 2000 years ago. We will also look at the geology of the stone in the quarry and in the surrounding area.

Following this we will move on to an undated quarry beside Crag House. Here we will talk about the difficulties of dating quarries, and discuss how we can compare the stone in the quarry to the stone in nearby structures. One of the goals of WallCAP is to understand where the stone for Hadrian’s Wall was sourced and investigating quarries of unknown date is an essential part of this process.

Finally, we will stop at a stretch of Hadrian’s Wall at Planetrees, which is very close to the quarry at Crag House. Here we will talk about some of the methods used to transport stone from the quarries to the Wall and look at the material of the Wall itself.

Click here to register for this event.

COVID information: COVID-19 is a serious illness which is readily transmitted between people. To minimise the risk of passing on this disease during geo-walks, a process has been put in place. Whilst this gives a structure to manage the risk of transmission, for it to succeed there is a need for us to take individual responsibility to make this work. This is nothing new and I imagine you will already be doing this when you go out for shopping and other activities where you will be meeting people outside your own household. The three things that I would like us to do are:

• to be aware,
• to be considerate, and:
• to communicate.

To be aware of others around you so that you can negotiate how to remain distant from them

To be considerate. This is a difficult time, and we know that some people are more vulnerable than others. This includes the way that we feel about the situation and it is important to be aware of and respect others’ feelings and needs as we proceed.

To communicate. Humans are good at working out where we are physically in relation to others, however, to get the distancing sorted, using your awareness and consideration to communicate and negotiate your way around the walk is vital. Smiling, “you-go-firsts” and “I’ll leave the gate for you” amongst other considerations will oil the wheels of how this works, as well as making the day out more enjoyable.

Participants will be asked to perform a self-assessment of their health on the day of the walk. If they feel generally unwell and especially if they find that they have any of the currently recognised symptoms of COVID19, they will be asked to self-exclude from the walk and to let the leader know that they will not be attending.

The currently recognised symptoms of COVID19 illness can be found here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51048366

If participants find that they develop symptoms within 10 days after the walk please can you get in touch directly so that we can work as required with the government Track and Trace process.

Volunteer information:

• No previous experience required just come along and have a great day investigating Wall stone!
• Please bring your own hand gel and mask if you wish to wear one.
• Please bring appropriate clothing and wear appropriate sturdy footwear. You will need waterproofs if it is raining.
• Volunteers will need to arrange their own transport.
• Please bring your own water and picnic lunch.

The post Fallowfield and Quarries Field Trip appeared first on WallCAP.

Chesters Roman fort occupies a pleasant position on the west bank of the North Tyne, guarding a key route from the north to Hadrian’s Wall, and the Roman town of Corbridge only a few miles to the southeast. Excavations between 1850-1970 have revealed a number of interesting buildings in and around the fort, and Examining the Wall’s Stone here allows us to consider the great variety of stone shaped for the more specialized buildings and structures associated with forts.

This full day of activity will include:

• An introduction to the archaeology and geology of Chesters Roman Fort
• Examining the stone in the fort buildings
• Stone carving session with professional stone carver Natasha Smith

About the Stone Carving Sessions

There will be a series of workshops throughout the day with small groups where you will be using hammer and stone-carving chisels to work with raw blocks of stone to find out how to carve stone under Natasha’s expert guidance. Trying out what it feels like to carve and inscribe stone is not only hugely satisfying but will also put you inside that Roman world and give an insight into the very nature of the different types of stone and how the Romans worked with these raw materials to create the Wall. The tools we will be using are almost identical to those that the Romans would have used!

Click here to register for this event.

COVID information: COVID-19 is a serious illness which is readily transmitted between people. To minimise the risk of passing on this disease during geo-walks, a process has been put in place. Whilst this gives a structure to manage the risk of transmission, for it to succeed there is a need for us to take individual responsibility to make this work. This is nothing new and I imagine you will already be doing this when you go out for shopping and other activities where you will be meeting people outside your own household. The three things that I would like us to do are:

• to be aware,
• to be considerate, and:
• to communicate.

