"Dear Piggott,
Faced at every turn for
years past with the problems connected with the study of the neolithic
period in Britain, I have come to regret more and more that among those
few archaeologists who specialise upon this period which half a dozen years
ago was virtually unknown in this country, and concerning which we now
know paradoxically so much and yet understand so little, there should be,
relatively speaking, so few opportunities for open discussion. I
therefore broached the suggestion to Eliot Curwen of the formation of a
small club or society (without entrance fee or subscription), the qualification
for membership of which would be that one had carried out and was interested
in researches as regards the neolithic period in Great Britain. The
purposes of this society as I visualised it were the closer co-operation
between members in their work, fuller intercommunication by means of circular
reports or otherwise, and the giving of opportunity for full and frank
discussion of any problems by means of occasional meetings, preferably
to follow informal little dinners when and where possible.
Curwen concurred with
the project, and I wrote to Thurlow Leeds of Oxford, who replied enthusiastically.
I am therefore writing to Hemp, Ross Williamson and Callander, while the
other members of the Windmill Hill Staff, viz. my wife, Miss D. M. Liddell
and Miss Kathleen Duncan, would also join."