Archaeology at New Coghurst Farm
For the Kids Archaeological Digs please scroll to the bottom of the page
The Main Archaeological Dig
In 2023 with the help of 'Hastings Area Archaeological Research Group' (HAARG) we discovered an entire Bronze Age Settlement here at New Coghurst Farm. We found archaeology from this period in all areas of the farm, which not only included a cluster of round houses, field systems, trackways and large animal corrals, we also located a ring ditch burial mound, ritual pits and most surprisingly industrial furnaces for smelting or repurposing bronze that seem to represent a larger network of trade.
We began excavation on the burial mound in the summer of 2023 and recovered over 30 cremations located within the ring ditch of the mound as well as a huge amount of flint tools and flint debitage. We also found an abundance of middle Bronze Age pottery, most of which is of a Deveral-Rimbury style, some of which was associated with the ring ditch but the vast majority was found within a large ritual pit.
A date of 1445BC has been taken from charcoal samples from key areas from the site which confirms a Middle Bronze Age date of occupation but many more samples need to be taken across the site to understand a full occupation timeline.
This is a lost Bronze Age landscape in the heart of the Great Weald that is slowly coming to light, we are presented with new discoveries everyday inspiring us here at New Coghurst Farm to ask who were these people and how did they live and work with their environment. Our ultimate plan will be to reconstitute the Bronze Age landscape as it was by rebuilding the round houses and burial mound, in the hope of once again bringing into view the lost landscape of the Bronze Age Weald.
The Main Archaeological Dig
In 2023 with the help of 'Hastings Area Archaeological Research Group' (HAARG) we discovered an entire Bronze Age Settlement here at New Coghurst Farm. We found archaeology from this period in all areas of the farm, which not only included a cluster of round houses, field systems, trackways and large animal corrals, we also located a ring ditch burial mound, ritual pits and most surprisingly industrial furnaces for smelting or repurposing bronze that seem to represent a larger network of trade.
We began excavation on the burial mound in the summer of 2023 and recovered over 30 cremations located within the ring ditch of the mound as well as a huge amount of flint tools and flint debitage. We also found an abundance of middle Bronze Age pottery, most of which is of a Deveral-Rimbury style, some of which was associated with the ring ditch but the vast majority was found within a large ritual pit.
A date of 1445BC has been taken from charcoal samples from key areas from the site which confirms a Middle Bronze Age date of occupation but many more samples need to be taken across the site to understand a full occupation timeline.
This is a lost Bronze Age landscape in the heart of the Great Weald that is slowly coming to light, we are presented with new discoveries everyday inspiring us here at New Coghurst Farm to ask who were these people and how did they live and work with their environment. Our ultimate plan will be to reconstitute the Bronze Age landscape as it was by rebuilding the round houses and burial mound, in the hope of once again bringing into view the lost landscape of the Bronze Age Weald.
Call to volunteers
The excavations are ongoing and will span multiple sites across the farm for several years. We run facilitated digs in the first week of each month from April to September (Please see calendar below)
All volunteers are welcome regardless of experience but must be over 16 to attend. All training will be provided by the site lead archaeologist.
No payment is required to join the dig-its free to attend but a donation to help with running the site would be appreciated.
Recommended minimum donation £20
Supporters donation (which directly helps with all dig costs such as environmental sampling, pottery and flint analysis, carbon 14 testing, research) £50-£250
Archaeological sites are expensive to run and much funding needs to be found to process all we find, so any help with this is very appreciated. Isle Heritage CIC is the main funding body for this project and without this support we could not have achieved such incredible results.
Spaces on the dig are limited and priority will be given to those who will be staying with us in either onsite camping or staying in one of our bell tents, Shepard's hut or room accommodations.
-Maybe come and dig with us for a week or just a few days and stay on site.
Enjoy the beautiful Wealden landscape, see our semi-wild herd of horses, native breed Soay sheep and pigs, all of whom are part of our conservation grazing programme, across our woods and wildflower meadows and help reveal our hidden Bronze are world.
See below for upcoming dig dates
The excavations are ongoing and will span multiple sites across the farm for several years. We run facilitated digs in the first week of each month from April to September (Please see calendar below)
All volunteers are welcome regardless of experience but must be over 16 to attend. All training will be provided by the site lead archaeologist.
No payment is required to join the dig-its free to attend but a donation to help with running the site would be appreciated.
Recommended minimum donation £20
Supporters donation (which directly helps with all dig costs such as environmental sampling, pottery and flint analysis, carbon 14 testing, research) £50-£250
Archaeological sites are expensive to run and much funding needs to be found to process all we find, so any help with this is very appreciated. Isle Heritage CIC is the main funding body for this project and without this support we could not have achieved such incredible results.
Spaces on the dig are limited and priority will be given to those who will be staying with us in either onsite camping or staying in one of our bell tents, Shepard's hut or room accommodations.
-Maybe come and dig with us for a week or just a few days and stay on site.
Enjoy the beautiful Wealden landscape, see our semi-wild herd of horses, native breed Soay sheep and pigs, all of whom are part of our conservation grazing programme, across our woods and wildflower meadows and help reveal our hidden Bronze are world.
See below for upcoming dig dates
Dig dates 2024
March 25th-31st
April 29th-5th May
June 1st-7th
July 1st-7th
July 29th-4th August
Bespoke facilitated group experiences
If you have a group of people who would benefit from joining us in the field learning archaeological skills whilst learning about our ancestors history amongst nature then we can create a bespoke package for you. Please enquire by email for more details
March 25th-31st
April 29th-5th May
June 1st-7th
July 1st-7th
July 29th-4th August
Bespoke facilitated group experiences
If you have a group of people who would benefit from joining us in the field learning archaeological skills whilst learning about our ancestors history amongst nature then we can create a bespoke package for you. Please enquire by email for more details
Kids Archaeological Dig School
Hour and a half class learning basic archaeological skills for how to dig, find items of significance and record them in an archaeological context. All classes are run on the Bronze Age Settlement so the children can be apart of the history we are uncovering here currently!
This class offers children a first hand experience of what it is like to be an archaeologist.
During the class they will learn:
-Basic facts about the bronze age period
-How to use the archaeological tools
-What to look for when digging
-How to process and record find
-Plus other skills
The class is run by owner of the farm and archaeologist Cameron Ross who is heading the archaeological Bronze Age dig at the farm.
Age: suitable for 5-12 year olds with accompanying adult
Cost: £7
Dates: July 13th FULL
July 25th FULL
August 1st
August 8th FULL
August 14th
August 23rd FULL
Time: 1:30pm-3pm
Equipment: All tool equipment is provided for the dig. Please wear toe covered sturdy footwear and mucky outdoor clothes.
Book: Please email us at [email protected] to book
This class offers children a first hand experience of what it is like to be an archaeologist.
During the class they will learn:
-Basic facts about the bronze age period
-How to use the archaeological tools
-What to look for when digging
-How to process and record find
-Plus other skills
The class is run by owner of the farm and archaeologist Cameron Ross who is heading the archaeological Bronze Age dig at the farm.
Age: suitable for 5-12 year olds with accompanying adult
Cost: £7
Dates: July 13th FULL
July 25th FULL
August 1st
August 8th FULL
August 14th
August 23rd FULL
Time: 1:30pm-3pm
Equipment: All tool equipment is provided for the dig. Please wear toe covered sturdy footwear and mucky outdoor clothes.
Book: Please email us at [email protected] to book
Supported by
