At this time of the year farmers are busy ploughing their fields ready for planting next year’s crops. It is now that the field archaeologist can get out and about (with the farmer’s permission, of course!) and start looking for evidence that the plough has uncovered, The most likely objects that he will come across are fragments of pottery – these could range from Iron Age right through to 20th century Woolworths.

If any member of the Society would like to participate in a ploughed field survey exercise, please contact me – it is not only useful work, but can be very rewarding.

I remember a few years ago carrying out a survey of this type at Cary Fitzpaine. Whilst walking along the bank of the stream I came across some pottery that had been dredged out of the stream on to the bank. It was red in colour and ornamented. I arranged for one of the CRAAGS field workers to give his opinion on it. He advised that it was of the type found at Glastonbury Lake Village. On this one particular farm, evidence of continuous occupation was found right through from the Iron Age.

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