TV prof really digs our historic sites

Mar 22 2008 by Hazel Ettienne, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

EMINENT archaeologist Professor Mick Aston has visited historic sites in Huddersfield.

Prof Aston is well known through his appearances on Channel 4’s Time Team 2.

Huddersfield and District Archaeological Society was thrilled when he accepted its invitation to give the final lecture in their 2007/8 lecture series which rounded off the society’s Jubilee Year.

The Society won the Mick Aston Presentation Award in the 2004 Brit Arch Awards.

This was for the work done in presenting the excavations in Myers Wood, Kirkburton, to the public. Prof Aston was unable to present the award at the ceremony in Belfast due to ill health, but he re-presented the certificate to the committee at his lecture.

Members and guests filled the lecture theatre at Huddersfield University to listen to him talk about The Shapwick Project.

The project on research into the growth of a village has been undertaken over a period of years looking at maps, old deeds, the landscape and also excavation.

Prof Aston said it was very useful if there has been a land dispute in the area being researched as maps had to be drawn to show the disputed boundaries.

Some evidence of Roman occupation was found.

Prof Aston showed awareness about the archaeology of the Huddersfield area – in particular Castle Hill which he visited with members of the Society.

He was astonished by the spectacular nature of the site.

Before leaving the hill he said it could be a fine venue for a future edition of Time Team.

A visit was also made to the mediaeval iron making site in Myers Wood where the Society is still surveying. He agreed that the site was of national importance and offered encouraging suggestions about the way in which further work is going.