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derbyshirearch.bsky.social
DerbyshireArchaeology
@derbyshirearch.bsky.social
590 followers 520 following 140 posts
Posts from the Archaeology Advisory Team and the Historic Environment Record at Derbyshire County Council
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#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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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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#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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#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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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
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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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#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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On the road looking at interesting archaeology ...

Darley Abbey with York Archaeology to see remains of the 1793 Evans Paper Mill - mill leat, engine base and cellar her.derbyshire.gov.uk/Monument/MDR...

Then Shardlow Quarry with MOLA for a probable medieval timber mill straddling a paleochannel
A massive sandstone base - probably for a steam engine, at Evans paper mill, Darley Abbey A partially infilled brick-vaulted cellar, Evans paper mill, Darley Abbey MOLA archaeologists excavate lines of timber revetments along a palaeo-channel, Shardlow Quarry Waterlogged timber posts and structural beams thought to relate to a medieval timber mill straddling a palaeochannel, Shardlow Quarry
October 10, 2025 at 11:45 AM
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A row of yellow flags marks a pit alignment at Boulton Moor Derby, being excavated by PCA.

Parcelling up the landscape around the Trent Valley, they mostly date from the Early Iron Age.

An example at Swarkestone Quarry has surviving posts made from squared off tree trunks Did they all have posts?
Yellow flags mark the individual pits of a pit alignment at Boulton Moor, Derby
October 2, 2025 at 1:48 PM
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Archaeology as cubism.

Rather than a Miro or a Braque, this is actually a drone shot of 1870s brick clamps in Mickleover, excavated by Wessex Archaeology in 2021. Short-lived structures churning out bricks for the Great Northern Railway as construction moved through.

#Derbyshire #archaeology
An aerial view of 8 rectangular 'brick clamps' - temporary structures used in brick production. They were active in the 1870s as the Great Northern Railway moved through - there was a tunnel, cuttings and the former Mickleover Station just to the north. Red brick, yellow sandstone, green field, brown earth, dappled woodland. Image credit Wessex Archaeology 2021
September 24, 2025 at 4:38 PM
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Part of a cross shaft from St Alkmund's, Derby, now in Derby Museum. This zoomorphic style emerged in South Derbyshire in the late 9th or early 10th century, right on the faultline between Viking and Saxon influence, blending elements of both traditions into something distinct and new.
A 3D scan of the Anglo-Scandinavian cross shaft fragment from St Alkmund's, Derby, now in Derby Museum. 3D model by archaeo_stuff on sketchfab.com A 3D scan of the Anglo-Scandinavian cross shaft fragment from St Alkmund's, Derby, now in Derby Museum. 3D model by archaeo_stuff on sketchfab.com
September 23, 2025 at 1:02 PM
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#MosaicMonday

Long Eaton Library, funded by the Carnegie Trust for Long Eaton Urban District Council in 1906, and Grade II Listed.

The mosaic over the entrance shows the light of learning.

her.derbyshire.gov.uk/Monument/MDR...
Mosaic panel over the entrance of Long Eaton Libray, showing the figure of Learning holding a torch. Image credit 'The Wulfrun Way' on flickr
September 15, 2025 at 8:49 AM
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#FindsFriday

This lovely piece of medieval floor tile was once part of the medieval priory church at Repton - now beneath the 19th century Pears Building in Repton School. It came to light yesterday as York Archaeology monitor remodelling work in the basement.
A piece of medieval floor tile being held by the attending archaeologist, image credit York Archaeology
September 12, 2025 at 11:02 AM
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On #HillfortsWednesday, the Markland Grips promontory fort near Clowne - mostly enclosed by the limestone gorge, with a trivallate rampart cutting off the neck (left of first photo). Excavations by Harry Lane in 1969 identified pottery from Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age and 2nd-3rd century Roman.
Aerial photo of Markland Grips promontory fort, image credit Historic England Archive 20885_015, taken by Dave MacLeod in 2009 Lovely drone shot of Markland Grips from the east, pinched from Simon Elliott who has some interesting new theories about the site.
September 10, 2025 at 9:39 AM
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A blurry photo, but nice playing card corners - Roman fort, right?

A planning application this year and trenching confirmed some real features - no finds though.

The developer redesigned to avoid the 'fort'. Then the radiocarbon dates came back .... medieval ... and Anglo-Saxon.

I love my job!
A (blurry) 1988 air photo showing two enclosures near Walton-on-Trent with typical Roman 'playing card' corners, one double-ditched and one single. Image credit Derbyshire HER Enclosure ditch profiles from (what was) a suspected Roman temporary camp near Walton-on-Trent 2025, image credits Headland Archaeology
August 20, 2025 at 2:36 PM
derbyshirearch.bsky.social
Frosty images for a sticky July day - prehistoric cup and ring marks at Dobb Edge, above Baslow. The vibrant red of the scale rod really jumps out!

