barg-online.org

The Berkshire Archaeology Research Group (BARG) runs a set of named projects that members and visitors can explore through the project pages of its website. According to the group's own site, these include Berkshire Dovecotes, the Berkshire Hedgerow Survey, Devil's Highway, Peasemore Research, the Roman Boxford Project, and Spencer's Farm. The same site also lists related research activities such as Hedgerow Surveying and Test Pitting, plus a detailed study of Apollinaris bottles found at Barkham.

BARG describes itself as a voluntary group investigating the archaeology of Berkshire, covering human activity from prehistoric times through to the post-medieval and modern periods. Its project pages are the main place to find out what each piece of research involves.

The named projects

The site groups these under "Berkshire Projects" and also sets out "Research Aims" that include Hedgerow Surveying and Test Pitting. Test pitting is a small-scale excavation method often used by community archaeology groups, which fits BARG's description of itself as a voluntary group.

A worked example: the Apollinaris bottles study

One of the most fully documented pieces of work on the site is a study of Apollinaris bottles, presented as a numbered report. Its sections run from introduction and discovery through to recording the stoneware bottles, why so many were found at the site, how the bottles were made, marks and stamps, salt glazing, the history of the Apollinaris Spring and its importation into England, method of study, statistics, other German and English stoneware found in Barkham, and references.

That structure is useful if you want to see how BARG presents a project: a clear question (why so many bottles here?), a recording stage, background research into manufacture and trade, and a statistical summary. If you are considering a similar local study, this is a template worth reading before you start.

How to use the site to follow a project

1. Open the BARG website and go to the project pages. The site states that details of its research programme are found there.
2. Pick a project from the Berkshire Projects list, such as the Roman Boxford Project or Peasemore Research.
3. Check the Calendar pages for the group's programme of quarterly meetings and visits, which may relate to current work.
4. If you want to take part rather than just read, use the "Join Us" page, since the group says it welcomes anybody interested in archaeology.
5. For questions about a specific project or about how the group can help, the site provides a "Can we help?" and "Contact us" route.

Expected result: you should be able to identify which project matches your interest and whether BARG offers a meeting, visit, or participation route connected to it.

Common sticking points

• The site's project list is a set of page titles, not full summaries. You will need to open each project page to learn its scope, dates, and findings.
• Some material sits under different labels. Hedgerow work appears both as the Berkshire Hedgerow Survey and as Hedgerow Surveying under Research Aims, so check both.
• The site does not state fees, membership costs, or access restrictions on these pages. Do not assume a project is open to non-members or free to join without checking the Join Us and contact pages.
• News is archived by year back to 2002, so recent developments may be easier to trace through the news archive than through a project page.

Who this is for

This overview suits anyone asking what BARG actually does, students or local historians looking for a Berkshire fieldwork project to follow, and prospective members deciding whether the group's interests match their own. If your interest is a specific period or method, start with the project closest to it, then use the contact route to ask whether the group is currently active on that work.

The Berkshire Archaeology Research Group (BARG) is a voluntary group investigating the archaeology of Berkshire, covering human activity from prehistoric times through to the post-medieval and modern periods. Its fieldwork and research methods are documented through named projects on its website, including hedgerow surveying, test pitting, enclosure investigation, and a long-running research project at Peasemore. The methods below are the ones the group publicly describes; anyone wanting to take part should check the Calendar pages for current meeting and visit dates.

Hedgerow Surveying

BARG runs a Berkshire Hedgerow Survey, with a dedicated "Hedgerow Surveying" page under its Projects section. Hedgerow surveying is a landscape-based method: rather than excavating, it records the living hedgerows that survive in the present-day countryside as evidence of past land management and enclosure.

For a volunteer, the practical work typically involves:

• Selecting a hedgerow to record, often using maps and existing survey guidance
• Walking the length of the hedge and noting its species composition
• Recording structural features such as gaps, layering, and the presence of standard trees
• Submitting the record so it can be compared with other hedgerows across the county

The value of this method is that it produces comparable data across many hedges, which can then be used to think about how the Berkshire landscape was divided and managed over time.

Test Pitting

Test pitting appears as its own project page. A test pit is a small, controlled excavation, usually about a metre square, dug in a grid or scattered pattern to sample what lies beneath the topsoil without opening a large trench.

The general sequence is:

1. Set out the pit to a standard size and record its location precisely.
2. Remove and bag finds by context — topsoil, subsoil, and any features — so that each object keeps its stratigraphic position.
3. Record the section and plan by drawing and photographing the pit before backfilling.
4. Process and report the finds, which is what turns a hole in the ground into usable archaeological evidence.

Test pitting is well suited to a voluntary group because it is low-cost, repeatable, and can be carried out in gardens, fields, or other accessible ground with permission.

