South Oxfordshire Archaeological Group

SOAG Fieldwork 2026 – Test pitting at Duns Tew

A number of test pits are planned to be excavated at Spring Farm, Duns Tew. Geophysics surveys have indicated the presence of at least Iron Age and Roman occupation. The test pits are planned to evaluate the soil layers and the depth and preservation of any archaeology. Dates for the project are 22nd to 26th August and 2nd to 6th of September. A poll to sign up to participate has been sent to members.

SOAG Fieldwork 2026 – 18th – 27th July at Greys Court

We have just completed this year’s excavation on the oval lawn at Greys Court – the 18th – 27th July as part of the CBA Festival Of Archaeology in partnership with the National Trust. Many members of SOAG took part and we uncovered further evidence of the range of late-medieval buildings that connected the main house to the guest accommodation across the courtyard. This included an unexpectedly deep cellar or cold-store under one of the structures that may have formed part of a gatehouse. A report on this year’s excavations will be added to the Greys Court project page in due course.

A further smaller excavation will be undertaken on the 12th – 16th September on the upper lawn as part of the National Trust’s Heritage Weekend.

SOAG Fieldwork 2026 – Smokedown

As expected, the field where this site is located has been returned to an arable crop this year which is planned to be harvested in mid to late September. SOAG will be welcome to do some limited fieldwork post-harvest, but what may be possible at that time of year will be dependent on the weather and ground conditions. Any work will have to be planned and arranged at fairly short notice. Hopefully we will be able to inform members nearer the time as to the scope of the possible fieldwork.

June 2026 – Publication

SOAG was founded in 1969 and has operated as an amateur archaeology society continuously since then. But there has never been an easy-to-read history of the group, describing its origins, its activities, its people and its accomplishments. Mike Green, who joined SOAG in 2007, has written a first draft of our history and this can now be found on the About SOAG – Our History page.

SOAG Visit

A group of SOAG members visited Butser Ancient Farm in Hampshire on Tuesday 12th May. This included a private tour which introduced the five main time periods – Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, and Anglo-Saxon – illustrated by buildings. The archaeology behind the experimental buildings and the evidence that informs each reconstruction was clearly explained. Members were free to explore the site at their leisure after the tour.

SOAG COMMITTEE FOR 2026-2027

At the SOAG AGM in April 2026 most of the current members of the committee agreed to stand for a further year and were re-elected. The exception was Nigel Peters who stood down as Secretary and Messenger editor as he is moving out of the area. On behalf of SOAG, the committee expresses its grateful thanks to Nigel for his years of work supporting the group. Nigel is replaced by Neil Killoran. To see who we all are and what we do in SOAG, see About SOAG – People.

SOAG Fieldwork in 2025

In 2025, SOAG members were able to participate in field excavations at Park Corner, near Nettlebed in partnership with the Chilterns Heritage and Archaeology Partnership, at Smokedown Romano-British site in SOAG’s own long running field project, at Greys Court in in partnership with the National Trust, as part of the CBA’s Festival of Archaeology, and at at Chinnor Community Orchard. SOAG members also undertook geophysical surveys at a number of locations during the year, some of which may provide opportunities for fieldwork and excavation in the future.

Each of these projects is referenced on our Fieldwork Projects page, and a summary of the year’s fieldwork was presented at SOAG’s Christmas lecture and meeting.