Promoting awareness of the archaeology and history of north Devon
Promoting awareness of the archaeology and history of north Devon
Proposed changes to the provision of the members newsletter
As you will be aware from previous editorials and comment the production of our Newsletter is very time consuming and has fallen on the shoulders of our Chairman for a number of years.Similarly with Bruce Aitken now cutting back his workload and thus unable to publish and print the Newsletter, it was proposed at committee that we should take the opportunity that is now available to migrate the provision of news and articles across to the web site.
The proposal is that rather than collect items for publication on a specific date that articles will be published on the web site as they become available. That this would effectivly comprise a full years worth of material, as has been the case previously with the printed version.
For members who do not have computer access or find it difficult to access the web site then a printed copy of the web pages will be provided once a year.
A sub-committee has been formed to look into the feasibility of this proposal and it is chaired by Mary Houldsworth (mhouldsworth@hotmail.co.uk).
Articles and photographs can be submitted by any interested party for editorial supervision to Terry Green and these will then be passed onto Stephen Hobbs for inclusion of the web site. An area will be created on the welcome page to display the latest topics before they are archived into the site as an annual document.
It is also proposed that a small single sheet (A4) bullitin will be posted to members twice a year to inform of meetings and events during the year, these will also be available on the web site.
We would value your comment on this proposal, please pass suggestions to any committee member or the subject will be open for discussion at the AGM.
Miscellaneous Developments (from the editorial in Newsletter No 14 2007/08)
As was mentioned in the Editorial, the NDAS website is now up and running.
If you type www.ndas.org.uk into a search engine such as Google, you will
find a well presented site (the work of Stephen Hobbs) in which you can
follow NDAS activities and communications by theme. At present the content
is mostly drawn from past newsletters, but the facility is there to comment,
to update and to keep this informative resource abreast of developments.
The site has the potential to become a location where members can pool
their knowledge and observations. If you wish to comment or to add anything
to the site, use the appropriate Contact button on the screen.
You will be aware that Six Acre Farm in Lynton
Parish had caught our interest. We have carried out survey work there
(including most recently further earthwork survey) centred on an apparent
ovoid enclosure containing an earthwork which appears to represent a deserted
medieval settlement. There are few of these on Exmooor and this is one
of the best preserved. Under the direction of Mary Houldsworth, the plan
had been to undertake a limited excavation this autumn, which would have
enjoyed the enthusiastic support of the owners. However, it was pointed
out to us that the Farm is in a potentially delicate position in regard
to agri-environment schemes, and that it would be in the owners' interests
if for the moment the site were left undisturbed. For this reason the
investigation of the Six Acre Farm site has been put on hold.
At West Middleton Farm, Parracombe 'humps and bumps' noted during field-boundary
survey invite geophysical survey. It is hoped that the technological resources
offered by Xarch (Exeter University) as well as the expertise of Jim Knights
can be put to good use here during 2008.