Anne Leaver

Through the door of the stately Porter Memorial Library on the last Friday of every month, the Porter Poets, as we call ourselves, have trooped. We sit down around a couple of aging tables near the old fireplace to read our poems, hear poems from others, and offer both criticism and encouragement. We come from Machias, the Washington County "shire town" where the library is located, but also from Addison, East Machias, Cutler, Beals Island, Jonesboro, Milbridge, Northfield, Roque Bluffs, and other towns on Washington County's coast. You wouldn't expect much poetry from so remote a location. Yet poetry's power is evident even here where there are mostly trees. A poet seems scribbling behind every third fir and fourth maple. We're not creating cleverness, however. We have things to say. From the Introduction by Gerald George

This volume describes work on the Iron Age hillfort of Lodge Hill Camp, in Gwent, south-east Wales. Situated adjacent to the later Roman legionary fortress at Caerleon, the hillfort has, until recently, received little archaeological attention. Excavation was undertaken during the summer of 2000 within the interior of the hillfort, at its western entrance, and across the inner bank and ditch of the defences. An extended discussion is offered of Lodge Hills position within the regional Iron Age sequence, and of Roman and early Medieval reuse of hillforts in south Wales. The results of geophysical and earthwork survey at the hillfort of Llanmelin, near Chepstow, are also reported on. Contents: 1) Introduction (Joshua Pollard, Michael Hamilton & Neil Phillips); 2) Excavation Results (Joshua Pollard, Adrian Chadwick & Lesley McFadyen); 3) Artefactual Material [Ironwork (Philip Macdonald); Metalworking slags (Tim Young); Prehistoric pottery (Rick Peterson, Joshua Pollard & Elaine Morris); Droitwich briquetage (Joshua Pollard & Elaine Morris); Roman pottery (Ray Howell & Joshua Pollard); Medieval pottery (Rick Peterson & Joshua Pollard); Brick and tile (Joshua Pollard); Fired clay (Joshua Pollard); Worked flint (Joshua Pollard); Other worked stone (Joshua Pollard) ]; 4) Environmental Evidence (Ruth Young); 5) Discussion: Lodge Hill Camp and the hillforts of Gwent (Joshua Pollard, Ray Howell, Adrian Chadwick & Lesley McFadyen); 7) Appendix 1. Llanmelin Hillfort, Caerwent: geophysical and earthwork survey (Daryl Williams).