Are you interested in our Stone Age, Roman or Saxon ancestors? How about the mediaeval period, or industrial archaeology ? Do you read books about them? Have you ever thought of helping to excavate historical sites? The Chichester & District Archaeology Society offers its members a wide range of activities.

   The Society was founded in 1991. Its aims are to increase public awareness of and support for archaeology and to encourage volunteer assistance to local activities. The Society is affiliated to the Council for British Archaeology and to the Sussex Archaeological Society, and works closely with the District Archaeology Officer, the Chichester Harbour Conservancy, Chichester District Museum and Fishbourne Roman Palace.

   From September to May the Society offers a programme of lectures in the cinema of the New Park Centre, New Park Road, Chichester, on the fourth Wednesday of the month, given by leading archaeologists and authors. At these meetings magazines and leaflets are made available for members to borrow. Non-members are most welcome to come and sample one of the lectures, which start at 7.30 pm and usually finish about 9 pm. A small entry fee is payable on the door. Ample parking is available. Usually a small bar is available after the meeting.

   In the summer visits are arranged to sites of interest conducted by local experts. Recent activities have included visits to Porchester Castle and the Weald and Downland Museum at Singleton. The District Archaeologist also leads walks exploring out-of-the-way archaeology. Recent walks looked at items of archaeological interest around Arundel and in the Arun valley south of Pulborough. Details of forthcoming visits and walks can be found in the Visits section of this site.

   The warmer weather is also the time for excavating. Working with the District Archaeologist, members of the Society have joined District community digs at Harting, at Selhurst Park and at Dell Quay and members continue to monitor the condition of sites of archaeological interest recorded within the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In addition, CDAS has agreed to undertake a project jointly with the Emsworth Maritime Heritage Trust to improve understanding of the local oyster industry, which was very active in the 19th century. The Society has undertaken fieldwalking around Chichester Harbour and at Bosham, in co-operation with Chichester Harbour Conservancy and other walks at Pagham, Birdham and Didling.

   Following training courses organized by the society, members have conducted geophysical surveys around the district, at Bow Hill, at Selhurst, and, possibly most exciting, in the Bishop's Palace gardens in Chichester. They have also been involved in finds processing and identification following field walks, while topographical surveys of local monuments such as the 'British Camp' on Bow Hill have also been carried out. Further training courses will be held, to reinforce our existing capabilities and expand our skills into new areas - details are to be found in the Training section of this site.

   If the outdoors doesn't suit a further team of members has set up a Documentary Research Group. Using the facilities offered by the County Records Office, Chichester Library and Fishbourne Roman Palace, reports are prepared on sites of interest prior to investigation in the field. This requires looking at old documents and maps to uncover the history of sites.