BMAPA archaeology awards for Tarmac

Company wins two marine aggregates industry archaeological awards for the second year in a row

TARMAC have won two prestigious industry awards for their work on reporting and preserving archaeological finds from their dredging business.

It is the second year in a row that Tarmac have received recognition from the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA) for their heritage conservation efforts.

The BMAPA awards, which are nominated by Wessex Archaeology and English Heritage, chose Tarmac’s Greenwich wharf as the winner in the ‘Best Attitude on a Wharf or Ship’ category. This was for its ‘excellent detailed’ photos and report of an aircraft undercarriage locking pin from a World War II fighter plane – possibly an early Spitfire.

It was also recognized in the same category for its recording of a cannon barshot (pictured), which probably dates back to the 17th century. This particular piece is particularly interesting to historians because it is still intact.

The BMAPA award for ‘Best Find’ went to Tarmac’s Bedhampton Wharf, for its discovery and recording of a Cartwheel Penny, a large coin that dates back to 1797.

Kevin Seaman, managing director of Tarmac’s marine dredging business, said: ‘It’s not unusual for our operations to uncover interesting archaeological and historical pieces like mammoth teeth, coins and wreckage.

‘We place real importance on reporting the artefacts we find and working closely with archaeological organizations in order to understand their significance and to preserve them for future generations.

‘It’s great that our conservation efforts have been acknowledged by BMAPA, and we’re very proud to have received these awards for the second year running.’

Last year Tarmac scooped two awards: a ‘Best Find’ for the discovery of nine pieces of late-18th century silver tableware at Ridham Wharf, near Sittingbourne, Kent, and a ‘Best Attitude by a Wharf’ for a mammoth tooth that was unearthed at Erith Wharf on the river Thames.