Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Past Horizons
November
2009
Adventures in Archaeology
Issue 10
November 2009
Editors:
Felicity Donohoe
Maggie Struckmeier
Layout:
Maggie Struckmeier
Graphics
David Connolly
Past Horizons
Traprain House
Luggate Burn
Haddington
East Lothian
EH41 4QA
Contributors:
Rik Stoetman 14 Up From the Ashes
Dan McLerran
Jamie Donahoe In 1815 on the Indonesian island of Tambora a massive volcanic eruption caused
Murray Cook
a pyroclastic flow which wiped out all in its path. The tiny Kingdom of Tambora
Dominic Hall
Peter Twinn disappeared under the ash. Now, almost 200 years later, the carbonised, well-
Ian B Kerr preserved remains are slowly being uncovered.
Dr. Michael Nasseney
Annie Evans
Note
Past Horizons can give no endorsement
of any listed project or guarantee the
accuracy of the information supplied.
The editors accept no responsibility
for any loss, injury, or inconvenience
sustained by anyone using the resources
contained within this magazine and/or
the websites mentioned herein. When
considering a project, be sure to contact
the director with any questions you might
have about conditions, travel, health
issues, etc. Check for references from
previous participants, seek advice where
possible and select a project that will be
of the greatest benefit to you, the project
and the team.
32 Making Preservation Happen
All content is copyright and no
reproduction of text or images is
allowed without prior permission
Slovenia is a small nation with big ambitions to preserve its wealth of historical
from the author. buildings. Two Slovenians are at the forefront of this work and have reached out
to the international community for help. Now in partnership with Colorado-based
Past Horizons 2009
Adventures in Preservation, hands-on workshops are now up and running.
past horizons 2
Contents
8 Archaeology Through the Keyhole 38 Prepare for Action
Dating of hillforts has long been the subject of debate Dominic Hall, a field skills expedition leader, shares
amongst archaeologists. Murray Cook argues that some of his top tips for enjoying a safe but exciting
keyhole excavation is the way forward. adventure.
Metal detectorist Peter Twinn describes the An 18th century French frontier fort involved in the fur trade
chain of events in his life that led to a passion provides the subject for an exceptional award-winning community
for archaeology. archaeology project.
R e g u l a rs
4 Editorial 44 Course Finder
Community involvement. Suggestions for practical archaeology courses
within the UK and Ireland.
6 News
News stories from around the world. 45 Viewpoint
David Connolly discusses the need to create
40 Dig In standards in archaeology.
Volunteer digs and field schools for 2010.
46 Back Pages
42 Dig Cook Archaeology comedy from the video archive,
Culinary escapades from Annie Evans. including classic Monty Python.
3 past horizons
C o m m u n i t y involvement...
editorial
C o m m u n i t y down through generations a n d i s o f t e n
archaeology accepted as truth. Dealing w i t h t h e s e
has been hailed communities requires sen s i t i v i t y a n d
as the antidote care from the archaeologis t a s p e o p l e
to commercial understandably take great p r i d e i n t h e i r
archaeology, a corner of the world. For e x a m p l e , y o u
way to remind can be guaranteed that ev e r y t i m e a
ourselves that Scottish castle or mansion i s m e n t i o n e d
a r c h aeology is about people’s lives a local will recount a story c o n n e c t i n g i t
a n d what they left behind, and not just to Mary Queen of Scots. S i m p l e s t o n e -
a b o u t schedules, budgets and financial lined drains are mysteri o u s e s c a p e
a c c o untability. However, are most tunnels that lead from every c a s t l e , a n d
a r c h aeologists ready to tackle this type any suspicious mound is bo u n d t o b e a
o f w ork? From my experience working plague pit or a Roman cam p . O h , a n d
w i t h a community can be a great pleasure don’t forget the pot of gold t h a t i s s a i d
b u t i t can also be a potential minefield. to be buried somewhere in t h e v i c i n i t y.
However, we a l l k n o w
that this is n o r m a l l y n o t
what happens . I n f a c t ,
the beauty of a r c h a e o l o g y
is that it pro d u c e s m o r e
questions than a r e i n i t i a l l y
Pe o p l e o f Co u s l a n d e xca va t i n g a ro und a 15th centur y tower house in the
ce n t re o f t h e i r v i l l a g e.
asked, which i s g r e a t f o r
the archaeolo g i s t b u t a
M y advice is to tread carefully and take community is often not rea d y f o r t h i s .
t i m e to connect with people, find out You may be held responsib l e f o r t h e i r
w h a t they want through discussion but initial disappointment if you d o n o t f i n d
h a v e the strength of character to keep the what they were looking fo r b u t i f y o u
m o m entum going when the community remain positive and enthu s i a s t i c , a n d
m i g h t seem downhearted at a perceived explain your case clearly, y o u m i g h t b e
l a c k of progress. After all , archaeology pleasantly surprised by th e i r g r a d u a l
c a n be a long, drawn-out process and can acceptance.
o f t e n disappoint the hopeful.
