The early Middle Palaeolithic in the Haine region (Belgium)

Caroline Ryssaert Wednesday 31st Jan 2007

Mrs. Ryssaert gave a lively presentation on the assemblage from Mesvin IV, one of the earliest Mousterian sites in northwestern Europe, which was excavated by Cahen and Haesaerts during the 1970s and 80s. The talk was an exemplary demonstration of how to approach an assemblage. It also allowed a lively discussion of the general changes in lithic technology at the start of the Middle Palaeolithic, and the strict definition of Levallois technology.

The Tribrach, and Isle of Wight Archeology
Saturday 6th October 2007

with The Museum of Island History, Newport, Isle of Wight

The tribrach is a rare, three-branched, flint artefact of the Early Bronze Age, very few are known in Britain, but one is held in the Isle of Wight Museums collection.

This was organised in Newport, IoW, for the Museum of Island History, by Joy Verrinder, the Museum's Education Officer. Hugo Lambdin-Whymark provided a flint-knapping demonstration with commentary for some thirty locals and about 10 members of the LSS

David Field (English Heritage) gave a talk about "tribrachs". Tribrachs are three-armed flint artefacts tentatively dated to the LN/EBA (but with some reservations about authenticity: no examples known from stratified excavation contexts). There are three in southern English museum collections, one being the beautiful example on display at the Museum of Island History, the Guildhall, Newport, which we were all able to see and discuss.

For the second half of the afternoon the party drove to Freshwater Bay and were led up Tennyson Down by Frank Basford to the site of a Neolithic mortuary enclosure which he had excavated (along the line of a modern linear disturbance bisecting the monument).

We had lovely weather and superb visibility for this visit so the view of the Downs and the island was memorable, as was the exchange of memories from those who went to that famous Isle of Wight Rock Festival 35 years ago!!!

2007 Annual General Meeting:

The Annual General Meeting was held at the British Museum (Franks House), 38 Orsman Road, London N1 5QJ on Friday 2^nd November, 12 noon.

It was followed by a workshop on the Middle Palaeolithic of West London by Dr. Claire Fisher and Dr. Becky Scott (AHOB) with the chance to examine relevant artefacts from the British Museums collection. We had a record attendance and it was enjoyed by all.!

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