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derbyshirearch.bsky.social
DerbyshireArchaeology
@derbyshirearch.bsky.social
590 followers 530 following 140 posts
Posts from the Archaeology Advisory Team and the Historic Environment Record at Derbyshire County Council
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derbyshirearch.bsky.social
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The pit alignment is almost dug but it proved to link into others with potential to look at relationships and sequence

Lovely site plan and beautiful clean sections from PCA

The pits stood open and were repeatedly filled with water - no sign of posts!

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Alignment pit at Boulton Moor, Derby, cutting through an earlier tree throw feature - were the pit alignments associated with clearance of this landscape in the early 1st millennium BC? Image credit PCA Typical alignment pit at Boulton Moor, Derby. The base is cut into the underlying clay and seems to have repeatedly filled with water - potential for palaeo-environmental data here. Image credit PCA Pit alignment overlain by later ditch, Boulton Moor, Derby. You could eat your dinner off that section (well, theoretically, if you had a vertical dinner). Image credit PCA Site plan of excavated pit alignment at Boulton Moor, Derby. Image credit PCA
November 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
derbyshirearch.bsky.social
#RomanFortThursday Little Chester, Derby - Roman fort or something else?

"Derventio, the Little City. A small town in the Roman north. Dr Steve Malone, York Archaeology"

Derbyshire Archaeology Day - Sat 31 Jan at the Winding Wheel, Chesterfield

chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/shows/derbys...
Stone rampart of the late 2nd-3rd century stone wall at Little Chester, under excavation by Trent & Peak Archaeology (now part of York Archaeology) in 2016
November 20, 2025 at 11:16 AM
derbyshirearch.bsky.social
#RomanFortThursday

A Roman well (down the steps on the left) and the padstones of a colonnaded building, preserved outside 49-51 Marcus Street, Derby. Excavated 1971, the well is in situ but the padstones were moved. Go see it!

More info in DAJ here: archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/vie...
Google Earth image (photo by Alex Brossler) showing a preserved Roman well - a square stone-lined feature - down some steps adjacent to suburban gardens in Marcus Street, Derby. Plan and section drawings of the Roman 'Well I' from Marcus Street, Derby, showing that the well was around 4m deep! Image from Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 122 (2002), (c) Derbyshire Archaeological Society and the authors (C Sparey Green et al.)
November 20, 2025 at 11:02 AM
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mancent.bsky.social
Day trip to #Eyam in #Derbyshire. So much amazing history from mining to water catchment, to beautiful architecture, and of course the plague story. In the middle of it all a beautiful and pretty complete #Anglo-Saxon cross with figurative decoration and lots of Angels. #archaeology #history
Detail of the cross head of the Anglo-Saxon high cross at Eyam with angels and the Annunciation?
November 8, 2025 at 9:09 PM
derbyshirearch.bsky.social
A meaty tome lands on my desk - here's Markham North PXA, weighing in at 328 pages! Great job York Archaeology

Iron Age to 350AD - enclosure ditch, roundhouses divided off from 'stuff', pottery production from early 1C. Interesting how the settlement form persists unaltered over maybe 400 years.
Drone shot of the settlement at Markham Vale northern extension - (c) York Archaeology. Large settlement enclosure ditch with a narrower internal division. Roundhouses in the southern zone, other activities to the north, including at least one pottery kiln which was used in the Iron Age-Roman transition period, and may be the first example of this date in Derbyshire Detail aerial shot of the 'domestic' area of Markham Vale northern extension, with four roundhouses (c) York Archaeology. One of these was dated to the Iron Age and the group seems likely to span the use life of the site into the later Roman period. Further analysis and radiocarbon dating might further illuminate the chronology. Site plan of the 'domestic' area at Markham Vale northern extension (c) York Archaeology (c) York Archaeology
November 18, 2025 at 10:53 AM
derbyshirearch.bsky.social
#FindsFriday

This beautiful small Neolithic edge-ground flint axe - only 10cm long - was found in Sparrowpit, High Peak in 2001, together with flakes, blades and scrapers from both later Mesolithic and Neolithic periods.

her.derbyshire.gov.uk/Monument/MDR...