Community archaeology c a n b e a n
R e m ember, every community has its own organic process. It may h a v e a c l e a r
e s t a blished history that has been passed starting point but it can chan g e d i r e c t i o n
editor@pasthorizons.com
past horizons 4
Volunte e r s f o r t h e 2 0 0 9 N a t i o n a l Tr u s t f o r S co t l a n d Thistle Camp getting ready to excavate Black potts hillfor t, St. Abbs.
Maggie Struckmeier
behalf o f t h e l o ca l co m mu n i t y.
5 past horizons
E xc avat i n g a Po s s i b l e E a r l y C h r i s t i a n B a p tister y
past horizons 6
2009 exca va t i o n s a t B a x Fa r m re ve a l i n g t h e o c t a g o nal building with central plunge pool.
The octagonal Lateran Baptister y in Rome is thought to To find out more about Kent Arc h a e o l o gi c a l
be the first building of its k ind, founded by Pope Six tus III Field S chool (K AFS) visit the web s i te :
in 440. http://k afs.co.uk/index.html
7 past horizons
S co t l a n d
Hillforts of Strathdon
Lammermuirs
Rampart Scotland
past horizons 8
Archaeology
through the Keyhole
A small team of professional archaeologists,
students and local volunteers have been
car r ying out keyhole research excavations
on the hillfor ts in the nor th east of S cotland.
Mur ray Cook the projec t direc tor explains how
keyhole excavation could reignite the debate
on the dating of these magnificent but little
understood monuments.
T
Hillforts of Strathdon project was set
his 1959 d e s c r i p t i on of up in 2007 with the specific purpose
A b e r d e e n s h i r e ’s M a i d e n Castle of producing solid dating e vidence for
c a n b e f o u n d i n r e c o r ds of the some of these enigmatic sites. Supplying
Roy a l C o m m i s s i o n o n t h e A n c ient and primary data to move the subject
His t o r i c a l M o n u m e n t s o f Scotland. forward is the overarching aim of the
Ast o n i s h i n g l y, u n t i l r e c e n tly this project, arguing that if archaeologists
wa s t h e s u m t o t a l o f o u r k n owledge continue only to undertake survey after
reg a r d i n g t hi s s i t e , a n d i s s a d l y true for survey we will have better plans but no
the m a j o r i t y o f h i l l f o r t s f o u n d on every new dates!
9 past horizons
Tap O ’N o t h h i l l f o r t , A b e rd e e n s h i re.
The Aberdeenshire hillforts have been surveyed achieving these goals the aim of t h e H i l l f o r t s
a n d a s s e s s e d t h r ee times since the 1960s, each of Strathdon project has been to off e r t r a i n i n g
t i m e u s i n g t h e same basic evidence of size to enable future generations o f r e s e a r c h
a n d t y p e o f d e f ences. With each new survey students to carry out their own pr o j e c t s .
t h e s a m p l e s i z e became smaller and smaller,
r e s p e c t i v e l y N o rthern Britain, Aberdeenshire Scotland already has a fine t r a d i t i o n o f
a n d f i n a l l y t h e Don Valley, each time coming keyhole excavation which has d e m o n s t r a t e d
u p w i t h d i ff e r e nt conclusions. As result, for good results. Examples of suc h p r o j e c t s
t h e b e s t p a r t o f 50 years all we have to work include Colin Renfrew’s work at t h e R i n g o f
w i t h i s a m a s s i ve corpus of data but no new Brodgar, Orkney in 1979 (recen t l y a m a j o r
h a r d e v i d e n c e t o go on. research excavation by Orkney R e s e a r c h
Centre for Archaeology), Close-B r o o k ’s w o r k
A rg u a b l y, l e s s a nd less primary research work
i s u n d e r t a k e n e ach year by academics, both
b e c a u s e o f t h e rising costs of such work, as
w e l l a s t h e d r i v e of United Kingdom national
p o l i c y t o p r e s erve remains in situ. As a
c o n s e q u e n c e o f this, local archaeological
s o c i e t i e s a n d c ommunity projects have also
t e n d ed t o f o c u s on non-intrusive arch aeology
i n c l u d i n g d e s k - based work, field walking and
v a r i o u s t y p e s o f survey.
past horizons 10
a t C l a t c h a r d C r aig, Fife in 1987 (now quarried while charcoal from below the w a l l i n d i c a t e s
a w a y ) , t h e l a t e Leslie Alcock’s work on Early that it was constructed after the 6 t h o r 7 t h
H i s t o r i c f o r t i f i cations during the 1980’s and centuries. This was a complete su r p r i s e a s t h e
m o s t r e c e n t l y t he Edinburgh University Angus
a n d s o u t h A b e r deenshire Field School.
