TIME TEAM Hastings battlefield archaeologist Dr Glenn Foard, from the University of Huddersfield, felt the same way.

sive metal-detecting survey of the area. They quickly discovered that with regular re-enact-

After his success in finding the true site of Bosworth, Glenn and his team had already started to investigate the traditional battlefield of Hastings, and in 2011 completed an intensive metal-detecting survey of the area. They quickly discovered that with regular re-enactments and thousands of annual visitors, the site had become choked with modern metal rubbish. This made it impossible to use the metal-detectors effectively. Glenn, however, had a plan. It was thought that by removing the topsoil we could survey the levels where the battlefield archaeology should lie. In the summer of 2013 Glenn joined Time Team and English Heritage to put this theory to the test.

summer of 2013 Glenn joined Time Team and

To maximise our chances of success we decided to cut a 4m transect down the full length of the battlefield, amounting to a whopping 180m! At the same time we wanted to extend the metaldetecting survey to Caldbec Hill, and visit the village of Crowhurst to investigate Nick Austin’s claims that he alone had recovered dateable artefacts from the battle.

BELOW LEFT LiDAR surveys allowed the Team to strip away modern houses, roads, and trees from the battlefield (shown in its current state), virtually restoring Hastings to its11th-century appearance (RIGHT).

LEFT The Time Team opened a huge trench in front of Battle Abbey, the traditional site of the 1066 conflict. Beneath modern layers, metal-detectorists found Medieval artefacts including a 13th-century brooch (INSET TOP) and a 15th-century coin of Edward IV (BELOW).

With the benefit of fine weather and an enthusiastic team we started work, a large mechanical digger stripping away the finely manicured turf of the traditional battlefield site. We quickly discovered that Glenn’s methodology was sound. By removing the top contamination layer we began uncovering earlier artefacts. A 13th

By removing the top contamination layer we began uncovering earlier artefacts. A 13th-

century brooch inscribed with the Latin phrase century brooch inscribed with the Latin phrase

‘love conquerors all’, a fragment of aMedieval bell, and a coin of Edward IV all emerged

‘love conquerors all’, a fragment of aMedieval bell, and a coin of Edward IV all emerged from the ground.

from the ground.

Up on Caldbec Hill, however, things did not proceed as smoothly. Without the aid of a mechanical digger every response from the metal-detectors had to be investigated and the open areas were stuffed full of modern agricultural debris. The team persisted with admirable doggedness, but as time started to run not proceed as smoothly. Without the aid of a mechanical digger every response from the metal-detectors had to be investigated and the open areas were stuffed full of modern agricultural debris. The team persisted with admi- cultural debris. The team persisted with admirable doggedness, but as time started to run cultural debris. The team persisted with admi-

out the phrase ‘needle in a haystack’ began out the phrase ‘needle in a haystack’ began to be used with increasing frequency. We decided to investigate the rather unlikely to be used with increasing frequency. We decided to investigate the rather unlikely prospect of Crowhurst.

to convince experts that the Normans landed at a site called Upper Wilting in the Combe Haven, on the eastern edge of Hastings. He believes that it was from here that they marched north,

Nick Austin has spent the last 25 years trying to convince experts that the Normans landed at a site called Upper Wilting in the Combe Haven, on the eastern edge of Hastings. He believes that it was from here that they marched north, finally encountering Harold’s forces at Crowhurst. As proof of this theory, he claims that two Norman helmet rims and a Medieval crossbow had been found in the area. We asked Dr Thom Richardson from the Royal Armouries to examine the evidence. With the lack of any supporting historical documents, it would take finds of major historical importance to add credibility to Nick’s claims, and we quickly realised that these were disappointingly absent. The helmet rims proved to be either barrel hoops or bucket rims, and the

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January 2014 |