With grant aid from Historic England, Farming in Protected Landscapes, and Cornwall Archaeological Society, and support from the Duchy of Cornwall, Tresco Estate, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, Community Archaeology Group, and Cornish Pilot Gig Association.
You are welcome to join in with the Cornwall Archaeological Unit (CAU) ‘Porths and Gigs’ project, aiming to share the archaeology of pilot gigs ─ gig sheds, slipways and lookouts. Some sites are Scheduled, but that doesn’t stop the sea, and the sites are at risk. Please see the attached pdf for full details: CAU Porths & Gigs DATES, Apr 02 2024
Results will be accessible online including virtual 3D ‘bubbles’ that capture sites in their settings. This will mean the archaeology is recorded, and can be explored in new ways.
You’d be welcome to get involved with the CAU fieldwork in 2024 – Key dates are (TBC);
Thurs 26 September – Informal public presentation, St Agnes, at Porth Askin, with the CAU team, and Patrick Bird, builder of the new St Agnes gig inheriting the name of the old Cetewayo once housed at Porth Askin. Photography by pilot cutter skipper and gig rower, Debbie Purser. More details to follow, on St Agnes Gig Club Facebook!
And before that, you can get involved in vegetation control to help reveal sites…
April-September dates TBC – Cutting scrub, with local Community Archaeology Group (CAG), led by Katharine Sawyer. Dates/details to be confirmed, on CAG Facebook
- Potentially either Sat 27/Sun 28 April – At lookout on Beacon Hill, Tresco; plus
- Either Sat 10/Sun 11 August – At ruined gig sheds on Porth Askin, St Agnes
..…or join some of the range of fieldwork planned to follow the vegetation control …..
Mid June (Tresco)/Mid-July (Bryher)/Late July (St Mary’s) – Introduction to scanning for virtual 3D modelling, looking at methods with specialist Tom Goskar.
- Thurs 13 June, 1pm-3pm. Beacon Hill lookout, Tresco.
- Mon 15 July, around 12 am. Ruined old shed of gig Czar, Great Porth, Bryher.
- Fri 26 July, around 12 am. Site TBC, St Mary’s – potential to scan a gig boat.
Mid-September 2024 (St Agnes) – Introduction to both scanning and survey with specialist scanner Tom Goskar and surveyor Mark Bowden, and Cathy Parkes, CAU
- Weds 18 Sept, around 12am. At ruined gig sheds on Porth Askin, St Agnes
…and there are also opportunities, rare on Scilly, to experience archaeological survey…
Late July (St Mary’s)/ and Mid-Sept 2024 (St Agnes) – Training in Survey, with Mark Bowden, and Cathy Parkes. Gain experience of finding and recording archaeology.
- Weds 24 – Sat 27 July (4 days, or shorter time possible). At New Quay, St Mary’s.
- Mon 16 – Sun 22 September (7 days, or shorter time). At Porth Askin, St Agnes.
- Please email cathy.parkes@cau.org.uk for details of the survey training