East Oxford Archaeology shortlisted for prestigious award



'East Oxford, One History or Many?' has been shortlisted for the Best Community Archaeology Project for the 2012 British Archaeological Awards.

The full short list was published 30th May on the BAA website: www.britarch.ac.uk/awards/baa2012.html#comm

Central Oxford is famous as an ancient University city and often overshadows East Oxford which is diverse and fascinating. There are Prehistoric sites, Romano-British pottery industries, a medieval leper hospital, civil war defences, and an evolution from a farming landscape to housing and industry. There is much more yet to be found out about East Oxford's past.

The project entered its current phase in the autumn of 2010, thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Oxford University's John Fell Fund, which enabled two project officers to be appointed to help engage the community. The project has been enormously successful, with a project team based in the Department, and over 400 volunteers from the local area.

'The volunteers have ranged in age from three to others in their 80s. One young girl found a Roman coin on her very first dig, which she was over the moon with,' said Jane Harrison, Archaeox Project Officer.

Approximately 50 pits have been dug - many of them local back gardens volunteered by residents - along with a large dig last autumn at Bartlemas Chapel, site of a former medieval leper hospital. Finds have included many Roman artifacts and early burials. The project has another two and a half years to run, so there are many exciting discoveries ahead.

Jane Harrison was interviewed on BBC Radio Oxford on 28 May; the audio is available until 3rd June online here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/p00s319f - and Jane's part begins at 1 hour 53 minutes on the iplayer clock.

The project has also been covered recently in the Oxford Mail:

 

Full information about the East Oxford Community Archaeology project may be found on the project website, at: https://www.archeox.net/home

The British Archaeological Awards Ceremony will take place at the British Museum on Monday, 9th July.

Published 30 May 2012