#Derbyshire #archaeology #Neolithic
A Neolithic flint axe on opaque brownish flint, with a ruler for scale. It's quite small, just over 10cm long. Image credit Derbyshire HER Another view of the Neolithic flint axe from Sparrowpit, High Peak in 2001, image credit Derbyshire HER
November 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
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derbyshiredro.bsky.social
The Green Man is a pagan symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of new growth each spring. Here we have a beautiful architectural depiction on one of Derby’s oldest coaching inns, Mr Jorrocks Public House, taken in 1988.
#PhotoFriday #EYAReligion/Spirituality
A carving of The Green Man on the corner of a building. It shows a man’s bearded with leaves and pine cones around his head, and fruit underneath. A bunch of grapes is carved further up the wall. The carving is brightly painted – the foliage bright green, grapes purple and the face has blue eyes, a brown beard and rosy cheeks.
November 14, 2025 at 11:40 AM
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chrisseddon.bsky.social
A lovely bit of Derbyshire pride tonight, hearing Mike Haken of the Roman Roads Research Assoc. (@romanroads.bsky.social) talk about the Derbyshire HER as being "...unquestionably one of the best in the country!" Hats off to Steve & Dana of @derbyshirearch.bsky.social, for our ace HER! 🎉
November 13, 2025 at 8:09 PM
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halogrottesco.bsky.social
Standing stone at Gardom's Edge, near Baslow, Derbyshire, taken on a wander yesterday #StandingStoneSunday 🪨❤️
November 9, 2025 at 10:50 AM
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enricharch.bsky.social
For this week’s offering for #StandingStoneSunday here’s one of Hayman Rooke’s sketches of 9 Stone Close on Harthill Moor in the Peak District. #Derbyshire
Image of an 18th century sketch of 9 Stone Close made by Hayman Rooke who surveyed many archaeological sites. The stone circle is in the background and in the foreground are two possible outliers.
November 9, 2025 at 10:38 AM
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martynaudio.bsky.social
I've been collecting photos and drawings of #ArborLow over the past few years - this photo was included in the 'Ramblers Handbook' from 1928 and was taken by A. Holt. @derbyshirearch.bsky.social #stonecircle #PeakDistrict #oldstones
November 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
derbyshirearch.bsky.social
#FindsFriday

Some nice community-led archaeology on the site of Glapwell Hall - 17C on the possible site of a medieval chapel.

We need some help identifying the decorative mount - is it ormolu (maybe from the hall itself?) or just a later reproduction. Any historic furniture experts out there?
A decorative furniture mount, lying on a human palm. The mount is possibly made from ormolu, and has a central flower with petals, with leaves extending in a linear band to either side. Image credit Glapwell Roots and Remnants A fragment of decorative architectural moulding, on the site of the former Glapwell Hall (demolished by the National Coal Board in 1951). Image credit Glapwell Roots and Remnants. The former gate piers to Glapwell Hall (Grade II Listed) - along with the Grade II Listed gardener's bothy these are the only surviving above-ground remnants of the 17th century hall. Image credit Glapwell Roots and Remnants
November 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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arsltd.bsky.social
If you have a community archaeology project in the UK, the Community Archaeology Radiocarbon Dating (CARD) Fund is still accepting applicants for this year's round of funding, but the deadline is 30th November, so get your applications in asap.

To learn about the Fund and to apply: www.cardfund.org
Community Archaeology Radiocarbon Dating (CARD) Fund
www.cardfund.org
November 6, 2025 at 12:42 PM
derbyshirearch.bsky.social
Derbyshire Archaeology Day 2026

"In the Shadow of the Crooked Spire: Recent excavations at Rykneld Square, Chesterfield. Graham Murray & John Thomas (ULAS)"

Tickets here: chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/shows/derbys...

If we're lucky there might even be a site tour ...

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November 6, 2025 at 12:23 PM
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martynaudio.bsky.social
A little update on the ongoing digs in #Chesterfield at the moment - www.bbc.com/news/article...

#archaeology #Derbyshire @derbyshirearch.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 9:52 AM
derbyshirearch.bsky.social
#FindsFriday

Some lovely Early Bronze Age arrowheads and scrapers from fieldwalking near Aldwark

We don't do enough fieldwalking these days (kudos to ARS Ltd for this one) - on an unploughed site topsoil lithics can capture activity patterns on a landscape scale - hunting, settlement, ceremonial
Six worked flint artefacts (arrowheads and scrapers) from a fieldwalking survey by Archaeological Research Services Ltd (to whom image credits) on a site at Brassington Moor Quarry, Aldwark, Derbyshire, 2025.
October 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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fotofacade.bsky.social
😯 ✨Betjeman described it as 'Holy Air Encased in Stone'.

