Report on archaeological dig published

The Imperial Geographical Society has published a report on its findings from the archaeological dig which took place under the patio in Wrythe Public Park between August and November last year. The report, which can be found here, is in PowerPoint format, and contains photographs of several of the findings.

Expedition investigates tunnel legend

Emperor Jonathan I and Countess Eritoshi yesterday investigated legends of a huge network of tunnels underneath the British town of Beddington leading into the surrounding area. Emperor Esmond III had led an informal expedition in search of the entrances to these tunnels on 29 May 2010, but this had little success other than finding a shaft covered by a large rock which went into a mound in a park in Wallington. The expedition, recorded on camera for the Imperial Geographical Society, first went to Copan, where they investigated some pipes directly over one of the possible routes taken by the tunnels if they branched off towards various old buildings as rumoured. However, these pipes were found to have been for drainage in the days when a watermill stood in the north of Copan. The Emperor and Countess next headed into Wallington, to the same park explored by Esmond III’s expedition in 2010. It was judged that the mound with a shaft leading down into it was probably once an old air raid shelter – it could not be proven otherwise, as an attempt to move the rock which blocks the entrance failed. The expedition afterwards walked to Beddington Park to visit Carew Manor. It is known that a tunnel exists under the medieval Carew Manor, but both it and the church next to it were closed and so there was nobody there to ask about the tunnels. Walking in the direction of the Plough Inn, the Emperor and Countess explored a small wooded area between the two locations. A circle of tarmac was discovered in the woods, which the Emperor suggested may possibly be a blocked entrance to the tunnel running between the two. Arriving at the Plough Inn, the expedition spoke to the assistant manager, who confirmed that the tunnel entrance in the cellar had been bricked up. She told them that a nearby hill on which some houses were built had been made with the soil excavated when the tunnels were dug. After walking over the hill and noting the large amount of soil that would have been needed to construct it, the Emperor and Countess walked down a road known to have a manhole cover leading down to the tunnels. A relatively large, unmarked one was found, which is likely to have been the one connected to the tunnels. The expedition then departed via bus to Thanasia. This was the fourth IGS Expedition to have taken place so far in 2013. A video of the expedition can be seen here.

IGS Expedition to Headley Heath

The Imperial Geographical Society has completed an expedition around Headley Heath in the British county of Surrey. The expedition, which set out and returned yesterday, consisted of eleven people including the Emperor and the Emperor Mother. Since 2009, it has been traditional for the IGS to accompany a countryside ramble organised by Carshalton Methodist Church on the first Monday of May, which is a bank holiday in the United Kingdom. The expedition traversed heathland, fields, farms and woods, climbing some very steep hills along the way. Several photographs were taken, and a short film of the expedition can be seen here.

Second IGS Expedition to Wimbledon Common

The Imperial Family yesterday returned to Wrythe after setting out on an expedition to Wimbledon Common on behalf of the Imperial Geographical Society. This is the first time that the IGS has sent an expedition to the same place twice – a first expedition to Wimbledon Common took place on New Year’s Day. While that expedition had twelve members, this one only had four, namely the immediate Imperial Family. The Emperor led the Imperial Family on a circular route around the common, closely following part of the route of the previous expedition and comparing how things had changed in three months with the onset of spring. Photographs were taken, and a short video can be seen here. The next IGS Expedition is planned to take place on 6 May, to British countryside near the Surrey village of Headley.

New year starts with Consuls appointed and IGS Expedition

The Prime Minister announced the Consuls for 2013 yesterday morning before joining an IGS Expedition around Wimbledon Common. The two Consuls are the highest judicial authorities in the Empire, appointed every New Year’s Day by the Prime Minister. Athough they have the power to decide the sentences of convicted criminals, with Austenasia’s incredibly low crime rate the office serves mostly as a ceremonial honour, with the two Consuls giving their names to the year in some formal documents. Caroline Kingsnorth OAO of Zephyria and former Emperor, Tribune Sir Terry Austen KCJ, were appointed the 2013 Consuls. The Imperial Family has a tradition of partaking in an annual walk on Wimbledon Common every New Year’s Day with the Boxalls (the family of Lady Margaret Austen, wife of the aforementioned Sir Terry) and some members of Raynes Park Methodist Church, formerly attended by the Boxall family. This year was no different, and on the suggestion of Sir Terry the walk was designated an official expedition of the Imperial Geographical Society. Due to a poor turnout from the church members unaffiliated to Austenasia – only four people, making a total of twelve – Crown Prince Jonathan was given responsibility for deciding on a route, due to having been the only person to have brought a map. The expedition made two circular walks around different parts of the Common, stopping halfway through at tea rooms under a landmark windmill for refreshments. The reason Sir Terry had requested this walk be made an IGS Expedition was so that something could be found to be named in memory of his recently deceased mother, the former Emperor Mother Bette, with the name entered into official IGS records. A small bridge near the Queensmere pond was named Bette Bridge in her memory. Four other features of the Common were also named by the IGS: a long ditch was named Daniel Ditch in celebration of the eighteenth birthday of the former First Midget Master, a crossroad of paths was named Eritoshi Junction in honour of the Countess of Memphis, and a path and a stream were given the names Pertinax and Romanos IV Diogenes respectively after two Roman Emperors who both took power on 1 January. A report and slideshow of photographs from the expedition can be found here. The next IGS Expedition is planned to take place at the start of May.

Archaeological dig put on hold due to rain

HIH Crown Prince Jonathan has announced that work on the archaeological dig currently underway in Wrythe Public Park is to be put on hold until the spring due to bad weather. The dig, which started on 16 August earlier this year and is organised by the Imperial Geographical Society, is excavating an area which had been under paving stones since before the Imperial Family moved to what is now the Imperial Residence in January 2004. The trench which has been dug has so far unearthed various pieces of glass and pottery, an at present unidentified animal bone, several metal nails, and a two pence coin which dates the construction of the patio under which the dig is taking place to no earlier than 1992. The trench has also unearthed a large tree stump with an extensive root system, formerly sealed under the patio – two tree stumps were already visible and used as steps down from Wrythe Public Park’s patio to 2 Imperial Road. With the discovery of this third tree stump, it is thought that there was once a row of trees marking the end of the now Imperial Residence’s garden before 2 Imperial Road (the garage) was built. The last digging which took place was in early October – due to rain since then, further excavation has been continually postponed due to the soil in the trench becoming waterlogged. With rainfall yesterday, the Crown Prince (who is leading the dig) has announced that digging is being formally put on hold until drier weather. Fans of Cool Barbie will recognise the area of the dig as being where a Dalek was imprisoned in Prisoners Freed. Thankfully, the diggers have not reported unearthing any hostile aliens yet.