SoTMAS

"Meet the Archaeologists!" SoTMAS @ Stone Heritage Centre, 25th July 2026

The following photographs are courtesy of Dr. Helen Malbon and taken during the setting up for the "Meet the Archaeologist!" event held at Stone Heritage Centre. The Heritage Centre is located in the old Fire Station on Crown Wharf in Stone and is accessed from Newcastle Road. The event was a great success, with a steady flow of visitors (and some members) who were really interested in the work the Society has been doing at the site Hilderstone.

The main exhibition space in the centre was a wonderful location for the event, with planty of natural light, within easy reach of the town centre and parking. There were even a few Vikings about! The Society wishes to extend its thanks to Paul Castrey the Heritage Centre Manager for inviting SoTMAS to the centre to put on this event.

Events such as this will be a part of the Society's future, showcasing and promoting archaeology, as well as getting SoTMAS out there so that people know where to come to get into archaeology.

A view of the main exhibition hall at the Heritage Centre with the tables and information boards being set up — The main exhibition space

The two main information boards on the excavation at Hilderstone — Two of the information boards

Keith setting out the magnificent array of finds which included several pieces that he had managed to re-construct — Keith setting up

Winston and Alan arranging some of the most recent finds for display — Winston and Alan arranging the recent finds

Another informatin board, this time more about SoTMASand the other investiagtion in Hilderstone that took place at Green Farm in 2025 — The SoTMAS information board

As part of the exhibition, Helen Malbon had produced a short video using Dave Thomas' site videos, pictures and 3d re-constructions, as an introduction to the excavation, With Angela and Carol checkig all is ok. The TV is set up next to the display case at the Heritage Centre where the Society currently has a display-unfortunately Jase and Alan are standing in front of it! — Setting up the video

Some of the 'special' finds being set out. These are generally displayed in their packaging as many are fragile. The image on the wall is a high resolution scan of the reconstruction painting of the building in Chimney Field by Jane Fern-Whitington — The 'special' finds

The amazing collection of Indisutrai Slipware colours and patterns that have been recovered from the site — The Industrial Slipware

This fragment of a Midland Yellow head is a second moulded lady figure recovered from the site. The figure would adorn the top of the handle of a Midland Yellow mug. It may actually be from the yellow ware mug visible in the picture to the right of the hald holding the head. The first example can be seen in the 2025 finds for September — Part of a moulded lady figure

One of the few intact finds from the excavation, this time a medicine bottle — Medicine bottle

The rather fine pattern on a piece of saltglazed stoneware — The pattern on a fragment of stoneware

Looking along the tables of finds — A view along a table of finds

Looking along the table of 'special' finds — A view along the table of 'special' finds