Enclosure Investigation

"The Enclosure" is listed as a BARG project, and the group's wider project list also includes Roman Boxford and Spencer's Farm. Enclosure investigation deals with how land was enclosed and divided — a theme that connects directly to the hedgerow work, since hedgerows are often the physical remains of enclosure boundaries.

Work of this kind usually combines:

• Documentary research — maps, tithe records, and other written sources
• Field observation — tracing boundaries, banks, and ditches on the ground
• Comparison with other sites to place a single enclosure in a wider pattern

Research Aims and the Peasemore Project

BARG maintains a "Research Aims" page and a "Peasemore Research" project. These represent the group's longer-term, question-led strand of work, as distinct from individual survey or excavation tasks. A research aims statement matters because it sets out what the group is trying to find out, which in turn determines which methods are appropriate — for example, whether a question is best answered by surveying hedges, digging test pits, or working through documentary sources.

How the Methods Fit Together

The group also publishes detailed specialist studies, such as its multi-part report on Apollinaris stoneware bottles found at Barkham, which shows the same pattern of method — discovery, recording, source research, and statistical analysis — applied to a single assemblage.

Taking Part

BARG describes itself as welcoming anybody interested in archaeology, and it offers a programme of quarterly meetings and visits, plus lectures about Berkshire archaeology to societies, groups, and schools. The website states that details of how to join the group are provided on the site, and that meeting and visit dates appear on the Calendar pages. Because the site does not publish membership fees or access conditions in the material available here, check the Join Us and Calendar pages directly before planning to attend.

The Berkshire Archaeology Research Group (BARG) website at barg-online.org is the online home of a voluntary group dedicated to investigating the archaeology of Berkshire, England. It is aimed at anyone interested in archaeology, whether you want to join the group, follow its research projects, or find out about its meetings and lectures. The site covers the group's activities and provides details on how to get involved.

What BARG Is

BARG describes itself as a voluntary group focused on the archaeology of the county of Berkshire. It takes an interest in uncovering evidence for human activity in the Royal County across a broad period, from prehistoric times through to the post-medieval and modern periods.

The group welcomes anybody who is interested in archaeology, so prior professional experience is not presented as a requirement for involvement.

What the Group Does

According to the website, BARG maintains:

• A programme of research into the archaeology of Berkshire, with details on the project pages of the site.
• A programme of quarterly meetings and visits, with further details on the Calendar pages.
• Lectures about Berkshire archaeology offered to societies, groups and schools, with further details in the About BARG section.
• Capabilities to carry out archaeological work (the excerpt is cut off at this point, so the full scope of this is not visible in the available text).

Projects and Research Areas

The site's navigation lists a range of specific projects and research themes, which give a sense of what the group actually works on:

There is also an extensive write-up on Apollinaris bottles, structured as a 22-part study covering discovery, recording, manufacture, marks and stamps, salt glazing, the history of the Apollinaris Spring, importation into England, statistics, and other German and English stoneware found in Barkham. This shows the site publishes detailed, source-based research rather than only summaries.

News, Publications and History

The site keeps a news section with an archive running from 2002 through 2024, so you can trace the group's activity over more than two decades. It also lists Publications, Links, and a 60th Anniversary exhibition, indicating the group has been active for a long period.

Who the Site Is For

• Prospective members: the Join Us page and the "how to join" details are the starting point.
• People curious about local archaeology: the project pages and news archive show what has been investigated in Berkshire.
• Societies, groups and schools: BARG offers lectures, with details in the About BARG section.
• Researchers: the detailed project write-ups, such as the Apollinaris bottle study, include references, figures and tables.

Practical Notes

The available page evidence does not state membership fees, pricing, or whether any content requires login. Treat those as unknown rather than assuming the site or membership is free. To find out, use the Join Us and Contact us pages on the site.

If you want to get involved, the most direct route is to check the Calendar pages for meetings and visits, read the project pages for current research, and use the Join Us page for membership details.

The Berkshire Archaeology Research Group (BARG) is a voluntary group dedicated to investigating the archaeology of Berkshire, and it welcomes anybody who is interested in archaeology. To join, go to the "Join Us" page on barg-online.org, which is linked from the site's main navigation alongside Home, About Us, Committee, News, Projects, Calendar, and Contact us. The site states that membership is open to anyone with an interest in archaeology — you do not need to be a professional archaeologist or a Berkshire resident to be welcome in the group.

What BARG Is

BARG describes itself as a voluntary group focused on the archaeology of the county of Berkshire. Its interests span a broad period, from prehistoric times through to the post-medieval and modern periods, and it looks at evidence for human activity across the Royal County.

The group runs:

• A programme of research into the archaeology of Berkshire, with details on the project pages of the website.
• A programme of quarterly meetings and visits, with further details on the Calendar pages.
• Lectures about Berkshire archaeology offered to societies, groups and schools, with details in the About BARG section.
• Capabilities to carry out archaeological work (the excerpt cuts off at this point, so check the site for the full description).

