Seeing below the moor



MSc student Ron Organ (right) with Malcolm Leyland (left) and Eddie Nash (centre)

Earlier this week, a small team of volunteers gathered in the Low Plain area of Baildon Moor with the hope of investigating the below ground mining remains. They met with Ron Organ who is currently undertaking research as part of his MSc in Archaeological Prospection at the University of Bradford. He is investigating the mining extraction features on Baildon Moor using Electrical Resistive Tomography. The circular depressions that are prevalent across the moor are anecdotally referred to as ‘bell pits’, however, it is likely that they represent shafts, some ventilation, others for getting the coal out. Ron hopes to be able to see if the shafts, or groups of shafts are linked by underground galleries, if some are bell pits, and perhaps to determine the depth of the shafts which would indicate the coal seam being worked.

Survey training weekend



Surveying an extraction pit: 19th March



Survey methods were revised and we successfully recorded more features over the course of the weekend.

Due to the large number of features on the moor, it is envisaged that a sample will be fully surveyed. In order to do this, a walkover survey is planned of one area of the moor on  Tuesday 5th April - Please get in touch with Gavin if you are able to help out.

re: Weekend training event - Update

Meet at Bracken Hall, Baildon at 10am on both days. Please be ready to spend time outside on the moor, and also bring a packed lunch.

Weekend Training Event

 

The relaunch event will take place over the weekend of 19^th-20^th March and will not only provide background, but also training in the survey techniques to be employed in the recording of the features across the moor. Whilst much of the work will concentrate on surveying the physical remains, it will also seek to gather documentary evidence and other memories to place what happened into the social context in which it took place.

Details of the event to follow.

First feature surveyed!

Derek, Rosemary, Tony and Malcolm successfully surveyed one of the circular negative features on a cold and crisp Wednesday in January.

Survey training

The background and aims of the project were introduced, before moving on to learning about survey techniques. In the afternoon we all wrapped up warm and headed outside to learn about using land chains and practice setting up automatic levels.