The sight of the guns

This project looks at the role of the horse and the artillery. We are incredibly fortunate to be able to call upon the King's troop, and also the services of WW1 artillery re-enactors who add huge knowledge which they are able to pass to the children (and adults!) on the project

Finds from the past

This is not the first time that the area of the horse hospital has been subject to archaeological fieldwalking. In the 1980s, as part of the Stonehenge Environs programme, Julian Richards recovered many elements of Great War vintage from the area to go with the Neolithic components which was more the project's focus...

Recruiting serjeants

An important development today with lots of the local schools attending a talk by Julian to enthuse them about the archaeology of 'Digging War Horse' - soon lots had signed up (including some that had worked on the layers of larkhill programme beforehand). They were then 'recruited' by Richard Broadhead who told them lots of WW1 facts before they spoke with re-enactors and then went outside to look round the WW1 18 pounder, to experience the joys of army rations WW1-style (and a 21st Century comparison), and to meet some of the King's Troop horses and artillery personnel. A really well-attended event with lots of excited children and teachers and thus a fully booked excavation programme. Next stages are to send a list of the art, puppetry, commemoration and other events to the schools and other participants.

Digging starts on Monday so keep an eye on this page for updates...

the lie of the land

Today was the opportunity for Julian Richard (l) to visit the site with Ian Baxter (r) the farmer. The field still yields traces of the military railway, bricks, glass, pottery and enough else to suggest a busy time for fieldwalkers from the 15th...! Next is to tie in a grid with geophysical surveys and get ready for the start

Almost ready to begin...

The War Horse project will be officially launched at Larkhill primary school on 10th September giving local schools the opportunity to sign up for elements of the project. The archaeology side of things will start on 15th September under the  stewardship of Mr Julian Richards. Julian will be using geopysical survey, maps and then field-walking and test pitting to see if he can locate the site of the First World War horse hospital. We are hugely grateful to the HLF for their grant from the 'First World War then and now' strand which has enabled this project to happen. Over the net few months there will be updates here on:

• The archaeology
• Puppetry workshops
• Arts projects
• Commemorative studies of local gunners from the First World War
• Conservation of first World War srtillery pieces and much more

Other blogs are also linking in such as: http://ourhistoryheritage.wordpress.com/2014/06/26/introducing-project-digging-warhorse/

Watch this space for news and events and to keep in touch with progress