My name is Daisy Turnbull, I am a current masters student of Maritime Archaeology at Southampton University. As well as studying I work at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth and spend a great deal of time either sailing or (more recently) diving in the Solent.
I am working with the Coastal & Marine team at Wessex Archaeology as part of a placement programme within my University programme and am delighted to be working with previous graduates of the Southampton course. As part of this placement I have been tasked with producing some material related to the Marine Aggregate Industry Protocol, which is celebrating its 15th year.
What was your first day like?
The drive to Salisbury was wonderfully crisp, leaving from Portsmouth the sun rose in my rear-view mirror as I left for Wessex’s Salisbury headquarters near Old Sarum. Arriving there I was met at reception by Andrea Hemel, Senior Marine Archaeologist, who is supervising my placement. From reception I was then taken for a tour of the building by Beth Harrison, community Engagement Coordinator who described the history of the building as a medical and strategic centre built for the RAF airbase. Walking around it was evident that two large operation map rooms were still in their form with upper viewing galleries; one now used in the processing of finds from excavations across the country the other the company’s Project Officer’s office. From here I was then taken over to meet the Coastal & Marine team in an adjacent building and was pleasantly surprised to find a desk had been cleared for my use even thought my placement is for a day a week. The team were nothing but welcoming and insightful and I greatly look forward to working with them during my placement.
What have I been asked to do?
My Brief (should I choose to accept it) has been to produce outputs related to the Marine Aggregate Industry Protocol for the Reporting of Finds of Archaeological Interest. This ‘Protocol’ recommends the reporting of archaeological finds discovered through aggregate dredging to Wessex Archaeology, who investigate, collate and publish details of those discoveries reported. Wessex work alongside Historic England, BMAPA, The Crown Estate, local Historic Environmental Records and Site and Monuments Records to ensure the necessary information about finds is delivered to the appropriate body.
As part of this project Wessex Archaeology produces a bi-annual newsletter ‘Dredged Up’ which, as part of my brief, I shall produce an article for its Autumn 2020 edition. This is distributed to BMAPA staff as well as being publicly accessible online and a resource to heritage professionals. I am delighted to be given the chance to contribute and dive into the archive of material recovered through Protocol since 2005. I aim for this deliverable to commemorate the successful implementation of Protocol in its 15 years and celebrate the historic insights the reporting of these discoveries has enabled.
I am very much looking forward to this placement within Wessex Archaeology and working alongside the Coastal & Marine Team at Salisbury. I am confident that the insights and experience I shall derive from this work experience will not only significantly contribute to my degree but in my archaeological career following the completion of my studies.
By Daisy Turnbull, Coastal & Marine placement student