If you've never visited St. Wystan's in Repton before - deep below the surface - that first glimpse of the C9th Saxon crypt is quite something.
View through the dimly lit Anglo-Saxon crypt at St Wystan’s Church, Repton, Derbyshire, showing stone columns, ribbed arches and soft golden light; an atmosphere of ancient stillness.
October 24, 2025 at 5:55 AM
derbyshirearch.bsky.social
Derbyshire Archaeology Day 2026

Talks include:
"Rowtor Rocks: prehistoric art and ritual in the White Peak"
Prof. George Nash and Anna Clark of the Derbyshire Rock Art Group

A special one, this - some stunning new rock art finds at Rowtor!

Tickets here: chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/shows/derbys...
Figurative engraving of a deer, Rowtor Rocks, Birchover. Image credit Anna Clark Prehistoric cup and ring marks, Rowtor Rocks, Birchover. Image credit Anna Clark
October 21, 2025 at 3:38 PM
derbyshirearch.bsky.social
Derbyshire Archaeology Day

Saturday 31st January 2026, Winding Wheel Theatre, Chesterfield

Tickets here: chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/shows/derbys...

Around 150 already sold (we usually sell out)

8 talks on current projects in Derbyshire and the Peak.

I'm going to trail the first one shortly ...
A prehistoric ring ditch being excavated at Dove Valley Park, Foston, South Derbyshire, in 2023. Image credit Pre-Construct Archaeology
October 21, 2025 at 3:29 PM
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halogrottesco.bsky.social
Had a little wander near Walton Works, a grade II listed former cotton wick mill built in the late 18th century. It was bought by Robinson and Sons Ltd in 1896. There have been ongoing plans for restoration and conversion of the site over the years but little has happened so far.
October 20, 2025 at 4:06 PM
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sarahmay1.bsky.social
Nice walk at Dale Abbeyv Derbyshire yesterday. We actually went for a nearby cafe, but a lot to be interested in, especially the church with 17th century interiors and a surprising gallery. Lots of stories and a very friendly and knowledgeable church warden >
Photo of the Arch of the East Window at Dale Abbey. The only standing feature of the Abbey Photo of The Hermitage at Dale Abbey. A rock cut chamber in the woods with a series of large openings. The limestone it's cut into is grey and green with moss. The forest floor is covered in fallen leaves Photo of Dale Abbey Church, the only semi detached church in England. a small Norman Church, with a house at it's Western end. The church was originally a hermit's chapel, bright into an Abbey. The house was originally the infirmary of the Abbey, reworked many times after the dissolution, including once as a pub, the false timber framing is Victorian.
October 20, 2025 at 6:50 AM
derbyshirearch.bsky.social
#FindsFriday #Derbyshire #archaeology

A beautiful barbed and tanged arrowhead from the Early Bronze Age, produced on translucent, amber-coloured flint.

Found in Church Broughton, now in Derby Museum
A series of images of a Bronze Age barbed and tanged arrowhead, from all available angles, with a cm scale to left and bottom. The flint is translucent and amber in colour. Image credit Portable Antiquities Scheme
October 17, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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tonydivey.bsky.social
For #IronworkThursday here’s the iron sign from Bolsover Castle station. The station was demolished and the line closed years ago but this sign remains in the EH stores
October 16, 2025 at 9:37 AM
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dneedham68.bsky.social
Magpie mine, Sheldon, Peak District, Derbyshire.

Mining engineer John Taylor took over management in 1839, establishing a complex of new limestone buildings and innovative equipment. The 2 chimneys, agent's house and smithy were built in the 1840s and the Cornish engine house in 1869.

#Photography
October 15, 2025 at 9:26 PM
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unearthed-it.bsky.social
Just booked my ticket for Derbyshire Archaeology Day 2026
Winding Wheel Theatre, Chesterfield
Sat 31 Jan 2026
@derbyshirearch.bsky.social
#derbyshirearchaeology
October 15, 2025 at 7:54 PM