Dorset Geologist’s Association Group (DGAG) will host a field trip on the Saturday 23 March 2024
Title: Geomorphology and Archaeology in a Chalk Downland Landscape
Leader: Martin Green
Location/Time: Down Farm, Woodcuts, Dorset. The exact meeting time, location details and further important information will be confirmed upon registration via the email contact listed below. As a rough time guide a start at about 10am and finish approximately 4pm – exact times confirmed on registration.
Cost: No fee (There will be a chance to visit the museum for a donation of £5 per person)
Registration: Contact Jeremy Cranmer via email: jeremydorset1@hotmail.co.uk
Open to the public as well – but with a number limit so on a first registered basis
Event Description: The Down Farm Landscape (where Martin Green’s family has farmed for generations) is one of the most carefully studied areas in Western Europe. Much of this work has been carried out by Martin himself – who in 1992 won the Pitt Rivers award for independent archaeology. He and his work have involved five universities and one of the major field units was featured in a BBC 2 ‘Meet the Ancestors’ programme. Martin has been awarded an honorary doctorate of the University of Reading.
The farm is part of Cranborne Chase, just south of Salisbury. It not only contains the Neolithic Dorset Cursus, numerous long barrows and Hambledon Hill, but over the last 30 years henges, shafts, plastered houses, land divisions, enclosures and cemeteries have been identified and excavated. The farm has its own museum and Martin has published a book “A Landscape Revealed: 10, 000 Years on a Chalkland Farm”.
We shall walk around the farm to study the chalk landscape and its evidence of periglacial conditions during the last ice age. We shall see the big shaft and many of the archaeological and geomorphological features on the farm. Martin has agreed the give a demonstration of flint knapping. There will also be a chance to visit the museum for a donation of £5 per person to cover running costs.
Walking will be on footpaths, tracks and pasture. Gates and stiles will be encountered. There may be farm animals (mainly sheep). Beware of rabbit holes! There are no steep hills. Jeremy says “I have been many times and it is always a fascinating visit.”
Photo: From screen shot of a cover of Martin Green book : https://biblio.co.uk/book/landscape-revealed-10000-years-chalkland-farm/d/1404856938
Further Reading: See the websites:
- https://www.theblackmorevale.co.uk/2022/09/10/the-most-professional-of-amateur-archaeologists/
http://www.historiclandscape.co.uk/pdf/Background/B2%20CCWWD%20AONB%20HEAP%20Feb%202011.pdf
Dorset Geologist’s Association Group (DGAG) will host a field trip on the Saturday 25 Nov 2023
Title: Weymouth Bay: Nothe and Portland Harbour
Leader: Alan Holiday
Time/Location: Exact meeting time, location and further important information will be forwarded upon registration via email but a start at about 10am and finish approximately 4pm.
Cost: No fee
Registration: Contact Jeremy Cranmer via email: jeremydorset1@hotmail.co.uk
Open to the public as well – but with a number limit so on a first registered basis
Event Description: Exploration of the geology of the Weymouth Bay area with experienced geologists
Photo: Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth Bay courtesy of presentation by Alan Holiday and DGAG website: https://dorsetgeologistsassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Redcliff_geology_field_trip_section_min.ppt
Further Reading: See the websitehttps://dorsetgeologistsassociation.org/index.php/publications/
Dorset Geologist’s Association Group (DGAG) will host a field trip on the Saturday 23 Sept 2023
Title: Poxwell Pericline
Leader: Jeremy Cranmer
Time/Location: Exact meeting time, location and further important information will be forwarded upon registration via email but a start at about 10am and finish approximately 4pm.
Cost: No fee
Registration Contact: jeremydorset1@hotmail.co.uk
Open to the public as well – but with a number limit so on a first registered basis
Event Description: Exploration of the geology of the famous Poxwell Periclne led by Jeremy, see references below for a flavour of the geology and contact Jeremy for more details.
Photo: Courtesy of Southampton University and Ian West website link noted below
Further Reading: Many historical references but good place to start is Ian West website https://wessexcoastgeology.soton.ac.uk/Poxwell-Quarry.htm
Dorset Geologist’s Association Group (DGAG) & combined with the Bristol Naturalists’ Society will host a field trip on the Saturday 24 June 2023.
Title: Field Trip: Somerton & Langport quarries
Leaders: Simon Carpenter and Dr. John Whicher (DGAG)
Time/Location: Meet at 11am at Ashen Cross Quarry, south of Somerton, Somerset. UK ordnance survey Grid reference ST 495 275. Further important information will be forwarded upon registration. Expected finish is at approximately 3:30pm.
W3W address: \\\ span.adopters.biked.
Post Code: TA11 7JW
Cost: £2 collected on the day Registration:
Contact: Please email john@whicher.plus.com to book a place. Open to the public as well – but with a number limit so on a first registered basis
Trip Description: The meeting visits two working quarries, Ashen Cross Quarry, Somerton and Bowdens Quarry, Langport. Both quarries have extensive exposures of marine Late Triassic rocks and some of the lowest beds of the Blue Lias. An impoverished fauna of invertebrates, mainly bivalves can be found as well as less common vertebrates including Ichthyosaur and plesiosaur remains. Collecting is permitted. A number of vertebrate fossils collected from both quarries will be displayed on the day. Bring a packed lunch and sturdy footwear. Hard hats are required and there will be a limit in numbers, so bookings are essential.
Further Reading:
1.
https://www2.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/download/EHCountyAtlases/Somerset_Building_Stone_Atlas.pdf
Photo: Courtesy of Dr. John Whicher
Dorset Geologist’s Association Group (DGAG) will host a field trip on the Thursday 13 July 2023
Title: Field Trip: Purbeck Quarries day
Leader: John Scott
Time/Location: Meeting time, location and further important information will be forwarded upon registration but a start at about 10am and finish approximately 4pm. BH19 3LB Worth Matravers
Cost: £2 collected on the day Registration:
Contact: johnandsuescott16@gmail.com : Open to the public as well – but with a number limit so on a first registered basis
Event Description: Exploration of the geology of nicely preserved Late Jurassic age rock quarries in the Purbecks: Landers Quarry (viewing courtesy of Trev Haysom) then Winspit/Spyglass Quarry (Historically also known as Keates Quarry) visits and a neat fossil collection in Square & Compass – Worth Matravers/for Lunch (each attendee pays for their own lunch)
Photo: Courtesy of National Trust Sign
Further Reading: Check out the DGAG Rock and Fossil Trail Site (RAFTS) map link below to get further references and simple Google map to one of the quarry sites (RAFTS0009)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&mid=1Z3MVZbokyVzGY8OUD3B8iaD_ROXUKHs&ll=50.61885744237377%2C-2.1060405545654337&z=13
