Welcome to SoTMAS, the Stoke-on-Trent Museum Archaeological Society
Since 1959 SoTMAS has been promoting research into the archaeology of the City of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. We are, and always have been, a practical society, missing only one years digging (2020) since the society was founded. In addition to fieldwork, we organise a range of other activities, which includes the post excavation processing of finds as well as lectures, workshops, visits, and research, to enable our members to engage with archaeology so that they can further their understanding of both the subject and our local area.
If you are interested in the archaeology of North Staffordshire or want to "get involved" with archaeology then join us at one of our events or follow the 'Join' link on the menu.
Latest from SoTMAS
More Evidence of Earlier Activity Uncovered
Another fantastic and busy month, despite the hot weather! As work continues in an attempt to understand the story of the building on the site increasing evidence of earlier activity is being discovered. The archaeology from the site is telling an ever more interesting story of lengthy occupation and activity.
The North East corner of the trench, almost always wet, has produced some well preserved pieces of wood along with the wonderful array of ceramic and glass finds it frequently produces.
Extensions to the South edge of the trench have produced new features that are below the building indicating an earlier phase of activity.
1st July 2026
IMPORTANT: EVENT CANCELLED!
Cheadle Walking Tour | Saturday 27th June
With the high temeratures exprienced lately, and another very hot day forecast for tomorrow (Saturday 26th June), the planned walking tour of Cheadle has been cancelled in the interests of members health.
It is hoped that the tour can be re-arranged for another (cooler) date.
26th June 2026
"Meet the Archaeologists!"
Stone Heritage Centre, Saturday 25th July | 11am to 4pm
SoTMAS is having a "Meet the Archaeologists" event at Stone Heritage Centre. This is a free public event where visitors will have the opportunity to meet some of the diggers, all volunteers, from the society and to find out about what is important about local archaeology and see some of the society's work at Hilderstone, a village not far from Stone. The society has had a selection of finds on display of finds from Hilderstone at the Heritage Centre since February, and more will be available for closer study on the day.
The Heritage Centre opens from 11am and members of the society will be there from opening until 4pm. So Why not come along, have a chat, see what has been discovered at Hilderstone, and how you can get involved in archaeology.
26th June 2026
More Features, More Finds, & More Questions!
What a fantastic start to the year! The site continues to produce fabulous finds and features, both contempary with the building and earlier (possibly much earlier). It is one of the things that is making this such a great site to excavate.
Some areas of the excavation are getting steadily deeper, and yet features indicating earlier activity are still being uncovered. One of the questions now is how early is some of this activity. Some of the Medieval pottery recovered may predate the conquest, so that is the last thousand years. However, could some of the evidence relate to even earlier activity?
8th June 2026
Society Social & Picnic Lunch
Sunday 24th May | 1pm
“Chimney Field” Excavation Site, Hilderstone
The society will be continuing its annual Members picnic lunch at the excavation site in Hilderstone. In previous years we have used the occasion to celebrate the successes, and personal milestones, of members of the society, of which there have been quite a number. The picnic has become a good opportunity for members to gather together to celebrate the life of the society. It is also an opportunity for members to catch up with each other in a relaxed social environment, as well as viewing the progress that is being made on the excavation.
The event is open to all members with their families, and friends of the society, as well as any former members who wish to catch up with the society and/or old friends. It will be a normal digging day, so the site will be open to members etc. from 10am, and everyone will gather at 1pm for a picnic lunch. Please do bring your own seating and picnic lunch - & some cake to share would be welcome.
For those unfamiliar with the excavation site, it is located in Hall Lane, Hilderstone, just follow the signs towards Hilderstone Hall Care Home (ST15 8SQ). Parking is either at the top of the field or by Hilderstone Garage.
5th May 2026
Winter Weather & a Coin!
The season has started well, though some work was needed to deal with part of the baulk in the North East corner of the site which had collapsed due to the wet Winter weather. This is being cleared and made safe with the trench also being extended so that the second midden can be investigated.
On the opposite side of the trench a new extension was opened to investigate the ditch to sdetermine whether it continued to curve, and was therefore a possible ring ditch. It was excavating this extension that the third coin was discovered. Like the previous two it was a ha'penny of George III. For a site with such a length of occupation the number of coins that have been found is surprisingly small.
