b'used to be a hedge on the basis that it might be relatively undisturbed. Archaeologically it was an ideal first pit for training purposes. It had a post hole of recent origin with rotting wood and two large rusty bolts in it which proved interesting to excavate. Lots of pieces of pot emerged (called potsherds) and it was readily apparent that old and new pieces were mixed up so the area had probably been deeply dug at some time, perhaps for the posthole.With pieces of pot accumulating, we had to find the experts who could put a date to them. Luckily York had a venue at the ARC (Archaeological Research Centre) where finds (of all kinds including pottery and metal) could be taken every Thursday morning for identification and dating. This is part of the Portable Antiquities Schemeand it proved to be an invaluable resource. The late Bronze Age pieceOver a period of weeks Kate went regularly to theWe had caught the bug! We couldnt stop there ARC taking the finds as they appeared. Gradually aso Test Pit 2 was commenced. But that is part of a picture built up, just from Test Pit 1, of pottery typesdifferent story.that indicated continuous human habitation on the site.from the 11th Century to the present day. Under the auspices of the British Museum:The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a voluntary Rock Bottom scheme for the recording of archaeological objects found We didnt manage to reach the recommendedby members of the public. The Scheme was established depth of 60cm. At about 45cm we hit a closelyto promote the recording of chance finds and broaden packed chalk layer that we took to be the natural levelpublic awareness of the importance of such objects for of subsoil beyond which there would be no furtherunderstanding our past.signs of human habitation. But as one last bonus,The heart of the Scheme is its network of Finds right on the bottom of the pit, a piece of potteryLiaison Officers, who have a role in publicising the emerged that stood out as being older than anythingScheme, recording reported finds, giving advice on finds recording, conservation and the Treasure Act, giving talks else we had found so far. Resembling light-coloured,and lectures and encouraging liaison between members hard-baked muesli, with a cracked surface andof the public, metal detector users, archaeologists and flecked with small pieces of chalk it was initially datedmuseums.as Bronze Age circa 2000 BC. A more recent datingThis information and more (including details of the has advanced that slightly to the Late Bronze Ageregional Finds Liaison Officers) appears on the PAS circa 1000 BC (ie. around 3000 years old). website at www.finds.org.uk.Fred Sissons with Jim and LaddiePhotograph and Memories supplied by Jim SissonsJ im Sissons with his father, Fred, and Laddie thecollection; theyd have to be topped-up from the dog, at Shields Farm in 1927. The back of thebeck, in the evening, after the ducks had been house is out of view to the left. Thats the cart shedrounded up when the water was running clear again.behind and the wash house on the left. The duck house is on the right.In the background, you can see the end of a building at Manor Farm when the Salmons were there. The Sissons left Shields Farm in 1940 before the Horners came. Jim remembers the hard work like when the threshing machine came. He had to keep the engine supplied with water from the beck, two buckets at a time, backwards and forwards to the back paddock. Also, he remembers 2 big butts for rainwater 128 BULLETIN 8'