How to Join

1. Go to barg-online.org.
2. Find "Join Us" in the main menu (it sits between Home and About Us).
3. Open that page and follow the membership instructions given there.

The website's own summary of its purpose is that it "contains details of the group's projects and other activities and provides details of how to join the group" — so the Join Us page is the authoritative place for current membership information.

Who Can Join

According to the site, "The Group welcomes anybody who is interested in archaeology." That is the only eligibility statement given in the available page evidence. No membership fee, application deadline, or residency requirement is stated in the material available here, so check the Join Us page directly for any current terms.

What You Can Do Once You're Involved

BARG's activities give members several ways to take part:

The projects listed on the site show the range of work the group undertakes, from landscape and hedgerow surveys to excavation-related research and detailed artefact studies — for example, the multi-part study of Apollinaris stoneware bottles found in Barkham, which covers discovery, recording, manufacture, marks and stamps, and the history of the Apollinaris Spring.

If You Want to Know More First

Before joining, you can use the site to judge whether the group matches your interests:

• Read the About Us and Committee pages to see how the group is organised.
• Browse the News archive, which runs from 2002 through 2024, to see what the group has done recently and over the longer term.
• Check the Calendar for upcoming meetings and visits.
• Use the "Can we help?" and "Contact us" pages if you have a question that the website does not answer.

The site also hosts a 60th Anniversary exhibition, publications, and links, which give a further sense of the group's output and connections.

Common Questions

Do I need archaeological experience? The site's only stated condition is an interest in archaeology, so no prior experience is mentioned as a requirement.

Do I need to live in Berkshire? The group focuses on the archaeology of Berkshire, but the welcome statement is not limited by residence in the evidence available.

Is there a fee? No pricing or payment information appears in the available page evidence, so this cannot be confirmed from the material here — check the Join Us page.

How do I keep up with the group? The News pages and Calendar are the main channels described on the site.

The Berkshire Archaeology Research Group (BARG) runs three main kinds of activity beyond its fieldwork: a programme of quarterly meetings and visits, a lecture service offered to outside societies, groups, and schools, and a calendar page where the details of these events are published. If you want to attend something, the Calendar page on barg-online.org is the place to check; if you represent a society, school, or community group, the lecture offering is the route to request a talk on Berkshire archaeology.

Quarterly meetings and visits

BARG describes its events programme as "a programme of quarterly meetings and visits." Two things follow from that wording:

• Frequency — the programme is organised on a quarterly rhythm rather than as a continuous series of weekly or monthly events.
• Two formats — meetings (typically talks or group business) and visits (trips to sites, excavations, or collections).

The website states that "further details are available on the Calendar pages," which means the specific dates, venues, and subjects are not fixed on the homepage but published in the Calendar section. That is the page to consult before planning to attend anything.

How to find out what is on

1. Go to barg-online.org.
2. Open the Calendar page from the site navigation.
3. Look for the next quarterly meeting or visit and note the date and location given there.

Because BARG is a voluntary group, event details are likely to be confirmed closer to each date, so checking the Calendar shortly before an event is more reliable than relying on a listing seen months earlier.

Lectures for societies, groups, and schools

BARG offers "lectures about Berkshire archaeology which are offered to societies, groups and schools." This is an outreach service rather than an internal members' event: the group brings a talk on Berkshire archaeology to an outside audience.

The website points to the About BARG section for further details on this service. If you are arranging a programme for a local society, a school, or a community group, that section is where the arrangements are described.

What to have ready when enquiring

• The type of audience and approximate number of people.
• A preferred date or range of dates.
• Whether the talk should cover Berkshire archaeology generally or a specific period or project.

BARG's wider interests run "from prehistoric times right through to the post-medieval and modern periods," so a talk can be pitched across a broad chronological range rather than only to one era.

Where these activities sit in the group

The meetings, visits, and lectures are part of a wider set of activities that also includes a research programme into Berkshire archaeology and the capability to carry out fieldwork. The project pages cover the research side — projects such as the Berkshire Dovecotes survey, the Berkshire Hedgerow Survey, the Devil's Highway, Peasemore, Roman Boxford, and Spencer's Farm — while the Calendar and About sections cover events and outreach.

Practical points before you go

• Check the Calendar, not the homepage. The homepage confirms that the programme exists; the Calendar carries the actual dates and details.
• The group is voluntary. BARG describes itself as "a voluntary group dedicated to investigating the archaeology of the county of Berkshire," so events are run by volunteers and schedules can shift.
• Joining is separate from attending. The site provides "details of how to join the group" on its Join Us page; if you intend to come regularly, that is the page to read alongside the Calendar.
• The group welcomes newcomers. BARG states that it "welcomes anybody who is interested in archaeology," so prior experience is not presented as a condition for taking part.