If anyone is interested in joining us for this years digging season then please get in touch and we'll send you all the relevant details.
As always during the digging season there will be regular updates on the Society's Facebook page.
27th April 2026
Resistivity Survey Thank Yous
A big thank you to everyone who attended the resistivity survey in the Dove Valley. It was a glouriosly sunny day in a beautiful part of the Peak District. It was also great to see members unfamiliar with resistivity survey coming along to get involved and learn how it is done. Everyone managed really well, especially when it cam to manouvering around the various apple and pear trees in the field! The survey went really well and produced some very good results. An initial examination of the survey identified the probable course of an old stream as well as highlighting areas of potential interest which may relate to acitivty around some possible house platfoms over which the survey took place. We look forward to seeing the results of any further investigations.
The society would like to thank Angela & Richard Knisely-Marpole, and Dr Ian Parker Heath, as well as the Tudor Farming Interpretation Group for inviting SoTMAS to do the survey as part of their on going archaeological investigations at Under Whitle. Their reception and support during the day was fantastic, as were the tea and cakes!! It was great to be able to visit and support another groups archaeological activity, especially in such a wonderful location, and to view their efforts in understanding the history of Under Whitle. To find out more about their work you can follow the link to their website, and we wish them well with their future endeavours.
27th April 2026
Staffordshire Archaeology Day
A BIG Thank you to all the speakers and attendees to Staffordshire Archaeology Day 2026
On behalf of SoTMAS, we would like to thank all the speakers for the truly excellent presentations. Though it wasn't planned, and though some of the presentations were from the prehistoric period, just about all the presenations included a sizeable dose of prehistoric archaeology. Everyting from potential Neolithic standing stones, henges, iron age round houses, and many others, have been discovered by recent archaeological excavations. Though we mustn't forget the discovery and understanding of the Medieval settlement at Coton, even that uncovered earlier prehistoric activity.
As well as the fantastic archaeology, the presentations demonstrated the value that freely available aerial photography (Google Earth) and LiDAR in identifying previously unknown archaeological features and sites. As always the excavations mentioned all produced some fascinating archaeology and amazing finds. The Ellastone cloak fastener may have been a particullary special find, but it did not detract from the evident skill that went into making, and preserving, items such as the Iron Age cauldrons. The reconstruation of one clearly demonstrated that these objects were more than a simple everyday utilitarian cooking pot, but an item of prestige.
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who attended Staffordshire Archaeology Day, it was fantastic to see so many people in the lecture theatre at the museum. All being well with the museum redevelopment should mean that Staffordshire Archaeology Day should revert back to its usual March date in 2027, when we look to seeing you there again.
20th April 2026
Member Event: Resistivty Survey
Saturday 25th April
A reminder to those members who are intending to come to the Dove Valley Centre for the resistivity survey that we will be meeting at 11am. Directions will have been emailed to those who have indicated that they will be attending.
We are using this survey as an opportunity for members unfamiliar with conducting geophysical surveys to come along and learn how the survey is set up, how to use the equipment and process the data to hopefully identify some archaeological features.
20th April 2026
Staffordshire Archaeology Day
Saturday 18th April | Potteries Museum
Tickets for the event are now Sold Out!
The full list of speakers for the 2026 Staffordshire Archaeology Day are:
- Colin Merrony, University of Sheffield
- John Thomas, University of Leicester
- Michael Fradley, University of Oxford
- Shane Kelleher, Staffordshire's County Archaeologist
- Joe Perry, Potteries Museum Curator
- Dr Simon Davies, Senior Archaeological Officer, Archaeology Warwickshire
The presentations range from a newly discovered henge in the Peak District, through Iron Age society, the exploration of the Upper Tern Valley and Coton House Farm. As well as a round up of work in Staffordshire and progress on the Ellastone Cloak Fastener appeal.
The museum doors open at 10am with the first presentation starting at 10:30am.
25th March 2026
Re-opens to all diggers on Sunday 19th April 2026
The society's excavation in Hall Field, Hilderstone, aka "Chimney Field" will re-open for the 2026 season in April. Excavation will take place between 10am and 4pm each Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, until the end of October.
