Frequently Asked Questions

1. What sort of society are you?

We’re an amateur group for people who are interested in archaeology and want hands-on experience of it. We were set up in 1993 by people who wanted to do practical archaeological work in southeast Essex.

We’re committed to a planned scientific approach in all of our fieldwork and, as appropriate, we consult and co-operate with local government and other professional archaeological bodies and archaeologists. We’ve excavated in partnership with English Heritage and Pre-Construct Archaeology.

One of our founder Members went on to become an internationally known Archaeologist and some of our members have studied to get degrees in Archaeology but most of us haven’t and just have an interest in the subject and a hands-on approach to it.

Where it’s appropriate and permissible to investigate, we believe we can do this as long as we do it carefully, responsibly and using the correct techniques.

2. Why are you called “Rochford Hundred”?

The Rochford Hundred was an ancient unit of land between the River Crouch and the River Thames and included what is now Southend, Rochford, Canewdon, Canvey Island and Rayleigh. Most of our Members live here and most of our excavation sites have been here, the one exception being our Noak Hill site.

3. If Noak Hill isn’t in the Rochford Hundred area, why do you dig there?

Excavations at Noak Hill give us lots of finds and excellent working conditions.

We discovered a previously unknown 14th century tile kiln there and thousands of medieval Mill Green pottery fragments. These included lots of wasters (pottery damaged during firing and never sold) so there is likely to be a pottery kiln somewhere nearby.

4. Adult membership seems quite expensive. Why is this?

£21.00 could seem quite expensive. We’re a small group and a big cost to us is insurance to cover practical work and we pay the same amount as some much larger groups.

But for your subscription you can get over 2 weeks of on-site practical work with no charge and with free tea, coffee, cakes, biscuits and a BBQ thrown in. If you looked nationwide to find an excavation to join, you could easily find yourself spending £150.00 – £250.00 or more for just one week with accommodation not necessarily included.

You’re also welcome to borrow and read “British Archaeology” and “Current Archaeology” magazines, each of whose annual subscriptions would cost you more than ours.

Despite overheads and increases in our costs, our membership fees haven’t changed in the last 18 years.

5. I have no real knowledge or experience of Archaeology. Will I fit in?

Yes. Having knowledge and experience of Archaeology aren’t membership requirements. You only need to be really interested in Archaeology and keen to do some practical work or research. You won’t feel out of it – we really are a friendly group.

6. Who runs RHFAG and makes the decisions?

The Members. Day-to-day decisions are made at monthly meetings. Major decisions would be made at the AGM or at an EGM. All members are invited to all meetings and decisions are made by voting. Our work is co-ordinated by a Committee which is elected by the Members each year at the AGM.