Pontefract & District
Archaeology & History Society
Looking forward…to learning more about our past
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Society for further information.
Fieldwork
Throughout its existence, the Society has been very active in
locating, excavating, rescuing and recording features of
significance to our past.
This page will provide links to information on places where the
Society has been, and continues to be, involved.
Click here to see a selectionof Past Fieldwork
Please click on the picture to get the full report
2021 Fieldwork
In August 2021, eased Covid-19 restrictions and suitable farming schedules
allowed a window of opportunity to open for South Leeds Archaeology (SLA) to
resume fieldwork at their former Victorian colliery site near Birstall.
Excavations over the bank-holiday and following weekends were arranged,
and PontArc members were invited to participate
Excavations in 2019 (which some PontArc members had also attended) had
discovered the remains of a brick building with a stone flagged floor, presumed
to be a weighing-office or similar, and the 2021 work aimed to reveal more of
the same building. Investigations of associated features identified in
geophysics and old maps were also planned.
A small group - less than 10 each day - of SLA and PontArc members were
able to complete the objectives and (sadly) back-fill all excavations over the
two weekends. Lotta and Matt from PontArc joined Phil in the fieldwork and put
in sterling efforts.
As is often the case with archaeological investigations, as more features were
revealed, the more questions were raised, and the findings require further
interpretation. However, this does mean there should be more fieldwork for us
back on site with SLA next year in the search for answers – watch this space
for updates!
An overhead view of the features exposed in 2021, taken from the 3D model
produced by Phil.
(Search for Pontarc Phil on Sketchfab.com to view the model).
2019 Fieldwork