To be aware of others around you so that you can negotiate how to remain distant from them

To be considerate. This is a difficult time, and we know that some people are more vulnerable than others. This includes the way that we feel about the situation and it is important to be aware of and respect others’ feelings and needs as we proceed.

To communicate. Humans are good at working out where we are physically in relation to others, however, to get the distancing sorted, using your awareness and consideration to communicate and negotiate your way around the walk is vital. Smiling, “you-go-firsts” and “I’ll leave the gate for you” amongst other considerations will oil the wheels of how this works, as well as making the day out more enjoyable.

Participants will be asked to perform a self-assessment of their health on the day of the walk. If they feel generally unwell and especially if they find that they have any of the currently recognised symptoms of COVID19, they will be asked to self-exclude from the walk and to let the leader know that they will not be attending.

The currently recognised symptoms of COVID19 illness can be found here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51048366

If participants find that they develop symptoms within 10 days after the walk please can you get in touch directly so that we can work as required with the government Track and Trace process.

Volunteer information:

• No previous experience required just come along and have a great day investigating Wall stone!
• Please bring your own hand gel and mask if you wish to wear one.
• Please bring appropriate clothing and wear appropriate sturdy footwear. You will need waterproofs if it is raining.
• Volunteers will need to arrange their own transport.
• Please bring your own water and picnic lunch.

The post Stone Carving & Examining the Wall’s Stone appeared first on WallCAP.

We meet at the car park on the left of the road as you enter Rockcliffe at GR NX851535

What we will be doing: This “Understanding the Geology” trip gives an opportunity to explore the roots of the geology that we have looked at within the Hadrian’s Wall landscape. This provides a way of understanding the geological context of the Carboniferous and Permian sedimentary sequences as well as giving an insight into some of the more exotic material used in Wall construction.

This section of the coast exposes the edge of the Criffel-Dalbeattie granite intrusion which formed late in the Caledonian Orogeny in early Devonian times. The intrusion fingers into the Silurian deep-ocean sediments which were laid down at the bottom of the Iapetus Ocean which separated England and Scotland at this time. The Caledonian Orogeny marks the closure of this ocean, and these intensely folded rocks show the massive forces at work. Dykes of pink felsitic material cut through the folded Silurian sediments – these date from the same sort of time as the Criffel-Dalbeattie intrusion.

At the south-eastern end of this outcrop the early Carboniferous sedimentary rocks are exposed. These are very different from the Carboniferous rocks we have explored around Tynemouth and in the Haltwhistle Burn and help give an understanding of the way that the area switched from mountain building to a sedimentary basin.

The rocks we will be looking provide the source of Glacial erratics commonly used within buildings at the western end of the Wall as well as re-worked glacial material used in the Wall core. Some of these rocks may also be the source of minerals which were eroded and transported to form the Carboniferous sediments which underpin the eastern and central sections of the Wall.

The walk will be up to about 7km long most on good path. There will be an optional short steep descent into Barcloy Heigh beneath Castlehill Point and scramble across slippery rocks on the foreshore. Sturdy footwear is required and walking poles may be helpful particularly for the slippery sections. There are toilets in Rockcliffe.

Click here to register for this event.

COVID information: COVID-19 is a serious illness which is readily transmitted between people. To minimise the risk of passing on this disease during geo-walks, a process has been put in place. Whilst this gives a structure to manage the risk of transmission, for it to succeed there is a need for us to take individual responsibility to make this work. This is nothing new and I imagine you will already be doing this when you go out for shopping and other activities where you will be meeting people outside your own household. The three things that I would like us to do are:

• to be aware,
• to be considerate, and:
• to communicate.

To be aware of others around you so that you can negotiate how to remain distant from them

To be considerate. This is a difficult time, and we know that some people are more vulnerable than others. This includes the way that we feel about the situation and it is important to be aware of and respect others’ feelings and needs as we proceed.

To communicate. Humans are good at working out where we are physically in relation to others, however, to get the distancing sorted, using your awareness and consideration to communicate and negotiate your way around the walk is vital. Smiling, “you-go-firsts” and “I’ll leave the gate for you” amongst other considerations will oil the wheels of how this works, as well as making the day out more enjoyable.

