The group was formed in 1999 and have been looking at this idea for a long time but have waited until they have done a lot of preparatory investigation and discussion with the West Yorkshire Archaeological Service. After consulting the Sites and Monuments Record and setting up a fieldwalking project the group discovered a prehistoric Flint-knapping and settlement site on the edge of the parish. This was a rare find for lowland West Yorkshire and therefore important to the local community and the wider archaeological world. The work undertaken since then has been to investigate the site mainly through non-invasive fieldwalking on the arable fields and some recent excavation in a small area of woodland.
The group now need to complete a geophysical survey to show where selective excavations combined with scientific testing and further investigation needs to be targeted. This will highlight the different phases of use on the site.
During this process the group wish to increase the exchange of information by offering visits to local school parties and community groups; by updating the local library information and staging a new exhibition by developing a database and website and by promoting further outreach work in the form of continuing talks to other groups, producing newsletters and press articles.
Other aspects of the project are to include IT training to enable development of a database, website and powerpoint presentations, the filming of work for video updating and further archaeo-botanical surveys of existing hedgerows and woodland. The work will also continue on the woodland earthwork dig at the centre of the site, drawing of flint artifacts and map with historical document research.
Two reports will be produced on the project, one on archaeology and a more popular accessible version with images and interpretation, together with newsletters and a mobile exhibition.
