Ritual protection in the Chaldon Quarries – health and safety in the 16th century

Ritual protection in the Chaldon Quarries – health and safety in the 16th century

For the first time, curious chalk inscriptions on the walls of an ancient stone quarry in Surrey are being systematically recorded, as part of a wider research project to better understand the long and hitherto hidden history of this important source of stone for London. Many of the chalk inscriptions have been identified as ritual protection marks (RPM).

News: Chaldon Quarries, Surrey – Radiocarbon Dating Results

News: Chaldon Quarries, Surrey – Radiocarbon Dating Results

In January 2018, we reported that the Wealden Cave and Mine Society had been awarded the opportunity to get free radiocarbon dating work performed on archaeological samples from the Reigate area. By the end of March, the results were available, but disappointingly, two of the three samples submitted did not contain sufficient carbon to provide…

News: UNEXMIN: An Autonomous Underwater Explorer for Flooded Mines

News: UNEXMIN: An Autonomous Underwater Explorer for Flooded Mines

Thirteen organisations from seven countries across Europe are collaborating in an ambitious project to develop a submersible robotic system for surveying and exploration of flooded mines. The €5 million project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research programme, includes the development of a Robotic Explorer (UX-1) for autonomous 3D mine mapping to gather valuable…

Wealden Cave and Mine Society Wins Radiocarbon Dating Award

Wealden Cave and Mine Society Wins Radiocarbon Dating Award

In the summer of 2017, I was made aware of a scheme to encourage community archaeological groups to submit material for radiocarbon dating. The scheme is known as the Community Archaeology Radiocarbon Dating (CARD) Fund, and there is a simple online application process for suggesting suitable items for dating. The Wealden Cave and Mine Society…

News: Cambrian Mines Trust To Host NAMHO 2019

News: Cambrian Mines Trust To Host NAMHO 2019

Cambrian Mines Trust will be hosting the NAMHO 2019 event in association with Dr Peter Claughton as lecture programme organiser. Peter has extensive experience in organising events and the trust is extremely grateful for his expertise. Cave Access Ltd will be providing access to mines on land owned by the Welsh Government. The theme of…

Bookings for NAMHO 2017 Now Live

Bookings for NAMHO 2017 Now Live

Bookings are now open for the National Association of Mining History Organisations (NAMHO) Conference 2017, to be based around Godstone, Surrey, UK over the weekend of 23-26th June 2017. A lively and exciting weekend of underground trips, lectures and social events, hosted by the Wealden Cave & Mine Society, in their 50th anniversary year, so…

New Website : Northern Mine Research Society

New Website : Northern Mine Research Society

If a society wants to thrive nowadays, it is important that they have a good website. It is by far the best way to promote what you do, and to encourage others to get involved. The Northern Mine Research Society has recently introduced a radically improved website. In the course of reviewing it for this…

News: Latest NAMHO Newsletter highlights launch of mining research agenda

News: Latest NAMHO Newsletter highlights launch of mining research agenda

In the latest newsletter from NAMHO, Peter Claughton gives a detailed account of the launch of the Archaeology of Mining and Quarrying in England Research Framework at a seminar earlier this year in April. In the discussions that followed the presentation, and quoting from Peter’s report, it was the matters of maintaining comprehensive inventories of…

News: Tratman Award 2015

News: Tratman Award 2015

The Tratman Award, 2015 The Tratman Award has been awarded annually since 1979 to a caving-related paper-based publication in memory of E.K. Tratman, who died in 1978. It covers books, journals and articles published in a calendar year and is administered by the Ghar Parau Foundation, but judged by independent cavers; for 2015 these were…

March 2016 NAMHO Newsletter

March 2016 NAMHO Newsletter

In the March 2016 NAMHO newsletter, the headline story is, understandably, the closure of Kellingley Colliery, the last deep coal mine in Britain, which took place in December 2015. There is a link to Ian Castledine’s impressive photographic record immediately after the closure, at http://www.kellingley.co.uk/ Details of a forthcoming publication are described. “The Archaeology of Mining…

News: Farleigh Down Quarry clean-up welcomed

News: Farleigh Down Quarry clean-up welcomed

The old Farleigh Down Quarry workings in Wiltshire have been the target of some serious vandalism recently, and also some controversy over what to do about it. It is therefore heartening to see members of the Devon and Cornwall Mine Explorers’ Group make the effort to restore one of the vandalised features: a square well. On…

News: Remarkable 5,000 year-old silver mine discovered in Greece

News: Remarkable 5,000 year-old silver mine discovered in Greece

A team of mining archaeologists, supervised by Prof. Dr Denis Morin of the University of Lorraine, connected with the UMR National Center for Scientific Research 5608 of Toulouse, has been investigating 5,000 year old silver mine workings in Greece. The scientists have used a drone to locate above-ground installations connected to the mining. It is…

News: Cambrian Caving Council Newsletter now available

News: Cambrian Caving Council Newsletter now available

The latest edition of the Cambrian Caving Council Newsletter for January 2016 is now available. The Newsletter contains reports from all over Wales, including a report on the finds at Ogof Marris (described here by Darkness UK), details of the permit system for access to the Castlemartin Range for new exploration, an account of the…

Events: Nenthead Mines Open Days for 2016 Published

Events: Nenthead Mines Open Days for 2016 Published

For many mine explorers, Nenthead in Cumbria is the Mecca of British mining, with a vast amount of underground exploration potential. For those who prefer an easier introduction to the mines, the open days run by the Nenthead Mines Conservation Society, are an attractive option. Carrs Show Mine is an established site where you can…

Event: Derbyshire Caving Club Open Weekend, Alderley Edge, 23rd – 24th April 2016

Event: Derbyshire Caving Club Open Weekend, Alderley Edge, 23rd – 24th April 2016

The Derbyshire Caving Club (DCC) are holding an open weekend at Alderley Edge, Cheshire on the weekend of 23rd to 24th April 2015 when you will be able to pay a visit to Engine Vein, one of the extensive series of mines under the steep sandstone outcrop that overlooks the Cheshire plain. The mines have…