History of a Sculpture

Concepts, designs and editing! Where the ideas begin and the process of linking the history of the site to the function and use of the space with the people who will use it. I was drawn to the woodland in the distance, the sence of habitation for both wildlife and people. The domesticated fragments of pottery (both historically and modern day use) notions of 'nesting' 'dwelling' 'windows', 'trenches', 'family grouping' and a place / space which evokes 'calm, security and play'. 

The Monchelsea Place site has had an archaeological dig take place prior to the development of the land for family housing. 

The archaeological evaluation undertaken by Swale & Thames Survey Company (SWAT Archaeology) has been successful in identifying the presence of ditches, pits, postholes and a possible ‘trample layer’ associated with the Iron Age and Roman-British periods. Archaeological features were recorded in 14 trenches out of the 48 excavated. Finds comprised of 229 shards of pottery (weighing 3,006g), which included Coarse Late Iron Age and Roman fabrics, along withfine Roman wares, mortaria and post-medieval material. 

These uncovered fragments of pottery indicate and give way to theories that there may have been a previous settlement here. The terracotta vessel fragments have got me thinking about celebrating this historical timeline of a space having been previously used as a dwelling to its revitalised use and development by Redrow to conserve a modern day use and need for homes, habitation  and the building of a new community.