At the December meeting we normally share mince pies and a glass of wine. Although we are not meeting in person yet, have your mince pie and glass to hand to start off the festive season.

David will discuss two of our known Roman sites, comparing and contrasting the evidence we have for rural settlement and Roman activity in the area.

Currently it is intended to allow access to this and other RSG Zoom meetings to RSG members only. As a member you will receive a Zoom link by e-mail a week before the meeting. 

This session will concentrate on tools available which can be used to further our research on Surrey's Roman rural settlement. 

The provisional line-up is as follows:

David Calow will show how QGIS, an open source desktop geographic information system, can be used to identify areas of likely rural settlement.

Tim Wilcock will highlight the grey literature data available on the society's website, which plugs the gap between HER, PAS and published data.

We start our winter series of talks with Simon Maslin, Surrey's Finds Liaision Officer talking  about how the Portable Antiquities Scheme can be used as a tool in our research on Roman rural settlement in Surrey. 

Currently it is intended to allow access to this and other RSG Zoom talks only to members. Members should have received a Zoom access code by e-mail for this talk. If you are a member and haven't received one please let Nikki Cowlard know at nikki.cowlard@btinternet.com

COVID 19

The advertised excavation  in June-July has been postponed due to the Covid 19 pandemic. We are hoping to reinstate the dig, government guidelines permitting, later in the summer. However we are not accepting any more volunteers as numbers are likely to be severely restricted.  Participants already registered will receive further e-mails with the latest information.

This summer work is planned in the field north of the Roman villa looking for further evidence of Iron Age and Roman rural activity.

Unfortunately due to the current situation with COVID-19 we have decided to cancel this conference on 9th May 2020.

We hope to re-schedule it for May 2021.

Refunds will be issued automatically and there is no need to contact us

Dr. David Bird, RSG Chairman and past Surrey County archaeologist, will be giving us an update on his research on Ashtead Roman villa and Tileworks. Surrey Archaeological Society carried out excavations on the site between 2006-2013, but the history of archaeological investigation on the site goes back to the 1920s when AWG Lowther investigated the main villa building and detached bath house. David, in preparation for publication of the project has been examining records, both modern and historic, and his talk will give us a glimpse of what he has found.

Emma Corke, Director of excavations at Cock Farm Abinger, will be updating us on yet another successful season on this site of Iron Age and Roman agricultural activity in Abinger. Earlier indications of a human presence include Neolithic pottery and a number of flint implements. Archaeology found in the three CFA19 trenches , including Iron Age, transitional and Roman ditches, and more than 170 postholes, are tying together features from previous seasons to indicate a pattern of activity over several centuries.

James Bromwich is the author of several specialist guide books to Roman archaeology in France. Last season we heard James talking on the garum and salt industries in France and he is back talking to us about Gallic sanctuaries. Sites that will be expanded upon include Le Vieil-Évreux in Normandy and Haut-Bécherel Sanctuary at Corseul in Brittany.

James' detailed guide books will be on sale during the evening.