Murray Cook joine d AOC A rchaeology Group as a subcontrac tor in 1996 eventually becoming a direc tor in 2007
managing a wide range of projec ts. In 2009 he joined Oxford A rchaeology Nor th as post- excavation programme
manager. Throughout his career he has developed and run a number of communit y-led archaeological projec ts
and remains passionately committed to under tak ing research for the sake of research!
past horizons 12
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13 past horizons
Sumbawa 0 10km
Area of
Investigation
Tambora
past horizons 14
Up fro m t h e As hes
Discover ing the K ingdom of Tambora
15 past horizons
Sunset ove r M o u n t Ta m b o ra’s ca l d e ra .
The eruption of Mount Tambora was so immense Europe, still recuperating from th e N a p o l e o n i c
a n d i t s f o r c e s o powerful that its attendant Wars, suffered from food shor t a g e s . F o o d
atmospheric effects influenced weather riots broke out in Britain and F r a n c e a n d
grain warehouses were looted. T h e v i o l e n c e
was worst in landlocked Switze r l a n d , w h e r e
famine caused its government t o d e c l a r e a
national emergency. It is estimat e d t h a t t h e r e
were 200,000 deaths in Europe a s a n i n d i r e c t
result of the eruption.
past horizons 16
s a n d a l w o o d , i ncense, red dye and horses. The remarkable preservative eff e c t s o f t h e
B y t h e t i m e o f the eruption, it is estimated searing volcanic surge carbon i s e d a l m o s t
t h a t Ta m b o r a consisted of approximately everything in its path. This has l e f t b e h i n d
1 0 , 0 0 0 i n h a b i t ants, defining what seemed to a wealth of structures, artefacts a n d h u m a n
b e a s m a l l b u t wealthy kingdom. Situated on remains which are beginning t o y i e l d
t h e v o l c a n o ’s western flank, the remains of information about the lifesty l e t h a t t h e
t h i s k i n g d o m a re now being investigated by inhabitants enjoyed before this c a t a c l y s m i c
archaeologists. event.
17 past horizons
A carb o n i s e d s ke l e to n b u r i e d u n d e r a t wo m e t re t hick ash deposit.
past horizons 18
T h e e x c a v a t i o n s have so far only s cratched However, what we do know for c e r t a i n i s t h e
t h e s u r f a c e . T hey will continue during 2010 fateful events that took place h e r e i n A p r i l
u n d e r t h e d i r e ction of Dr. M. Geria of the 1815 brought an end to this thrivin g k i n g d o m i n
B a l i I n s t i t u t e f or Archaeology, building upon the most horrific and deadly of cir c u m s t a n c e s .
t h e p r e v i o u s w ork that has taken place. The The opportunity to bring Tambo r a u p f r o m
l o g i s t i c a l e x p e rtise for the project falls to the ashes allows the chance to s t u d y a n o l d
R i k S t o e t m a n o f Travel4pros, an exp erienced world order that had been lost to u s u n t i l n o w
e x p e d i t i o n l e a der. They are both looking and with each new discovery tha t w o r l d g e t s
f o r w a r d t o w e l coming students and volunteers tantalisingly closer.
f r o m a r o u n d t he world who will work in
t a n d e m w i t h l o cal archaeologists to excavate
R ik Stoetman has lived in Indonesia for 22 years and
a n d r e c o r d t h e site. works in par tnership with local people expor ting and
promoting Indonesian handicra f ts. With his excellent
T h e K i n g d o m of Tambora is particularly local k nowledge, he has led many groups and expeditions,
i n t r i g u i n g b e c a use very little is known about including a National G eographic expedition to the
hear t of Borneo. R ik is currently work ing closely with
i t s r e s i d e n t s , t he language they spoke, how
volcanologist D r Haraldur Sigurdsson and Balinese
t h e i r l i v e s w e r e structured and who they traded archaeologists on the Mount Tambora e xplosion.
