Hampshire History Midweek Musings – From Hazelnuts to Marmalade: evidence of Neolithic activity and a WW1 army camp excavated at Pitt Manor, Winchester, in 2014

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Hampshire History Trust, in partnership with Adam Architecture, is delighted to announce the next in their series of short talks on local history and heritage taking place over the coming months. These "Hampshire History Midweek Musings" start at 6pm and include a complimentary drink – so perfect for winding down after a busy day.

Matt Garner studied archaeology at the University of Southampton and graduated in 1981. Then he worked on various archaeology sites in England and beyond. From 1984 to 2017 he was employed by Southampton City Council Archaeology Unit as a project officer and ran investigations in Southampton, across Hampshire, and in neighbouring counties. He specialised in Saxon Southampton but also worked on projects from the Palaeolithic to the Second World War. Now he works as a freelance archaeologist and also volunteers with Southampton Young Archaeologists' Club, the Southampton Archaeology Society Graffiti Team, and at Eling Tide Mill.

Southampton Archaeology Unit excavated a site off Romsey Road, Pitt Manor, in 2012 and 2014 before it was developed for housing and a Park-and-Ride facility. Most of the archaeological evidence belonged to two main eras separated by over 5,000 years. A short period of activity in the Neolithic was represented by finds including pottery, flint tools, corn-grinding equipment, and roasted hazelnuts. The land was used as pasture for most of its history but in the First World War became an army camp for the 28th Division. The remains of huts and drains were located, and buried rubbish included horseshoes, curry combs, cartridges, toothbrushes, plates, mugs, beer bottles, and marmalade jars.