Archaeological Reports

From this

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to this!

 

 

 

 

Our archaeology was mostly carried out by 50 or so individual volunteers under supervision of professional archaeologists Richard Carlton and Marc Johnstone from  The Archaeological Practice.

Little did we know back in 2012, when North Pennines AONB’s  HLF funded ‘Altogether Archaeology’ programme did some small exploratory trenches, that we’d find such a wealth of archaeology beneath the anthills and pine needles.

We only planned two digs, but the enthusiasm of the 50 or so volunteers and the professional archaeologists Richard Carlton and Marc Johnstone from  The Archaeological Practice was difficult to stop! They excavated the flues across the top of the Arches (prior to the consolidation works), the mill race (see Appendix 1 written by the unstoppable volunteer Pete Lee), the footings of a range of buildings to the east (still a mystery) and uncovered a huge waterwheel pit and the smelting hearths.

There are many more pictures and diagrams in the reports below:

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The flues and chute from the top of the arches

 

Richard 1

Excavating the chimeys

SmeltPunk

The more they dug, the more chimney emerged!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Local schools visiting the site helped consolidate the excavated mill race walls

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the mill race: sluices, channels, cobbles and hearthstones – what a puzzle!

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starting work on the millrace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oppen days 25 &26 May 2014 JB (14)

INvestigating the mysterious eastern buildings

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Not even the visiting school kids could work them out

 

 

 

Oppen days 25 &26 May 2014 JB (1)

A lot of stone to shift from the wheelpit and hearths

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part of the fun is debating theories on what exactly has been found

diagram to photo comparison

We think its something like this… but see the report for more accurate conjecture!

 

 

DUKESFIELD_REPORT_1_lowres 2012

DUKESFIELD_REPORT_2_lowres 2013

DUKESFIELD_REPORT_3_Main_lowres 2014

DUKESFIELD_REPORT_3_Appendix_lowres 2014

more reports from the earlier digs to follow

DUKESFIELD_REPORT_3_Main_lowres
6.9 MB
DUKESFIELD_REPORT_3_Appendix_lowres
4.8 MB
DUKESFIELD_REPORT_1_lowres
6.8 MB
DUKESFIELD_REPORT_2_lowres
5.9 MB
The Dukesfield Smelters and Carriers Project aimed to celebrate and discover the heritage of the Dukesfield Arches & lead carriers' routes between Blaydon and the lead mines of Allendale and Weardale. A two year community project, it was led by the Friends of the North Pennines in partnership with Hexhamshire and Slaley Parish Councils and the active support of Allendale Estates. It was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generous support of other sponsors. Friends of the North Pennines: Charity No:1137467