More news! AiM has been offered the opportunity of two completely different new projects for next year, (as well as our own ongoing work). One for January and February and one longer term. More on these in the New Year – so much to look forward to!

Last week some AiM members completed the second session of our long term archaeology project at a school in Wolverhampton. We look forward to continuing in the months ahead; it was rewarding to see how much the children enjoyed it along with their continued enthusiasm.

Our next exciting project is now underway!

At the beginning of August AiM was contacted by a History Lead at a Primary school in Wolverhampton.  He asked if we could provide an extended archaeology programme for some of the children (rather more than the three day school test pits digs we initiated in 2019).

AiM has completed our first session with the children and are looking forward to continuing with all the work we have planned for them over the coming months.

This is yet another new project, developed and again initiated by AiM. 

Today some AiM members took our display boards to Willenhall History & Heritage Society’s Local History Fair. What a great day! We met lots of lovely people and made quite a few new contacts – all very positive. Thank you for inviting us.

The day was successful with most of the children staying for 3 hours out of the 4 hours available.  Two short videos to see on our Facebook page.

In 2019 AiM initiated digging test pits in schools in Wolverhampton and surrounding areas to promote archaeology in an educational setting. This has proved immensely successful; we have now visited many schools and still ongoing. It is very pleasing to note that AiM has set a precedence for others to follow; very complimentary to AiM.

AiM has now provided a brand new opportunity for children with the introduction of the children’s archaeology related craft event first offered on 27 July 2024 at Northycote Farm.

 We are now offering another opportunity which is fully funded and supported by Hands On Wednesfield, for which AiM is very grateful. All the details are on the poster advertised on our Facebook page which will be available very soon. AiM are trailblazing! Wonder what AiM will do next!

Thank you to everyone who attended our event and helped make it a great success!  Special thanks to Phil at Northycote for all his hard work looking after us, setting up and clearing away etc.  Also special thanks to Wendy and the team at Northycote Tea Room for donating wonderful cakes and bisciuts to the event; they were delicious and appreciated. More photos from the day are on our FB page.

 This year AiM is celebrating the CBA's Festival of Archaeology with a change from the test pit community digs we have successfully provided in previous years. This year we are providing an event for children*, who are very much part of our community. The event is fun craft activities with an archaeological based theme. Please see the details below:

                                                          FREE EVENT no booking required

When: 27 July 2024

Where: Northycote Farm,
Underhill Lane, WV10 7JF

Time: 10am to 2pm

Who: children aged 7 to 11  years who MUST be accompanied by a responsible adult (age 18 or above) at ALL times.

                                                                               PLUS

Don’t miss the chance to meet a Roman soldier

*Please note photographs will be taken throughout

A great day today at Perton History Fair. AiM displayed 3 sets of information boards along with models, reports, finds and all the artefacts kept at Perton Library were on display from our RAF Perton excavation.

Thank you to all who came to say hello.

Thank you to all at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston for inviting AiM to dig a three day test pit for your children at your school.

AiM members returned for a third time on 22, 23 and 24 March 2023, at the school's request, and found a continuation of the building discovered last year.  Wall lines, floor tiles still in situ and an open drain were clearly visible for the children to see.  (Photo's on our Facebook page). The children enjoyed it immensely and learned about the history of the area. A very rewarding visit for AiM.

AiM has now 4 bookings already for the New Year/spring 2023

AiM will be exhibiting at this event on Saturday 8 October 2022, 10am to 3pm.  Many other exhibitors including Vikings, RAF Museum and Portable Antiquities Scheme.

AiM completed the test pit dig at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School last week (see our Excavation Diary).  We would like to thank Mrs Ryan for all the kind comments on our Facebook  page.  As a direct result of their recommendations we have now been booked by several other schools and will be digging their test pits for some time to come!  

In 2019 a junior school in Wednesfield invited AiM to work with them to introduce the children to archaeology. To do this AiM dug a test pit for the children on their field in April 2019 and so initiated digging test pits in schools in Wolverhampton.

We are delighted to now be invited back to do the same again in April 2022.  Updates on the dig will be posted.

AiM's display at Perton attracted a lot of interest last Saturday, 19 March 2022, as we highlighted a few examples of science in archaeology.  One example was Organic Residue Analysis which provides information by identifying lipids, eg fat in cooking pots, which gives an insight into the foods consumed at the time the pot was used.  Other information on AiM's display was around the variety of sites we have excavated so far.  It was a very good day.

Check out our videos by using the link:

https://youtu.be/iD7BfejmQSQ

AiM is very pleased to have secured some new sites which we will begin excavating throughout 2022.   Exactly when will be determined by the ongoing Covid-19 situation and permissions from the landowners.

AiM would like to thank SS Council for allowing us to continue with our work excavating and recording the remains of RAF Perton.

We will be back on site on 23 August 2020 from 10am.  Unfortunately, due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, we will not be able to welcome visitors onto the site but will be happy to discuss our work from a safe 2 meter distance. 

Those who are homebound with younger family members can find some ideas on the Young Archaeologists' Club Website:  https://www.yac-uk.org/things-to-do?dm_i=10MV,6SOLA,PWEH09,R7854,1

AiM has been offered the opportunity to excavate 3 sites within what remains of RAF Perton.   Our work began today, 12 January, and will continue for several months.  The project has been a collaboration between many parties including: Perton Library, Perton's Local Historian, Perton's Parish Council and South Staff District Council to name but a few.  All have worked hard to bring this project to fruition.  'Thank you'.

The Excavation tab of the Website will be continually updated as work progresses; we hope to be joined next week, weather permitting, by Perton Library's STEM group.

AiM had another successful day at Perton library on 5 October.  The event was very well attended (the door count was 907 visitors)  and we have now secured several new contacts along with new opportunities for work in South Staffs and also with a registered CBA group.  This work will be in 2020 which is fast becoming a very busy year ahead for AiM.

We are now looking forward to the next History Fair which is on 2 November at Wolverhampton Archives from 10am.

AiM was invited into St Patrick's Catholic Primary School in Wednesfield to dig a test pit for the children.  We began our work with the school on Monday 29 April and continued until Wednesday 1 May inclusive.  The children were able to take an active role by sieving for finds and then finds washing all supervised by their teachers.   The event was very successful and everyone seemed to enjoy the experience.

AiM would like to thank the staff and children for inviting us into their school for this opportunity.  Also, a big 'thank you' to AiM members for volunteering their time enabling the event to take place.

The poster below was prepared ready for the children.

 On Sunday 17 February 2019 one of AiM's members, Andy, presented Alec Brew, Transport Heritage Centre, Tettenhall, with a model he had made of the excavation Archaeology in Mind carried out in July/August 2018. AiM was asked to excavate by Alec following his discovery of the corner of a concrete base uncovered by badgers.