Southampton City Museums Archaeological Society (SCMAS) is looking for former members to help in the creation of an archive and history of the society.

It was formed in 1961 as Southampton Archaeological Society by volunteers working at the city’s museums and on archaeological excavations. It was a large and social society with a regular lecture programme and outings, Christmas dances and a junior section.

Until its recent refurbishment the society was based at Tudor Merchants Hall (now Westgate Hall) in Westgate Street, off Bugle Street in Southampton.

The hall was used for many years as the society’s “dig hut” where they would wash and mark finds from local excavations, reconstruct pottery and work on reports and plans. A regular newsletter – originally called The Westgate – was produced with articles about digs that had been going on and items of interest from Southampton’ archives.

Were you or someone in your family a member of SCMAS? If so we’d be very grateful for the chance to talk to you about your memories of the society and to see any photos you have so we can build a fuller picture of our history which has been providing opportunities to learn about Southampton’s past and archaeology worldwide for over 50 years.

SCMAS still runs a lecture programme, study days, outings and occasional projects such as this current one to capture the society’s own history. As well as collecting stories and images we’re looking to identify past members on photographs we have already.

Please contact Anna at archaeoanna@yahoo.co.uk or 07812 851095 if you can help with information or would like to know more.

ANNA WELCH, Southampton.