#Derbyshire #Archaeology #Prehistoric
Prehistoric cup and ring on an earthfast boulder at Dobb Edge, with a nice scale rod placed along side and surrounding by frost-encrusted mud and turf. Image credit Derbyshire HER Landscape context of the rock art at Dobb Edge, showing the cup and ring marked boulder in the foreground and a frost upland landscape of drystone wall and bracken in the background. Image credit Derbyshire HER
July 31, 2025 at 11:10 AM
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OK, pushing the envelope slightly for #HillfortsWednesday, this is Cratcliffe Rocks 'defended settlement' seen from the air in 1988. Possibly of Iron Age or Roman date, could even be a medieval drovers' pound
Cratcliff Rocks 'defended settlement' from the air in 1988, image credit Derbyshire HER.
July 23, 2025 at 12:44 PM
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The engraved Palaeolithic rock art from Church Hole Cave, Creswell is a stone's throw into Notts, but we are going to claim a little border elasticity on this. 22 years now since these were discovered.

#Derbyshire #Archaeology #Palaeolithic #Prehistory
Engraving of a bison facing right, Church Hole Cave, Creswell, image credit Paul Bahn, Francisco Muñoz, Paul Pettitt & Sergio Ripoll 2004 Engraving of a red deer facing left, Church Hole Cave, Creswell, image credit Paul Bahn, Francisco Muñoz, Paul Pettitt & Sergio Ripoll 2004 'Inking up' of the deer panel in the previous photo, to show fainter details and additional figures, Church Hole Cave, Creswell, image credit Paul Bahn, Francisco Muñoz, Paul Pettitt & Sergio Ripoll 2004
July 22, 2025 at 12:10 PM
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Derbyshire's only Mayan temple, at Harboro Rocks

(actually they are the remains of a crushing plant associated with the former Harboro brickworks, but I can't be the only one who gets a pre-Colombian vibe)

#Derbyshire #archaeology
Four stepped concrete pillars of a former crushing plant (earlier 20th century) with the dolomitic outcrop of Harboro Rocks in the background. Image from 28dayslater Four stepped concrete pillars of a former crushing plant (earlier 20th century) with the dolomitic outcrop of Harboro Rocks in the background. Image from 28dayslater
July 18, 2025 at 11:28 AM
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From our friends at the National Holocaust Centre and Museum, booking here www.holocaust.org.uk/whats-on
Sunday 27th July 13:00, The Archaeology of Romany Gypsies with John-Henry Phillips, for Roma Genocide Remembrance Day 2025. www.holocaust.org.uk Acre Edge Road, Laxton Newark NG22 0PA National Holocaust Museum
July 16, 2025 at 10:05 AM
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The crypt beneath St Wystan's, Repton is so good it deserves another photo. The rare barley-twist columns thought (by Martin Biddle) to be inspired by similar work in St Peter's, Rome. It's not often you can stand inside an 8th century room ...

#Repton #Derbyshire #Archaeology #AngloSaxon
The 8th century crypt beneath St Wystan's Church, Repton, believed to have held the remains of Mercian kings - perhaps Aethelbald and almost certainly Wiglaf and (later St) Wystan. Image credit Michael Garlick, Creative Commons
July 14, 2025 at 8:17 AM
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Some might say 'structured deposition', I prefer 'lovely prehistoric weirdness' - an inverted cattle skull marks the end of a (probably Iron Age) timber post alignment at Swarkestone Quarry, courtesy of York Archaeology

Love to see a site code on a photo too.

#FindsFriday #Derbyshire #Archaeology
Inverted cattle skull at end of timber post alignment, Swarkestone Quarry Derbyshire, image credit York Archaeology 2023 Inverted cattle skull in context showing the timber post alignment behind (sample tubs mark two post locations). Swarkestone Quarry 2023, image credit York Archaeology
July 11, 2025 at 1:56 PM
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For #HillfortsWednesday a little surprise from Castle Gresley in 2019. The red dashed line shows rough extent of a completely new bivallate hilltop enclosure with ditches 3.5 m deep (no finds 😒) found by Wessex Archaeology on a humdrum evaluation.

#Derbyshire #Archaeology
Site of a possible new hilltop enclosure near Castle Gresley (indicated by red dashed line). Aerial photo from Historic England archive, my markup. The line of the ditches is visible as a slight shadow in the grassland field. Castle Gresley motte and bailey castle in the foreground
July 9, 2025 at 9:23 AM