w i t h . N o w, w i th the help of archaeological
r e s e a r c h a p i c ture is starting to emerge. The D an McLerran is a freelance writer and ar tist who has
a r t e f a c t s r e c o vered point to trading links par ticipated in a number of excavations in the United
States, as well as the Bethsaida Excavations Projec t
p a r t ic u l a r l y w i th Vietnam and Cambodia. It
in Israel. He is creator and editor of A rchaeological
h a s e v e n b e e n s uggested in the scant historical D igs, a popular info -blog about archaeological digs
r e c o r d s t h a t a visitor to the island just before and research oppor tunities. He is also creator and
1 8 1 5 c o n c l u d e d that the Tamborans spoke administrator of A rchaeologyNet, an online social
a l a n g u a g e s i milar to that of Cambodian or net work for archaeologists, students, volunteers and
Laotian. educators.
Get Invol ve d
Vo lunteers will receive training in excavation, site recording and
other investigative techniques.
Par ticipants will lodge in a local guesthouse or may camp near the
excavation site in tents.
When not wor k ing, there will be oppor tunities to explore the area,
which includes the beautiful beaches, a shor t boat tr ip to Satonda
Island, a climb to the summit of M ount Tambora or hikes in the vicinit y
of the dig.
19 past horizons
Above: Peter Twinn detecting in a Gloucestershire field in 2005. R ight: Peter Twinn excavating
Image: Charles S ainsbu r y- Pl a ce
past horizons 20
A
S er ies o f
For tunate
Events
B y Pe te r Tw i n n
D
u r i n g my ve r y f i r s t te r m at school our histor y class visite d B er keley
Ca s t l e, S o u t h G l o u ce s tershire, in the south east of England. This tr ip
l e f t a n i n d e l i b l e m a r k u pon me, opening the door to an interest in all
thin g s h i s to r i c a l. I l i k e to b e l ieve this exper ience was the star t of a ser ies
of fo r t u n ate e ve nt s t h at e ve ntually awakened in me a ver y real passion for
arch a e o l o g y.
21 past horizons
Berkele y Ca s t l e, S o u t h G l o u ce s te r s h i re, b u i l t c. 1 1 53 AD.
23 past horizons
Trench w i t h i n s i t u de p o s i t s o f p o t te r y a n d b o n e s. Coins of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina II.
Above I n s e t: fra g m e n t s o f u r n i n t h e o u t s i d e e d g e of the ditch.
past horizons 24
f u l l y e x c a v a t e d to a depth of 1m there were everything from metal detecti n g t o f i e l d
n i n e t r a y s o f p ottery dating from the 2nd to walking, geophysics and excava t i o n . A l l t h e
4th centuries. coins found in this area have b e e n s t u d i e d
by Sam Moorhead of the Portabl e A n t i q u i t i e s
T h i s s m a l l e v a luation trench also revealed a Scheme and Phillipa Walton (for h e r P h D ) . T h e
c o m p l e t e R o m an hair pin made from antler, results have been outstanding, re v e a l i n g a 4 t h
t h e r e m a i n s o f a child’s finger ring with a blue century temple site and a possib l e m a r k e t o r
g l a s s i n t a g l i o and what is probably a child habitation site in the vicinity, a n d t h e w i d e r
c r e m a t i o n , b a d ly damaged in the past when landscape may contain a Roma n e s t a t e o r a
t h e d i t c h h a d been recut before finally being small settlement.
filled in.
This series of fortunate events ha s c o m e a b o u t
T h i s i n v e s t i g ation tested all my new by deciding to becoming involve d . O f c o u r s e
k n o w l e d g e t o t he limit, being presented with there is an element of chance to i t a l l b u t t h e r e
r e v e r s e s t r a t i g r aphy, where the earli est finds is nothing to beat joining a club o r a s o c i e t y
a r e f o u n d a b o ve the later. This was due to where you will have the opportu n i t y t o m e e t
t h e b a n k b e s i d e the ditch, which must have likeminded people. These days t h e r e a r e a l s o
c o n t a i n e d t h e Mesolithic flints, being pushed many learning opportunities avai l a b l e f o r a n y
o v e r i n t o t h e d itch once it had been partially age and ability and like me, you w i l l d i s c o v e r
f i l l e d w i t h R o man deposits. Only through the that if you choose that path, ar c h a e o l o g y i s
c a r e f u l r e c o r d i ng of the layers and artefacts guaranteed to add a whole new d i m e n s i o n t o
w a s t h e p r o c e s s understood. your life.
