Latest update on the Barnet Battlefield Survey: Battle of Barnet archaeological investigation
The Barnet Battlefield Survey began in autumn 2015, since when metal-detecting, geophysics, test-pitting and landscape archaeology have taken place. Thanks to everyone who has helped with this investigation so far, many of whom have been local volunteers.
From autumn 2015 to autumn 2016 a team of metal detectorists worked extremely hard in some challenging conditions, covering a huge area of landscape. A wide variety of metal artefacts were uncovered, increasing our understanding of hundreds of years of Barnet's history. Although it isn't yet possible to say whether the battlefield has been located, some of the finds are potentially battle-related. The finds were washed and processed at Barnet Museum.
Geophysics (in 2016) and test-pitting (in 2017) took place on the potential site of a commemorative chapel built soon after the Battle of Barnet.
In 2016 there was test-pitting on the site of Kitts End hamlet, an small settlement which was near to where Kitts End Road now is. Dates of artefacts uncovered showed that this hamlet had been in existence at the time of the battle.
Experts are now analysing the results of all this work to try and discover how it fits into the historic Barnet landscape and the possible battlefield site.
The survey is being overseen by Glenn Foard of Huddersfield University who recently discovered the site of the Battle of Bosworth, where Richard III was killed.
In December 2016 the Project was featured on BBC4’s Digging for Britain (photograph shows archaeologist Sam Wilson interviewed by presenter Dr Alice Roberts).
The Barnet Battlefield Survey began in autumn 2015, since when metal-detecting, geophysics, test-pitting and landscape archaeology have taken place. Thanks to everyone who has helped with this investigation so far, many of whom have been local volunteers.
From autumn 2015 to autumn 2016 a team of metal detectorists worked extremely hard in some challenging conditions, covering a huge area of landscape. A wide variety of metal artefacts were uncovered, increasing our understanding of hundreds of years of Barnet's history. Although it isn't yet possible to say whether the battlefield has been located, some of the finds are potentially battle-related. The finds were washed and processed at Barnet Museum.
Geophysics (in 2016) and test-pitting (in 2017) took place on the potential site of a commemorative chapel built soon after the Battle of Barnet.
In 2016 there was test-pitting on the site of Kitts End hamlet, an small settlement which was near to where Kitts End Road now is. Dates of artefacts uncovered showed that this hamlet had been in existence at the time of the battle.
Experts are now analysing the results of all this work to try and discover how it fits into the historic Barnet landscape and the possible battlefield site.
The survey is being overseen by Glenn Foard of Huddersfield University who recently discovered the site of the Battle of Bosworth, where Richard III was killed.
In December 2016 the Project was featured on BBC4’s Digging for Britain (photograph shows archaeologist Sam Wilson interviewed by presenter Dr Alice Roberts).
