Forton Lake
The Nautical Archaeology Society and the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology have been awarded a grant from the Local Heritage Initiative to carry out a community based project at Forton Lake , Gosport , Hampshire.
The main aims of the project is to allow the local inhabitants of Gosport to research, record, and display their maritime heritage. At the same time the intention is that more information will be gathered about the potential archaeological remains at Forton Lake , which at present is limited to brief knowledge of the hulks in the area. A visual inspection and survey was undertaken by Ted Sutton in 1997, the results of which were placed with the Hampshire County Council Historic Environment Record.
This year was the third and final season of fieldwork for the Forton Lake Archaeology Project which brings the HWTMA and the Nautical Archaeology Society together to investigate and record the substantial hulk remains within this tidal creek. Over the previous two years work was carried out in the field, in the archives and talking to local residents, to learn as much as possible about the sites and their history. Year three fieldwork was targeted at completing detailed site surveys and undertaking excavation on those sites believed to be the most significant. Work began on the 26th June and continued until the 2nd July.
One of the key aspects of this project has been the involvement of volunteers and students, many of whom are from the local community. They have been taught a range of survey and excavation techniques through a very hands-on, and often muddy, experience. Over the course of the project six vessels were subject to detailed survey, and excavation was carried out on a further two.
Volunteers record the archaeology at forton lakeÂ
FL29, see photo, provides just one example of the type of information being gathered. This site was located and initially surveyed in 2007. The remains demonstrated potentially interesting characteristics and excavation was undertaken to discover more. The excavation revealed the severed remains of the stern of a robustly constructed flat bottom vessel. The structure encountered proved to be unusual in that the frames were integrated into rebates cut into two large longitudinal timbers at the base of the port and starboard sides. Outer planking was then fastened to the frames by a combination of iron nails and treenails. FL29 displays a form of construction not seen on any of the other hulks recorded at Forton Lake. Further research will hopefully lead to a better understanding of this type of vessel and its history.
Allied with the practical based fieldwork has been a range of education and outreach components of the project. This has included the production of display boards which have been presented at a variety of locations in and around Gosport, and an accompanying project leaflet which has been widely distributed. Understanding the need to involve children with archaeology and their maritime heritage resulted in the development of sessions for school children where they could become a ‘Maritime Archaeologist for an Hour'. These have been highly popular and judging by the reactions may have encouraged some archaeologists of the future.
With the main fieldwork now completed work moves on to post-excavation research and writing-up the season three fieldwork report. Future work on the project will include the production of more outreach and dissemination materials - a permanent display board and a popular booklet, in addition to a more formal academic report.
Forton Lake has been an exemplar project for demonstrating what can be achieved with a team of professional archaeologists working alongside volunteers. The enthusiasm of local residents wishing to know more about their maritime heritage and the keenness of students wanting to develop their skills has achieved significant results. There has been an impressive amount of archaeological data gathered, but also progress for wider objectives of improving understanding of conservation issues related to maritime heritage and enhancing the archaeological skill base of all those concerned.