25 past horizons
Above : T h e o p e n h o u s e p rov i d e s a u n i q u e o p p o r t unit y for communit y members and visitors to obser ve and tour the site as
well as i n te ra c t w i t h t h e a rc h a e o l o g y s t u d e n t s.
R ight: Two s t u d e n t s e xca va t i n g a f i re p l a ce a n d h ear th complex during the 2009 field season.
past horizons 26
Fo r t
S t . J o s e ph
Archaeology and Public Outreach
For t St . J o s e p h a n d co n te m p o ra r y
French s e t t l e m e n t s i n t h e We s te r n
Great L a ke s.
O
n a w a r m , c l e a r A u g u st day in
N i l e s , M i c h i g a n , U n i t ed States
o f A m e r i c a , s e v e n hundred
p e o p l e t u r n e d u p t o v i e w t h e ongoing
e x c a v a t i o n s a t F o r t S t . J o s e p h. ‘Open
H o u s e ’ w a s t h e c u l m i n a t i o n of the
s u c c e s s f u l 2 0 0 9 a r c h a e o l o g i cal field
s e a s o n w h i c h s a w s t u d e n t s and staff
m e m b e r s c a l l N i l e s t h e i r h o m e for six
weeks.
27 past horizons
T h e F o r t S t . J oseph Archaeological Project understanding the social makeup o f t h e f o r t ’s
i s c o n d u c t e d u nder the auspices of Western diverse inhabitants through the d i s c o v e r y o f
M i c h i g a n U n i v ersity’s (WMU) Anthropology intact cultural features and artefa c t d e p o s i t s .
D e p a r t m e n t i n Kalamazoo and led by
p r i n c i p a l i n v e s tigator Dr. Michael Nassaney. Excavations in 2009 shifted t h e f o c u s
T h e e x c a v a t i o ns have been ongoing for to determining the temporal a n d s p a t i a l
s e v e n y e a r s a n d have previously centred on relationship of the fort to its s u r r o u n d i n g s
through its structural remains, p o s t h o l e s
and wall trenches and finding ar c h a e o l o g i c a l
evidence for the French construc t i o n m e t h o d
known as poteaux-en-terre (p o s t s i n t h e
ground). Several occupation fe a t u r e s w e r e
positively identified including sh e e t m i d d e n s ,
a sizable stone hearth and fireplac e w i t h c l e a r
evidence of burnt oxidized soil a n d c l a y, a n d
a possible well.
past horizons 28
Above : Yo u n g v i s i to r s to t h e O p e n H o u s e e ve n t can obser ve and
take p a r t i n t h e a rc h a e o l o g y.
R ight : A s u m m e r ca m p e r t r i e s h i s h a n d a t we t - screening during
the fi r s t o f t h re e we e k - l o n g p u b l i c a rc h a e o l o g i cal camps.
Get Invol ve d
There are three summer camps
available in July 2010.
1. Adults
2. H igh school students
3. Teachers
past horizons 30
Past Horizons
a rch aeo lo gy to ol store
where quality matters
stanle y m e a s u ring tapes
to ol r oll s
dr af ting f ilm /per m at r a ce
r ot ring m e ch anic al pencils
he l ix s cal e r uler
japane se pot t ery combs
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t y ve k l abe ls
m a sking tape
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ve rnie r cal liper
7” ru st pr o of a lloy nail
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whs 4” wo od h a ndl ed tr owel
whs 4” s oft handled t r owel
whs m ar gin t r ow el
bat t ife rr o sh ar pened t r owel
t y zack l e af & squa re
t y zack t r owe l & square
s tanl e y br a s s plumb bob
s tanl e y aluminium line le vel
sm al l to ol s set
stanl e y powe rwinder
c hart we l l waterpr oof notebook
c hart we l l surve y book
bl ack n ’ re d notebook s
www.pasthorizons.com/shop
WHS Tyzack
31 past horizons
Stephe n B o o ke r m e a s u re s a co l l a p s e d s e c t i o n o f wall while preparing measured drawings of the Mlinar ’s Cottage.
I m a g e : Ad ve n t ures in Preser vation
past horizons 32
Ma k i n g
Pre s e r vat i o n
Ha p p e n
H e r i t a ge Conse r vation in Sloveni a
B y J a m i e D o n a hoe
S
l o v e n i a i s a s m a l l c o u ntry of natural beauty and abundant
h e r i t a g e . I t s r i c h a n d v a r ied past has inspired a nascent heritage
c o n s e r v a t i o n m o v e m e n t striving to preserve the buildings that
give t h e c o u n t r y i t s d i s t i n c t i v e feel. Working on behalf of Slovenia’s
herit a g e , s e v e r a l k e y p e o p l e h ave sought out international assistance.
