Wednesday 7th November. – This month Norman Redhead, from the new Greater Manchester Archaeological Advisory Services, will be joining us to give us a talk on the Historic Landscape Characterisation project. This nationally commissioned initiative started in 2007 and ran for 4.5 years. It culminated in the production of a huge database which is controlled by a programme called a Graphic Information System. By linking historic, geographic and social records together with maps, both historical and modern, it can be used  to display all kinds of useful information. Norman will be bringing the database with him on his laptop to demonstrate how it can be used. Of particular interest to us will be its use in identifying areas of archaeological sensitivity and how the historic character of these areas can be studied.

Tuesday 2nd October – note the change of day – a previously booked wedding at our venue has forced us to change from our usual Wednesday. It also means that our long-booked speaker is not now available. There has been a suggestion that we review some of our previous Society trips – even including the ones we made to Angers in Frances in the early 2000’s. We made three visits there in total and there is enough material available for a presentation on this subject alone. There has also been some suggestions about the possibility of making a return visit – a review of these trips may prompt a review of the possibilities.

Wednesday 5^th September – in the Standish Suit at the Brocket Arms (7.30pm as usual).  This month we have Brian Grimsditch who is Senior Archaeologist at the Centre for Applied Archaeology (CfAA) at Salford University. He has been involved in the running of the Dig Greater Manchester project which included the dig at Etherstone Hall in Leigh earlier this year. His talk however will be on something a little different.  Besthorpe is a project that Brian has been involved with over a number year now. Predominantly a Romano-British site, but evidence is starting to emerge of earlier occupation – from Mesolithic to late Iron Age. This takes the form of prehistoric pottery, polished stone axes, metal artefacts and lots of worked flint. I’m sure it will be another fascinating talk from Brian – hope to see you there.