James Chubb

Digging up the past

For as long as I can remember my passion has been the living world. I remained fiercely, even obstinately loyal to natural history and nothing else as what made me tick. As a stroppy teenager  (although I was never ‘stroppy’ per-se) I scoffed at other interests or pursuits; mine was the one true devotion and all others were sorely misguided.

For example, as a creature-obsessed child botany, or wild flowers at least, held no interest for me whatsoever and they are now a fundamental part of what I do and I love them all the more for it! My mother is very knowledgeable about flowers and family walks were punctuated with frequent stops to peer at a tiny inflorescence. A bit like Kevin the teenager I would protest: “Uh, come on Mum, flowers are Sooooo boring?!” I was always on the look out for logs, rocks and pitfalls under which and into which my daily bounty of animal finds might be lurking. I was so proud of my skulls, shells, feathers and skins, I had no time to stop and look at something you legally weren’t allowed to take home with you.

Now when we go for a family walk its me holding up the party and I really enjoy sharing Mum’s interest. 

I am glad to say my blinkered approach has softened as I have grown up, wildlife and the natural world remains at the centre of everything – obviously – but other things have crept in to the periphery.  One thing seems to remain constant in each new excitement experienced and that is the firsthand influence of a knowledgeable person with the ability to share their expertise.

Apart from a single academic year in Mr Tavener’s class, history lessons always left me cold. Mr T was one of those teachers who stand out in the memory as bringing a subject to life but apart from him I was none too taken with the discipline. However, I had a revelation a few years ago when walking on Aylesbeare Common with Thomas Cadbury an archaeologist from Royal Albert Memorial Museum. Along with several others, we were making a site visit prior to Heath Week festivities (more about Heath Week 2009 nearer the time) and were in the process of checking reptile traps on part of the reserve.

After we had watched one particularly large blonde female  adder slide off into the grass, Tom produced a collection of scrappy flint nodules from his pocket. I had noticed him picking up the stones while my attention was focussed on the snakes, and the revelation he was about to impart knocked my socks off! Each flint was not, as I had assumed, a boot-kicked random bit of heathland scree, but a worked artefact of prehistoric root. What I overlooked as chips were actually signs of intentional edge creation and many of the pebbles he found were not of local origin – they had been transported here intentionally.

A scene leapt into my mind of a prehistoric settlement set against a backdrop very similar to the one I was looking on. A hairy (well, they’re all hairy aren’t they) chap was squatting over a cluster of special flints recently obtained from a passing wanderer, chipping away at the edges to create all manner of tools, including one small hand blade which he later dropped or discarded in favour of a newer one. This had subsequently been kicked about by cattle; horses; deer; the occasional naturalist and tractor before being picked back up by another human who recognised its significance a few thousand years later.  What a connection! None of them were museum specimens, but nevertheless the moment was inspiring.

I experienced this little epiphany rather late in life, but if you have any aspiring young historians, the Countryside Service is putting on an archaeological event on the Axe Estuary this weekend which could inspire your children/grandchildren to dig a little deeper. The East Devon Junior Rangers are meeting up with the Devon Young Archaeologists club to look at the history of the Axe estuary, once the most important maritime port in Southern England.

 Home to Henry VIII fleet, the estuary which now sees nothing more explosive than the occasional oarsman late for supper was once the refuge of Tudor Men-o’-War! The event takes place on Sunday afternoon and for more information on where and when to meet, contact Diane Berry at the District Council Countryside Service on 01395 517557.