It is intended that on Sunday 12th April the site will be re-opened and readied for the coming season. This will involve tidying the site from the effects of Winter and preparing the areas that are going to be excavated.
It is recommended that anyone digging for the first time should attend on Sunday 19th April when digging will be fully underway, and it will be possible to provide a good introduction to the site and digging.
15th March 2026
The display of artefacts at Stone Heritage Centre has now been installed
On Saturday 28th February a team from the society spent several hours at Stone Heritage Centre installing the artefacts for the "Chimney in the Field" Exhibition highlighting the work in Hall Field, Hilderstone.
The exhibition will be on display for the next 12 months as part of the Stone before Stone exhibition the Heritage Centre is currently developing. Thanks to Lee Hyland, Winstone Hollins, Alan Bagnal, Dave Baker and Kieth Ryan for all their hard work in designing and setting up the exhibition, as well as to Angela Thomson for liasing with the Heritage Centre so that this could take place.
28th February 2026
A display of artefacts at Stone Heritage Centre
Later this month, at the Stone Heritage Centre, the society will be setting up an exhibition of artefacts from the work at the excavation in Hilderstone. The title of the display is "The Chimney in the Field: 300 years, or more, of occuption." The display will showcase a selection of finds that inform us about the people, and their lives, who, over the succeeding generations, lived in the building. We are extremely privilidged to have the opportunity to put on this dispaly as part of the Heritage Centre's "History of Stone" exhibition. The exhibition is still in development and will be open to the public shortly after. For more information on the display and Heritage Centre follow the links below.
20th February 2026
Pugin After Dark Festival
Sunday 1st March | Alton, Staffs.
The society will be attending the first ever Pugin After Dark Festival in Alton, Staffordshire, a village whose landscape and architecture have been greatly shaped and influenced by the work of AWN Pugin. The festival runs on both the Saturday and Sunday, and it is thought that the more history related activities would be of more interest to members, which why the society is attending on the Sunday.
The festival has its own website if people what to have a look at what events are available.
15th February 2026
Appeal to keep major Bronze Age gold Treasure in Staffordshire
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery has launched a £150,000 appeal to secure a rare Bronze Age gold Treasure discovered in Staffordshire. The 3,000-year-old solid gold object, unearthed by a metal detectorist near Ellastone in 2023, has been declared Treasure and valued at £150,000. The museum has until spring 2026 to raise the funds needed to keep it in the area and place it in the public collection.
The find is one of the finest examples of its kind ever discovered with only seven others being recorded across England and Wales. Its exceptional workmanship shows it belonged to someone of very high status. Alongside the Staffordshire Hoard and the Leekfrith Torcs it is one of the county’s most important archaeological gold finds, which would be displayed in the Potteries Museum where it would be publicaly accessible.
5th February 2026
Staffordshire Archaeology Day
Saturday 18th April | Potteries Museum
The fourth annual Staffordshire Archaeology Day will take place on Saturday 18th April. Re-development work at the Potteries Museum has reduced capacity of the lecture theatre due to health and safety, as well as affecting accessibility this year.
The programme is curently taking shape and the following speakers have already been confirmed. Colin Merrony from Sheffield University, John Thomas from Leicester University, Michael Fradley from Univeristy of Oxford and Shane Kelleher, the Staffordshire County Archaeologist. There are still a couple of slots to fill and will be announced shortly.
22nd January 2026
Willow Pattern Exhibition Visit
Saturday 24th January | The Spode Museum
The society is intending a visit to the Spode museum to see the 'Williow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of Other.' The exhibition xplores the legacy of the, iconic and globally recognized ceramic design, Willow pattern. Inspired by Chinese porcelain, the exhibition provide an insight into how 18th and 19th century British potters imitated and adapted Chinese forms, imagery, and technologies. Fuller details of time and meeting details will be circulated soon.
1st January 2026
Saturday Meeting Events for 2026
As the Potteries is museum is closed and undergoing a re-development the society is temporarialy relocating to Newcastle-under-Lyme Community Fire Station. The Fire Station is located in Knutton Lane opposite Newcastle College. Activities will continue as usual though the meetings will start at 1pm running until 4pm. The first meeting of 2026 will be on Saturday 10th January. A full lsit of meeting dates and directions can be found on the events page.
1st January 2026