Participants will be asked to perform a self-assessment of their health on the day of the walk. If they feel generally unwell and especially if they find that they have any of the currently recognised symptoms of COVID19, they will be asked to self-exclude from the walk and to let the leader know that they will not be attending.

The currently recognised symptoms of COVID19 illness can be found here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51048366

If participants find that they develop symptoms within 10 days after the walk please can you get in touch directly so that we can work as required with the government Track and Trace process.

Volunteer information:

• No previous experience required just come along and have a great day investigating Wall stone!
• Please bring your own hand gel and mask if you wish to wear one.
• Please bring appropriate clothing and wear appropriate sturdy footwear. You will need waterproofs if it is raining.
• Volunteers will need to arrange their own transport.
• Please bring your own water and picnic lunch.

The post Rockcliffe Visit appeared first on WallCAP.

We meet in the Housesteads Roman Fort car park.

On this walk we will visit both a Roman fort and a Roman quarry so that we can compare the sandstone used to build the fort with a possible source of its stone. Will begin by looking at the stones used to build Housesteads Roman Fort. We will look at the sandstone used to construct the forts outer walls and inner structures to explore whether different types of stone were used for different buildings, and we will cover geological methods used to recognise different types of sandstone. We will then move to the Wall itself and follow it east towards Sewingshields Crags.

After walking along a stretch of the crags we will cross the Wall and head north towards Queen’s Crag quarry. Here will see a Roman inscription which mentions the names of two centurions who were working in the quarry. We will also look at the quarry and discuss what methods were used by Roman quarrymen to extract stone and transport it long distances.

In summary we will be:

• Examining the building materials of Housesteads Fort

• Learning about Latin inscriptions

• Looking at different types of evidence for quarrying

Please note that this walk will cover some difficult terrain over the crags and at the quarry. There are steep slopes which we will be going up and down, we will need to climb over stiles to access fields, and the quarry has rubble which can be hazardous to walk over. Make sure you are wearing safe footwear and please tell one of the walk leaders straight away if you need a break at any point. There will only be one public toilet on this walk at Housesteads fort.

Click here to register for this event.

COVID information: COVID-19 is a serious illness which is readily transmitted between people. To minimise the risk of passing on this disease during geo-walks, a process has been put in place. Whilst this gives a structure to manage the risk of transmission, for it to succeed there is a need for us to take individual responsibility to make this work. This is nothing new and I imagine you will already be doing this when you go out for shopping and other activities where you will be meeting people outside your own household. The three things that I would like us to do are:

• to be aware,
• to be considerate, and:
• to communicate.

To be aware of others around you so that you can negotiate how to remain distant from them

To be considerate. This is a difficult time, and we know that some people are more vulnerable than others. This includes the way that we feel about the situation and it is important to be aware of and respect others’ feelings and needs as we proceed.

To communicate. Humans are good at working out where we are physically in relation to others, however, to get the distancing sorted, using your awareness and consideration to communicate and negotiate your way around the walk is vital. Smiling, “you-go-firsts” and “I’ll leave the gate for you” amongst other considerations will oil the wheels of how this works, as well as making the day out more enjoyable.

Participants will be asked to perform a self-assessment of their health on the day of the walk. If they feel generally unwell and especially if they find that they have any of the currently recognised symptoms of COVID19, they will be asked to self-exclude from the walk and to let the leader know that they will not be attending.

The currently recognised symptoms of COVID19 illness can be found here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51048366

If participants find that they develop symptoms within 10 days after the walk please can you get in touch directly so that we can work as required with the government Track and Trace process.

Volunteer information:

• No previous experience required just come along and have a great morning out exploring rocks.
• Please bring your own hand gel and mask if you wish to wear one.
• Sturdy footwear is essential ie walking boots preferable but wellingtons ok – trainers not acceptable.
• Please bring appropriate clothing. You will need waterproofs if it is raining.
• Volunteers will need transport to the start point.
• If you have a camera/phone please bring this with you so that you can record pictures of the rocks to remind yourself of what you have seen.
• Please bring your own water and picnic lunch.

