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Digital Dig Team: Spodden Valley
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Spodden Valley Revealed

A valley full of archaeology waiting to be discovered

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Aug 7 2018 - 9:42 AM

Join us as we travel back in time in a series of workshops exploring the heritage and stories of the landscape of Whitworth

Spodden Valley Revealed is a project that celebrates stories of the area around Whitworth, paying tribute to the heritage and history of this area. Be a part of this journey to unveil the special stories of the Spodden Valley by taking part in our Archaeology Research Workshop, taking place at Whitworth Museum on Friday 24th August, 11am-1pm. This is a great opportunity for you to share ownership of this investigation into the past and play an important role in the process.

The Workshop promises to be engaging and fun and will enable you develop a number of skills as well as working as part of a team! Whether you are interested in local heritage, are a regular visitor to the Whitworth area or are part of a nearby college or community group the workshop will enlighten you about the archaeology of the valley and enable you to become a discoverer of new heritage.

This will be the beginning of a series of workshops to get involved in as the project creates an ongoing relationship with the community, helping to lead this exploration into the past!

So if you think you are ready to roll up your sleeves and want to learn skills and engage with local heritage, come and join in on this amazing journey of discovery…

To sign up contact: Faye Wetherall at Faye@midpenninearts.org.uk

For more information on the project contact: Diana Hamilton Diana@midpenninearts.org.uk

Further information on Spodden Valley Revealed can be found at:

http://midpenninearts.org.uk/programmes/spodden-valley-revealed/

https://spoddenvalleyrevealed.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/teamMPA/

Mar 25 2018 - 7:00 PM

End Of Week Summary: What We Spotted, And What We Didn’t

It was a dynamic week for our Venturers out in Spodden Valley as we took an epic journey into the Lancashire hills to find traces of its ancient hunter-gatherers. Our team assembled at the…

Mar 25 2018 - 12:41 PM

Last few minutes of field waking with our venturers as part of #Spoddenvalleyrevealed and behold! A find! We’ve an exceedingly pleased Tracie, and who can blame her? Chert anybody? #archaeology #sundaymotivation #chert4life pic.twitter.com/8W091VjVGF

— DigVentures (@TheDigVenturers) March 25, 2018

Tuesday 20th March - Sunday 25th March

DigVentures Survey Week!

Lancashire has one of the highest concentrations of hunter-gatherer sites in Europe. 8,000 years ago, it was prime territory. Today, it still bristles with the remains of ancient hunting camps... if you know where to look.In March, DigVentures is heading to Spodden Valley to begin a MASSIVE survey of its hunter-gatherer sites. To do it, we're going to need LOADS of people.

December 2016

Survey Weekend with our wonderful Venturers

Digventures completes a survey weekend in collaboration with the Mid Pennine Arts to record the condition of known archaeological sites, and to locate further sites of interest.

20th Century

Military archaeology left behind after the World Wars

We have military archaeology from the early 20th century in the area, for example anti-invasion pillboxes as well as important munitions factories.

19th Century

The Industrial Revolution leaves its mark on Spodden

Several quarry sites are built including a well preserved sandstone quarry; Thurns Head Quarry.As industry progresses and transport of goods becomes central to the economy, the enormous Healy Dell Viaduct is built, an extraordinary feat of engineering, the viaduct still stands today, although the railway line is disused.

18th Century

Textiles manufacture picks up in Spodden

Several cotton and wool mills are built in the valley as the area becomes a centre of textile production.

1709AD

Brown-Wardle Farm is built by the Stott-Milne family

The early 18th Century, the Brown-Wardle family built their farm. This is where DigVentures will be excavating in May 2018.

1086AD

Spotland definitely exists!

Spotland is a settled place, recorded for the first time in the Domesday Book commissioned by William the Conqueror. Whitworth is recorded as a manor, and was part of the township of Spotland in the Parish of Rochdale.

Mar 25 2018 - 7:00 PM

End Of Week Summary: What We Spotted, And What We Didn’t

It was a dynamic week for our Venturers out in Spodden Valley as we took an epic journey into the Lancashire hills to find traces of its ancient hunter-gatherers. Our team assembled at the…

Mar 24 2018 - 3:00 PM

How To… Identify A Mesolithic Flint Tool

You’ve found a piece of flint, and even managed to establish that it was human-made based on the four tell-tale signs all archaeologists rely on. But how can you tell what period the piece…

Mar 24 2018 - 12:00 PM

How To… Tell If That ‘Flint Tool’ You Found Was Really Made By Humans

So you’re out fieldwalking, taking part in an archaeological dig, or even just rummaging around in your garden, and you’ve found a piece of flint. But how can you tell if it’s an ancient…

Mar 25 2018 - 12:41 PM

Last few minutes of field waking with our venturers as part of #Spoddenvalleyrevealed and behold! A find! We’ve an exceedingly pleased Tracie, and who can blame her? Chert anybody? #archaeology #sundaymotivation #chert4life pic.twitter.com/8W091VjVGF

— DigVentures (@TheDigVenturers) March 25, 2018

Mar 25 2018 - 11:50 AM

Three of our venturers, Gale, Daniel and Emma, getting hands on with the erosion at Brown Wardle with the #Spoddenvalleyrevealed project. Can you spot flint somewhere in the pictures? pic.twitter.com/LaFFmBhw1f

— DigVentures (@TheDigVenturers) March 25, 2018

Mar 25 2018 - 11:10 AM

The last day of our field walking survey with #Spoddenvalleyrevealed and it’s a super day! Tons of sun, smiles and eager eyes trying to track down any pieces of Mesolithic flint. pic.twitter.com/S2cCdFgIc7

— DigVentures (@TheDigVenturers) March 25, 2018

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Spodden Valley
  • Background
    • What Might We Find
    • Spot The Hunter Gatherers
    • Post-Medieval Settlement
    • Tell Me More About The Project
  • What’s On
  • Get Involved
  • Timeline
  • Team
  • Open Data
  • Login