Association for Portland Archaeology
.......digging the past
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See important statement below
Welcome to the Association for Portland Archaeology web site. We are a small group dedicated to researching, investigating and of course excavating when we can.
Portland is called the Island and Royal Manor of Portland, though strictly speaking not an island, rather a limestone outcrop on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast and connected to mainland Dorset by a narrow causeway and the world famous Chesil Beach which stretches for about 17 miles to West Bay.
The Association was set up by archaeologist Susann Palmer to research and excavate the archaeology of this rather special part of Dorset. The main excavation site which the group first started on in 1967 was a Middle Stone Age site known as Culverwell (from the nearby natural spring Culver Well). The excavations took place over some 30 years, made possible by the purchase of the site by Susann and a dedicated team working their summer holidays on this beautiful southern tip of Portland. Leaflets and books are available, contact us by email [email protected]
The picture above is a painting of what the site may have looked like some 8500 years ago.
Portland is called the Island and Royal Manor of Portland, though strictly speaking not an island, rather a limestone outcrop on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast and connected to mainland Dorset by a narrow causeway and the world famous Chesil Beach which stretches for about 17 miles to West Bay.
The Association was set up by archaeologist Susann Palmer to research and excavate the archaeology of this rather special part of Dorset. The main excavation site which the group first started on in 1967 was a Middle Stone Age site known as Culverwell (from the nearby natural spring Culver Well). The excavations took place over some 30 years, made possible by the purchase of the site by Susann and a dedicated team working their summer holidays on this beautiful southern tip of Portland. Leaflets and books are available, contact us by email [email protected]
The picture above is a painting of what the site may have looked like some 8500 years ago.
IMPORTANT STATEMENT
Culverwell Mesolithic Site is closing and will no longer be open for visits.
The Mesolithic dig site at Culverwell, discovered in 1967 and excavated over the course of 30 years under the direction of the owner Mrs Susann Palmer , has been unavoidably deteriorating since it was first opened up. Despite our best efforts, including arranging for the current Tesco-sponsored shelter to be erected only a few years ago, the effects of natural weathering and animal activity continue to take their toll.
In 2021 Susann decided, with regret, that it was no longer possible to leave the fascinating and significant Culverwell excavation on open display and the Association has been helping her arrange for it to be recorded and backfilled in order to preserve it for posterity.
Historic England was approached and generously offered a grant to enable the not-insignificant cost of professional backfilling. They also proposed to conduct an extremely detailed survey of of the site, which is now scheduled to start later this month. The aim of the survey team will be to prepare such a full and complete record of Culverwell - including full GPS-supported coordinate details - that there will be no need to leave any visible marker posts or similar once backfilling is complete. Historic England is very keen to work with the Association and Mrs Palmer and arrange for the resulting very comprehensive digital record to be housed, maintained and made available.
There already exists a very comprehensive excavation report (BAR British Series 287, published in 1999) Click link to left
and there is a 3D view done by Historic England a few years ago of the excavated area currently covered by the structure - click link to look at floor area in detail
We are grateful to Historic England for their advice, guidance and support to enable the best possible outcome to preserve the site for posterity without any further deterioration.
The backfilling is expected tio be complete by the end of March 2022.
With many thanks to the hundreds of Culverwell visitors over the years for their interest and comments and not forgetting the members of the Association for Portland Archaeology without whom the excavation and subsequent guided tours would not have been possible.
The Association will of course continue to promote research of Portland's magnificent heritage and will publish on this site from time to time as well as on Facebook
if you wish to contact us please email [email protected]
Visit us on Facebook
Click Facebook link above
Culverwell Mesolithic Site is closing and will no longer be open for visits.
The Mesolithic dig site at Culverwell, discovered in 1967 and excavated over the course of 30 years under the direction of the owner Mrs Susann Palmer , has been unavoidably deteriorating since it was first opened up. Despite our best efforts, including arranging for the current Tesco-sponsored shelter to be erected only a few years ago, the effects of natural weathering and animal activity continue to take their toll.
In 2021 Susann decided, with regret, that it was no longer possible to leave the fascinating and significant Culverwell excavation on open display and the Association has been helping her arrange for it to be recorded and backfilled in order to preserve it for posterity.
Historic England was approached and generously offered a grant to enable the not-insignificant cost of professional backfilling. They also proposed to conduct an extremely detailed survey of of the site, which is now scheduled to start later this month. The aim of the survey team will be to prepare such a full and complete record of Culverwell - including full GPS-supported coordinate details - that there will be no need to leave any visible marker posts or similar once backfilling is complete. Historic England is very keen to work with the Association and Mrs Palmer and arrange for the resulting very comprehensive digital record to be housed, maintained and made available.
There already exists a very comprehensive excavation report (BAR British Series 287, published in 1999) Click link to left
and there is a 3D view done by Historic England a few years ago of the excavated area currently covered by the structure - click link to look at floor area in detail
We are grateful to Historic England for their advice, guidance and support to enable the best possible outcome to preserve the site for posterity without any further deterioration.
The backfilling is expected tio be complete by the end of March 2022.
With many thanks to the hundreds of Culverwell visitors over the years for their interest and comments and not forgetting the members of the Association for Portland Archaeology without whom the excavation and subsequent guided tours would not have been possible.
The Association will of course continue to promote research of Portland's magnificent heritage and will publish on this site from time to time as well as on Facebook
if you wish to contact us please email [email protected]
Visit us on Facebook
Click Facebook link above
Current Dig - In a private garden , if we are allowed to publish we will summarise in digs tab.
Go to digs to find out more
Go to digs to find out more
