The first award was granted to Hannah Tweedie. Her report can be read by clicking on this link:
Russia's megaliths: unearthing the prehistoric tombs of Caucasian warlords Zhane Valley

 

The second award was granted to Craig John Appley.

SARAH BECK VALLEY, FURNESS

Craig Appley's PhD degree research continues to cast new light on the archaeology and environmental history of the southern Furness peninsula.

Since the presentation of the report below, a new and more detailed environmental history of the Sarah Beck valley has been constructed, along with a detailed pollen record from both the valley and other marginal wetlands on the Furness peninsula. In addition a number of prehistoric sites have been unearthed, including two early Bronze Age burnt mounds, Click Here for a plan of one of the sites.

Currently he is examining microscopic fossil algae and plankton from core samples taken in the Sarah Beck Valley in order to establish the nature of the changing coastline during the Neolithic and Bronze Age.

It is hoped that a report on these discoveries will in due course appear in the Transactions.

The report linked to below was presented on completion of the Bursary holder's project.

This report can be read by clicking on this link:
Placing the archaeology of the Sarah Beck Valley within its palaeoenvironment: an ongoing study into the environmental archaeology of the Furness peninsula- Southern Cumbria.

The Society is now able to offer bursaries to young people to foster their interest in archaeology by helping them to do something they would not otherwise be able to do. We are in a position to award two or three bursaries annually, each to the value of up to several hundred pounds.

To be eligible for a bursary, you must

• be under the age of 25
• wish to undertake a specific project to help you to pursue your interest in the archaeology of Cumbria
• or be a young person living in Cumbria who wishes to undertake a project relating to the archaeology of another area

Preference will be given to applications in the field of Prehistory, though no archaeological period is excluded. The sort of activities we envisage supporting include gaining excavation or fieldwork experience, travel and research expenses in connection with project work (whether at school or university level). Group activities for school students are not excluded.

Applications are now invited and the appropriate form may be downloaded from one of the links below.

Further details and application forms are available from the General Secretary, Mrs M.E. McClintock, M.B.E., Westlands, Westbourne Drive, Lancaster LA1 5EE