One s t r a t e g y h a s b e e n t o e n c o u rage volunteers to participate in hands-
on c o n s e r v a t i o n w o r k a n d A m e rican-based Adventures in Preservation
(AiP ) h a s b e c o m e a s t r o n g p a r t ner in this endeavour.
33 past horizons
Above : J u d i t h B ro e ke r, o n e o f t h e f o u n d e r s o f A i P, work ing to uncover the
orig i n a l p a i n t s c h e m e o f t h e m a n o r h o u s e c h a pel, O plotnica, Slovenia.
R igh t : Vo l u n te e r s m e a s u re t h e d e p t h o f t h e m a sonr y wall at the Mlinar ’s
Cott a g e i n Š m a r t n o o b Pa k i d u r i n g t h e 2 0 0 8 workshop. I m a g e s : Ad ve n t ures in Preser vation
past horizons 34
S l o v e n i a , s o o n to be celebrating 20 years The Mlinar ’s Cottage is even ol d e r t h a n t h e
a s a s o v e r e i g n nation since the demise of Oplotnica manor house, a ston e a n d w o o d
Yu g o s l a v i a , i s working to preserve its history structure initially built around 1 5 4 0 a n d
a n d t o d e v e l o p a strong heritage tourism expanded over the centuries, mos t r e c e n t l y i n
p r o g r a m m e . F ranci saw AiP’s hands-on 1840. Incredibly, it still houses t h e m a s s i v e ,
w o r k s h o p s a s an opportunity to demonstrate hand-made wooden press that w a s u s e d u p
t h e m a n y b e n e fits of preserving a historic until 1970 to make wine and app l e c i d e r, a n d
s i t e , w h e t h e r f inancial, social, economic or stands testament to the region’s l o n g a n d r i c h
educational. wine-growing history and culture .
Trad i t i o n a l fa r m b u i l d i n g s i n a r u ra l S l ove n i a n setting, t ypical of the struc tures Zavod ETNO -EKO is work ing to preser ve.
35 past horizons
I m a g e: Stephen Booker
A Slove n i a n co n s e r va to r ca r r i e s o u t re s to ra t i o n work in the Church of St. Rok , one of the countr y ’s finest examples of
Baroqu e a rc h i te c t u re.
past horizons 36
The in te r i o r o f t h e 1 7 t h ce n t u r y co t t a g e a t B re c l j evo. The restoration of the large traditional Slovenian
stove a n d t h e rep a i r o f wo o d e n f u r n i t u re will be included in the 2010 workshop tasks.
G e t I nvo l ve d
Th e wo r k s h o p ‘Co t t a g e I n d u s t r y : S av i n g S l ove n i a’s
A rc h i te c t u ra l a n d E t h n o l o gi c a l H e r i t a g e’ w i l l b e h e l d
i n B re c l j e vo at a 1 7 t h ce nt u r y co t t a g e w hi c h i s i n n e e d
o f b o t h s t r u c t u ra l re p a i r s a n d i nte r i o r re s to rat i o n . Th i s
i n c l u d e s t h e l a rg e S l ove n i a n s tove a n d t h e re p a i r o f i te m s
o f wo o d e n f u r n i t u re.
D ate s : 2 2 Au g u s t - 4 S e p te m b e r 2 0 1 0 .
Fe e : $ 2 1 5 0 fo r o n e we e k a n d $ 3 1 0 0 fo r t wo we e k s w h i c h
cove r s l o d gi n g, m o s t m e a l s, f i e l d t r i p s, p ro j e c t m ate r i a l s
a n d i n s u ra n ce.
37 past horizons
Prepare f o r A c ti o n
Fi e l d s k i l l s ex p e r t D o m i n i c H a l l p rov i d e s d ow n-to - ear th,
h a n d s - o n p ra c t i c a l t ra i n i n g fo r a l l t y p e s o f expeditions.
H i s a d v i ce h e l p s to c re ate a s a fe r e nv i ronment for
a d ve nt u re t rave l l e r s, i n c l u d i n g a rc h a e o l o g i s t s. B elow he
s h a re s s o m e t i p s fo r a s u cce s s f u l t r i p.
