Untitled - Council for British Archaeology

60twenty early maps of villages within Milton Keynes, it has been possible tofollow the development and decline of several major village sites. AtShenley Church End (SP 832366) (MK39/40/41) the positions of several housesshown on C17th estate maps can be fairly accurately located as occupyinghouse platforms shown on the earthwork surveys.A list of all the tracings done by Liz Baines is given in CBA IXNewsletter 7,096.Place and Field Names of Archaeological InterestIn combination with cartographic and documentary research a record cardhas been designed to record any place or field names which may be of archaeologicalinterest. Whenever a name is discovered it is given a possiblegrid reference and meaning and this is then investigated on the air photographsand on the ground.First Edition 1:10560 Ordnance Survey MapAttention is drawn to investigators in other areas of the value of thismap as both a cartographic and documentary record of landscape history.This map proves to be a useful joinder in locating place and field namesand also field boundaries shown on estate maps with features shown on morerecent O.S. maps. The scale of 1:10560 is similar to that of many verticalair photographs and thus facilitates the location of field boundaries, manyof which have been removed with the development of the City.Ecological InformationIn conjunction with the work being done by the Milton Keynes DevelopmentCorporation's Ecology Section details of areas of ecological diversity, inparticular woodlands, are being plotted onto 1:5000 parish maps. From thisinformation it may be possible to locate some areas of ancient woodland andmeadow and thus ascertain a more complete picture of the medieval landscape.A detailed report on the dating of some hedgerows within Milton Keyneshas been prepared by Kate Swabey of the Ecology Section based upon the methodsdeveloped by Hooper.CONSERVATIONThe scope of the Conservation Laboratory has been considerably increasedduring the year with the acquisition of a fume extraction unit, an ultra soniccleaning tank, a drying cabinet, a conductivity bridge, and several smalleritems of equipment.During the year over a thousand items have been treated, these includepainted wall plaster from the Bradwell Roman Villa, ironwork, copper alloy andlead objects from our various Roman and Medieval excavations. Several problemitems have been taken to Northampton Museum for advice. The laboratory hasgiven advice to members of the public who brought in finds from Milton Keynesand where possible these have, if necessary, been conserved and added to theMuseum Collection of the Field Centre.PUBLIC RELATIONSAll members of the Unit have been involved in giving talks to localgroups, organisation, and societies. Several parties have also visited theField Centre.