April 2009
Next club meeting Monday 11th May 2009. Please note the late date for this meeting due to the Bank Holiday. This is the second part of the series
Meetings are held at the Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, commencing at 7.00 p.m.
April meeting.
This was a talk by Jill Greenaway on the “Thames Water Collection – Secrets from the Depths.”
Jill has always been interested in coins. Over the years a number of coins have been found in the process of dredging to prevent flooding. When Thames Water became a PLC they inherited the coins which they donated to Reading Museum.
Because of the way dredging is carried out, very few small objects were found but about 234 coins were acquired this way. A number of further objects came from a private collection of a man who bought finds from Thames workers. His name was George Smith, a Bank manager and he often cycled to the Thames to buy objects.
As an archaeologist, Jill is very keen to know exactly where the objects were found in the river. Some were self explanatory, such as the quantity of pop bottles found alongside Windsor racecourse and a tankard from alongside a riverside tavern but others are more perplexing.
Such a find was a 5th Century BC Greek vase. This was exciting because it indicated trade and if this was the case, it was evidence of the furthest reach of Greek trade. Many other objects are puzzling, for example, a civil war breastplate, a bellamine jug, an intact clay pipe - unusual because they were normally only discarded when broken.
From the Medieval period some interesting finds were shown including an axe, a complete pot and boat building axes. From the late Saxon period a very ornate inlaid sword was found which Jill felt sure was a votive offering. From the Viking period swords were found which had the makers name on them. However it is now thought they were locally made and the Vikings name put on to increase their trade value.
From the Roman period quite a few pots have been found, unfortunately without knowing the exact spot, Jill cannot say whether they came from settlements or were stray losses. From the Iron Age and Bronze Age many very intricate and high status objects have been found which Jill feels sure were ritual offerings – particularly since skulls have also been found. She feels that people may have been returned to the water, together with their precious possessions.
A series of finds could illustrate the development of implements such as spear heads and how they were made.
Then there are finds from the stone age. Stone axes and flint knives and even a flint sickle blade which had a shine on the cutting edge, showing it had been used and preceding this, antler picks and hoes from the hunter gatherer period. Also stone tools which Jill had tried to use and found quite comfortable. What hasn’t been found are the very early hand axes and she can’t explain why.
Spring social - Skittles Evening
This will once again be a skittles evening at the Red Lion pub, Theale on Saturday 18th April. We intend to start gathering around 7pm for an 8pm kick off. The price is £15 per head (£30 per couple) and includes a good buffet. If you would like to come please phone the Hon. Secretary at the number above.
Committee Members
Once again we are approaching the end of the Year and are short of any volunteers to serve on the committee. Frank has to stand down by the rules of the Constitution and John is also leaving the committee at this time. Fortunately we have had one volunteer but that still leaves us one short. Please give some serious thought to the possibility of giving something back to the club by joining the committee.
Future Events.
Past Events
30 years ago was a member’s evening and coin fair
20 years ago Simon Jones spoke on the Fine Art of Auctioneering
10 years ago was part of the Mick Luckett Auctions