A
r c h a e o l ogists certainly get about, Taking a leap from the romantic b a c k t o t h e
e x p l o r i ng the modern world every practical, travelling in remote r e g i o n s i s
b i t a s much as they explore the past. not without its dangers. The jun g l e c o n t a i n s
W h i l s t R a i d e r s of the Lost Ark has perhaps poisonous snakes and deadly ma l a r i a w h i l s t
g o n e s o m e w h a t too far in creating an image of desert conditions produce seari n g h e a t a n d
t h e w i l d , a d v e nturous archaeologist, there is disorientation. Mountain altitude a n d c o l d c a n
n o d o u b t t h a t a r chaeology as a subject can take cause many problems if proper pre c a u t i o n s a r e
y o u t o w i l d a n d pretty inhospitable parts of not taken and good training is i n v a l u a b l e t o
t h e w o r l d . A s p roviders of expedition support counteract these issues. After all a n a d v e n t u r e
a n d t r a i n i n g we are constantly approached is only worthwhile when you com e b a c k s a f e l y
b y c o m p a n i e s , universities and individuals and get to recount your story.
r e q u i r i n g o u r h elp to get out into remote and
c h a l l e n g i n g p l a ces, and archaeology is often In April 2007 BSI British Standar d s p u b l i s h e d
t h e r e a s o n w h y. its specification for the provisio n o f v i s i t s ,
fieldwork, expeditions and a d v e n t u r o u s
O f c o u r s e t h i s is one of the attractions of the activities outside the United K i n g d o m .
d i s c ip l i n e , t h e lure of the fabulous location Developed in response to increa s i n g c a l l s t o
a n d t h e d i s c o v ery. As a non archaeologist an make overseas adventure activit i e s s a f e r, i t
e x p e r i e n c e I w ill treasure forever happened outlines requirements that shoul d b e m e t b y
o n m y f i r s t t a ste of expedition travel back organisers of such trips. This can r a n g e f r o m
i n 1 9 9 9 . I w a s taken to the Mayan site of a school day trip to France to th e s c a l i n g o f
C a r a c o l , B e l i z e , by the father of the family I mountain peaks. With such a bro a d r a n g e t o
w a s s t a y i n g w i t h. Myself and two friends were cover this has had inevitable di ff i c u l t i e s i n
l e d a r o u n d s m a ll caves and burials sites that the preparation, but nonetheless t h e r e a r e n o w
v e r y f e w p e o p l e ever get to see,and it filled some very clear guidelines for s a f e r t r a v e l .
m e w i t h a s e n se of wonder and privilege at The aim is to enjoy the adventure b u t t o e n s u r e
b e i n g g i v e n a c cess to these special places. that the participants do not come t o h a r m .
Dominic’s e x p e d i ti o n ti p s:
1. Pre - p l a nning
S o much of expedition and fieldwork saf e t y i s d r i v e n b y a d v a n c e p l a n n i n g w h i c h c a n f e e l l i k e a w a s t e
o f t i me when you have other things to a r r a n g e . M o r e o f t e n t h a n n o t e v e r y t h i n g r u n s t o p l a n a n d y o u
m i g ht resent the time you feel that you h a v e s p e n t o n i t , b u t o n t h o s e r a r e o c c a s i o n s th a t s o m e t h i n g
d o e s go wrong p re-planning is worth its w e i g h t i n g o l d .
2. A s s e s s t he risks
M o s t people take a sharp intake of breath a t t h e t h o u g h t o f r i s k a s s e s s m e n t . I t i s n o t j u s t a b o u t f i l l i n g
o u t a form; risk assessment is a process o f t h o u g h t a n d d i s c u s s i o n c o n c e r n i n g p o t e n t i a l d a n g e r s a n d
c o m ing up with mitigation strategies. T h i s p r o c e s s s h o u l d c o n t i n u e e v e n w h e n o u t i n t h e f i e l d a s i t
i s t h e dynamic a ssessment of risk that k e e p s p e o p l e s a f e .
past horizons 38
Be Prepared
Fi e l d s k i l l s Ltd. i s a U K- b a s e d
ex p e d i t i o n t ra i n i n g co m p a ny
p rov i d i n g a w i d e ra n g e
o f co u r s e s fo r a d ve nt u re
t rave l l e r s, re s e a rc h e r s, s t u d e nt s
a n d ex p e d i t i o n l e a d e r s.
