Prehistoric Research in Great Britain

Abstract

THE Prehistoric Society (formerly the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia), has recently established a research fund with the object of undertaking the excavation of a series of key sites in Britain in order to develop our knowledge of the prehistory of the country. Of the competence of the Society to undertake the direction and administration of such a fund there can be no question. Its membership of seven hundred includes most of those prominent in the study of prehistoric archaeology both in Great Britain and abroad ; and among them are those who have been mainly responsible for recent rapid advances in our systematized knowledge of the meso-lithic, neolithic and iron age periods in Britain. The advantages which will accrue from a research fund under the control of the Society are patent. The facility for systematic planning of research, combined with flexibility in the application of effort, both of man-power and of financial resources, will make it possible to add effectively to the sum of organized knowledge in those periods and departments of British prehistory where it may be needed most from time to time. A beginning is to be made in this season, when it is proposed to excavate an iron age village site near Britford, one mile south of Salisbury Cathedral. This site is believed to belong to the earlier part of the period 500-100 B.C. The village enclosure was dug out of the chalk by its inhabitants, and its form is known in some detail, but only from photographs taken at a height of 2,000 ft. in air survey, which revealed the existence of the site. The object of the excavation will not be to lay bare the site as such, so much as to throw light on the mode of life and organization of a settlement of small farmers and stock raisers of the period. The Society appeals for contributions to the research fund, which should be addressed to the Honorary Secretary, Mr. C. W. Phillips, Selwyn College, Cambridge.