We organise and run as many archaeology and history-related events as we can, although there may be few or none in the colder, darker months. Here are the upcoming and most recent past ones.
Some of our activities are open to non-members if places are still available. Is so, this is stated and you can Contact us if you’re interested in any.
1st October 2025: Guided walk to Bronze & Iron Age landscapes around Portesham
Robin Dumbreck again led a group of members on a walk from Abbotsbury, this time to look at the Bronze Age and Iron Age monuments in that area. An article providing enough information so that you could repeat is in the November newsletter.
24th September 2025: Visit to Simon Meaden’s Myncen Farm
A full complement of EDAS members went to the afternoon and evening visit to the farm at Minchington, and the adjacent Goldfields Farm, which included a talk about the villa excavated there by EDAS members, the Time Team video of their excavations there and time to look at the small museum of finds. A fascinating trailer tour of the farms was followed by an excellent Ploughman’s Supper and a chance to buy cider and other produce from the farms.
The visit is described in the November newsletter.
12th July 2025: Guided walk around the Valley of the Stones
Robin Dumbreck led a small group of on a walk to the Neolithic monuments in and around the Valley of the Stones, not far from Abbotsbury. An article giving all the details is in the September 2025 newsletter.
25th June 2025: ‘Big Dig’ at Winterborne Kingston guided tour
With thanks to Karen Brown and Lilian Ladle, a tour of the current excavations under Bournemouth University’s Durotriges Project will be led by Paul Cheetham. This is exclusive to EDAS and the Wareham Society, ahead of the public Open Day on Sunday 29th June. The Midsummer 2025 newsletter includes an article on the tour.
22nd May & 4th June 2025: Salisbury guided visits
Led by a Blue Badge guide, these events started with a walk around historic Salisbury, followed by lunch at the Cathedral. There were then guided tours of the cathedral, with some braving the large number of steps to the roof space and tower, and others taking the ground floor tour. An article on these tours is in the Midsummer 2025 newsletter.
28th April & 9th May 2025: Visits to Martin Green’s Down Farm and museum
Both visits have now happened on lovely sunny days and were very successful, with thanks to Martin for leading the groups and to Lindsey Dedden for providing tea and cakes. More information is in the Midsummer 2025 newsletter.
12th September 2024: Guided walk in the Avebury landscape
EDAS members were invited to this walk, led by Alan Dedden, starting at the National Trust car park.
The morning walk took in Silbury Hill, West Kennett long barrow, the Sanctuary, the Avenue and Avebury henge and stone circle, followed by lunch at the NT area with café, gift shop and toilets (or bring your own). The afternoon walk was to Windmill Hill and its causewayed enclosure, bringing the total distance to about 8 miles, split roughly equally between morning and afternoon.
An article is in the October 2024 newsletter with part two appearing in the November issue.
2nd September 2024: Flint-knapping course at Ancient Technology Centre (was open to non-members)
We organised an introductory flint-knapping course, starting with information about flint tools over the millennia and replicas that can be handled, before going on to have a go with tuition and support. This was run very successfully twice in September 2023 – see the article in the October 2023 Newsletter.
The course was at the Ancient Technology Centre in Cranborne from 10am-4pm, with time beforehand for a guided tour of the site for those interested. A brief article is in the October 2024 newsletter.
21st June 2024: ‘Big Dig’ Visit
Thanks to Miles Russell of Bournemouth University for inviting EDAS members to visit the ‘Big Dig’ at Winterborne Kingston along with members of Wareham and District Archaeology and Local History Society. This was a wonderful opportunity to have a guided tour of the ongoing Bournemouth University excavations before they’re open to the public, as they are each year.
A short article about the visit is in the Midsummer 2024 newsletter.
22nd May 2024: Site visit to Moors at Arne Coastal Change Project site
Thanks to an invitation from Wessex Archaeology, about 20 EDAS members visited Arne to hear more about this project and have a guided tour of the site. Our particular interest was the archaeological site currently under excavation by Wessex, for which they had kindly laid on minibus transport. The base of a timber building has been uncovered and a large kiln, and it appears to be a site for producing Black Burnished Ware pottery. Finds of briquetage also imply salt production.
Further details of the visit are in the Midsummer 2024 newsletter.
9th May 2024: St Giles estate carriage ride walk (was open to non-members)
One of our members led a walk around the St Giles estate carriage ride on Thursday 9th May. As this walk was almost all on private estate land, it was by kind permission of the Earl of Shaftesbury. There are many sites on the walk of historic interest, including the origins of the ride, which was discovered during the historical research for the EDAS Wimborne All Hallows excavations.
The walk was approximately 11 miles, with frequent stops for talks about the history of the different places. Tea and cakes at Wimborne St Giles village hall completed the day.
The walk is described in the Midsummer 2024 newsletter.
18th November 2023: Pottery identification course
This study day, at the Museum of East Dorset in Wimborne, was led by pottery expert Dan Carter. Dan particularly looked at pottery produced in Dorset from the Anglo-Saxon through to the later post-medieval periods. Participants were able to handle and examine different types of ceramics and learn how they’re identified by form and fabric, as well as the scientific methods used by specialists.
A short summary about the course is in the December 2023 newsletter.
18th October 2023: Christchurch Priory special tour
The specially arranged guided tour took members around the Priory, the longest parish church in England and saved from destruction in the 16th century by the last Augustinian prior. The tour took in some of the behind-the-scenes areas, including two crypts, but the very windy weather meant visiting the roof void and climbing the tower would have been too dangerous. A substantial cream tea rounded off the event.
This event is covered in the November 2023 newsletter.
7th September 2023: Cranborne Chase walk (was open to non-members)
The circular 9-mile route started and ended at the A354 car park near Bokerley Dyke, pointing out the huge variety of archaeological and historical sites in the area and providing information about them. The earliest sites included Neolithic long barrows and the Dorset Cursus, with others in all the periods up to World War rifle ranges. An Apache helicopter gunship shadowed them at one point!
The walk and much of the history is described in the October 2023 newsletter.
18th-24th June 2023 – Kent Field Trip
After a few years missed, particularly because of Covid, a group of members travelled to Kent for the 29th field trip week visiting archaeological and historical sites. We have to thank several expert local guides who gave up their time to give talks and show us around their excavations and ancient buildings, including the Cinque Port of Sandwich, Roman villas and the Roman fort at Richborough, as well as the remains of an abbey and a bishop’s palace. Aiming to cover as many historical periods as possible, this trip ranged from a Neolithic long barrow through to a cathedral and a trio of castles, one of which has history right up to the Cold War.
The article about this field trip is in the April 2024 newsletter.