FOX DEN ROAD
Artist: Mark Doyle
Client: Baylis Estates Ltd.
Location: Fox Den Road, Stoke Gifford
At Fox Den Road, artist Mark Doyle has created a series of sculptures inspired by the process of recording archaeological information and the idea of 'imagined archaeology.' Using combinations of primary geometric shapes (symbols for archaeological finds), these abstract stone assemblages evoke the mystery surrounding objects from the past, sparking curiosity in passersby about the area's history
Historical maps show that the locality was largely agricultural until the 1980s. Mark's research included delving into past archaeological investigations, particularly an area north of Harry Stoke (directly west of the site) investigated in 1987–88 and 1994. These investigations unearthed the remains of a rural medieval settlement, revealing stone houses, dovecotes, kilns, and walled yards, all meticulously documented in an archaeological report.
“I was particularly drawn to the level of detail in these hand drawn maps. Drawings showing the distribution of fragmented limestone slabs revealed the scattered remains of buildings. There was an abundance of material in these reports all of which gave a picture of a typical rural medieval settlement and through this process of investigation I became interested in referencing the visual vocabulary used in the archaeological reports.”
“...geometric symbols [are] used to denote the location of small finds such as flint. Although ubiquitous, these primary shapes in the form of circles, squares and crosses seemed at odds with the irregular fragments they symbolised. This sparked an interest [in me] in the archaeological process of recording sites and documenting finds.”
Mark's research included conversations with Bristol Museum’s Senior Curator of Archaeology and World Cultures, giving Mark a deeper understanding of the methodologies used, which he also observed firsthand during a tour of the excavations at Fox Den Road conducted by Wessex Archaeology.
Among the finds at Harry Stoke were stone objects unfamiliar to modern eyes. Described as ‘assemblages,’ these included 'flat and rod-shaped whetstones,' spindle whorls, rotary querns, and 'probable' pot lids, as well as numerous sandstone objects recovered from a 14th-century yard, about which the report simply states, 'their function remains unclear.'
Extracts from An Archaeologists’s Map on the base plinths. Courtesy the artist
As part of this commission, Mark also worked with James Kelly, a writer and translator with an interest in landscape and time. Extracts from James’ poem, An archaeologist’s map, are used as interpretive text on the base plinths:
A past reclaimed by the land
Fragments mapped in symbols
Fashioning form from the land
By this alone we have lived
The completed abstract artworks - inspired by the mystery of objects of the past and the intriguing process of recording archeological information - are scattered throughout the pocket park area to the north of the site. Nestled between the grass and wildflower areas, Mark’s sculptures integrate with the landscape while offering people a place to explore or relax. Each sculpture varies in size and shape and is carved from durable Kilkenny blue limestone, with smooth 'honed' surfaces contrasting with linear sandblasted sections, creating variations in colour and texture.