The post Housesteads Queens Crag appeared first on WallCAP.

We meet by the car park in Cawfields Quarry.

Aim: This field excursion is the next opportunity to see what the rocks that were used to make Hadrian’s Wall look like in their original pre-Roman setting. It also provides an opportunity to explore the way in which quarrying has been carried out. Across much of the length of the Wall the rocks are obscured by glacial material, soil and buildings, particularly in the west, so one of the best places to explore the rocks besides the coast is in river cuttings and quarries. Here in Cawfields Quarry and in the river cutting and quarries running alongside the Haltwhistle Burn we can explore rocks from the Carboniferous period, as well as the Whin Sill, that underly the central part of the Wall between Brampton and Chollerford.

We will visit locations in the burn and Cawfields Quarry to introduce different rock types, how they vary and how they relate to each other. This will be used as a way of looking at the evidence for what it was like when the rocks were being laid down which will give a good starting place to help understand how to identify rocks on Hadrian’s Wall. Methods of reading the rocks will be introduced during the walk. Whilst this is not essential for rock recognition it is highly recommended as a way of getting to know the stones. We will also learn about how quarrying has been carried out.

In summary we will be:

• Exploring the geology and landscape

• Learning how to recognise and categorise rocks

• Learning how to read the landscape

• Learning how to use geological maps

Logistics: We start at Cawfields Quarry car park where we will gather at a distance. From here we will walk from towards Haltwhislte following the old trackway down the Hatlwhistle Burn visiting 3 to 4 locations along the burn which will be a mixture of stream sections and old quarries. We will stop for picnic lunch during the walk along the burn to allow plenty of time to explore the burn. We then return to Cawfields Quarry in the afternoon to explore the Whin Sill and the way that the Wall interacts with the landscape here, including taking a short walk up to Milecastle 42. We will be walking between 3 and 4 miles along trackway and roadway for the most part but will need to do some scrambling to look at the rock faces in the quarries along Haltwhistle Burn.

Click here to register for this event.

COVID information: COVID-19 is a serious illness which is readily transmitted between people. To minimise the risk of passing on this disease during geo-walks, a process has been put in place. Whilst this gives a structure to manage the risk of transmission, for it to succeed there is a need for us to take individual responsibility to make this work. This is nothing new and I imagine you will already be doing this when you go out for shopping and other activities where you will be meeting people outside your own household. The three things that I would like us to do are:

• to be aware,
• to be considerate, and:
• to communicate.

To be aware of others around you so that you can negotiate how to remain distant from them

To be considerate. This is a difficult time, and we know that some people are more vulnerable than others. This includes the way that we feel about the situation and it is important to be aware of and respect others’ feelings and needs as we proceed.

To communicate. Humans are good at working out where we are physically in relation to others, however, to get the distancing sorted, using your awareness and consideration to communicate and negotiate your way around the walk is vital. Smiling, “you-go-firsts” and “I’ll leave the gate for you” amongst other considerations will oil the wheels of how this works, as well as making the day out more enjoyable.

Participants will be asked to perform a self-assessment of their health on the day of the walk. If they feel generally unwell and especially if they find that they have any of the currently recognised symptoms of COVID19, they will be asked to self-exclude from the walk and to let the leader know that they will not be attending.

The currently recognised symptoms of COVID19 illness can be found here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51048366

If participants find that they develop symptoms within 10 days after the walk please can you get in touch directly so that we can work as required with the government Track and Trace process.

Volunteer information:

• No previous experience required just come along and have a great morning out exploring rocks.
• Please bring your own hand gel and mask if you wish to wear one.
• Sturdy footwear is essential ie walking boots preferable but wellingtons ok – trainers not acceptable.
• Please bring appropriate clothing. You will need waterproofs if it is raining.
• Volunteers will need transport to the start point.
• If you have a camera/phone please bring this with you so that you can record pictures of the rocks to remind yourself of what you have seen.
• Please bring your own water and picnic lunch.

The post Haltwhistle Fieldtrip appeared first on WallCAP.