Bronze Age roundhouse to be resurrected by military veterans
Afghanistan, Gulf War and Falklands veterans working alongside archaeologists to rebuild Hampshire roundhouse after genuine remains found
The rebuild of the Bronze Age roundhouse
Credit: Russell Sach
Military veterans of campaigns in Afghanistan, the Gulf War and the Falklands are working alongside archaeologists in reconstructing a Bronze Age roundhouse in Hampshire, inspired by the remains of an actual Bronze Age roundhouse that they discovered last year in Wiltshire.
They are part of Operation Nightingale, an initiative that assists the recovery of wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans by getting them involved in archaeological investigations across Britain.
Archaeology is in trouble. The UK government recently announced plans to cut its subsidy for university teaching of the subject (along with many arts courses) by 50% because it is not part of the government’s “strategic priorities”.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson framed this in terms of encouraging more students to study subjects in the sciences rather than “dead-end courses that leave young people with nothing but debt”, implying he thought archaeology was among these courses.
If this cut goes ahead, it would significantly impact universities’ ability to teach the subject. Several universities are already considering downsizing or even closing their archaeology departments.
MILITARY personnel have been awarded honours in recognition of their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Lieutenant General Tyrone Urch, currently commander of Standing Joint Command (UK) and responsible for the military support to the Covid-19 crisis, has been made a Knight Commander of the British Empire in the New Year’s Honours list. General Urch served twice at HQ Land Command in Wilton, commanded 22 Engineer Regiment at Perham Down and later was Commander of 1 Mechanised Brigade in Bulford. Richard Osgood, the Ministry of Defence archaeologist based at Westdown Camp on Salisbury Plain, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). The award was for his outstanding contribution to military archaeology, not just on Salisbury Plain but across the UK and on the First War Battlefields in Northern France and Belgium.