Fo r m o re d e t a i l s o n th e s e l e c t i o n
o f co u r s e s ava i l a b l e g o to :
Studen t s c ro s s i n g a j u n g l e r i ve r i n t h e C ro c ke r N a tional Park , Borneo.
ht t p : / / w w w. f i e l d s k i l l s. com
4. E n j oy i t
T h e whole reason to carry out pre-planni n g i s t o e n s u r e y o u h a v e a g r e a t t i m e . I t s h o u l d n o t s t o p y o u
f r o m doing the things you want to do b u t i s t h e r e t o e n a b l e y o u t o p a r t i c i p a t e w i t h c o n f i d e n c e a n d
s a f e t y.
39 past horizons
Di g I n
A se l e c t i o n o f a r c h a e o l o g i cal and
con s e r v a t i o n p r o j e c t s a r o u nd the world
G re e ce - Th e Helike Projec t
In the winter of 373/372 BC, a violent earthquake struck the southwest shore of the Gulf of
Corinth and destroyed and submerged the Classical city of Helike. The rediscovery of the city
has remained a goal of many archaeologists ever since and as part of this objective, the main
focus of future fieldwork will be archaeological excavation of the Hellenistic, Classical, Early
Bronze and Late Bronze Age sites discovered in recent years. Bore hole drilling and geological
trenching will be used to investigate the geographic evolution of the area.
Email: eliki@otenet.gr
Web: http ://www.helikeproject.gr
This excavation site is in a quiet residential area with views over the River Tyne and the North
Sea. Over 11 years, Earthwatch teams have helped map over 1000 square metres of pre-Roman
and Roman settlement here, excavating jewellery, armour, gaming pieces, and ceramics.
Less than four miles from Hadrian’s Wall, Arbeia, the Roman fort overlooking the river and
har bour from Lawe Top, became part of one of the largest and busiest supply depots in the
nor thern Roman Empire.
Contact: info@earthwatch.org.u k
Web: http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/exped/bidwell.html
The ancient city of Hippos-Sussita is located on the east shore of the Sea of Galilee on the
top of a flat, diamond-shaped mountain, 350m above the lake. City and mountain are almost
entirely isolated from their surroundings with just a narrow ‘saddle’ bridge leading towards
the western slopes of the Golan Heights. The objective of the expedition is to uncover the
entire ancient city, the street network, the main public secular and religious buildings, and the
domestic quarters.
Contact: hippos@research.haifa.ac.il
Web: http://hippos.haifa.ac.il
past horizons 40
G e r m a ny - M e diaeval Cathedral Excavation
For the past seven years Grampus Heritage groups have joined the excavations in the city of
Magdeburg. Working alongside field archaeologists from the Landesamt fur Archaeologie Sachsen
Anhalt, participants were able to develop key skills related to archaeological excavation in the
urban environment. The 2010 placement in Germany will once again offer participants the chance
to work on the Mediaeval cathedral located in the centre of Magdeburg.
Contact: enquiries@grampusheritage.co.uk
Web: http://www.grampusheritage.co.uk/EASE%20Germany.htm
Excavations at the hilltop fort of Cambustica have revealed a classic model of Roman defensive
architecture. The walls of the rhomboid-shaped fort were massive, with stone foundations
measuring over six feet high and five feet wide. Students can learn systematic survey and
stratigraphic excavation techniques, including mapping of excavated features. The training
will also include plan and section drawing, archaeological drafting, laboratory processing and
documentation of excavated material.
Contact: info@archbg.ne t
Web: http:/ /cambustica.archbg.net
The City of Sanisera was occupied from 123 B.C. to A.D. 550 and flourished d ue to the heavy
maritime commercial industry that received boats going from Spain to Italy and from France to
Africa. Participants in the field school will learn and apply excavation techniques used when
excavating tombs and in the laboratory will follow guidelines for the classification, study and
conservation of human remains and other related material.
Contact: archaeology@ecomuseodecavalleria.com
Web: http:/ /www.ecomuseodecavalleria.com
A project aimed at restoring some of the historic ‘shotgun’ houses of Cairo, Illinois, for
quality affordable housing. The Shotgun Preservation Project includes some of a few
hundred houses being evaluated for inclusion in the Cairo Historic district and listing on
the National Register of Historic Places. This coalition of the National Register and the
Shotgun project will continue to work together in 2010 and hopes to provide a spark to
increase business and tourism, and even attract new residents to the hist oric town.
Contact: info@adventuresinpreservation.org
Web: http://www.heritageconservation.net/ws-cairo-2010.htm
To s ee more projec ts go to: http://w w w. p a s t h o r i zo n s. co m / Wo r l d Pro j e c t s
41 past horizons
Recipes for Archaeologists
Co o k i n g i n t h e D e s e r t C h i l l
Most of my cooking for archaeologists When everyone came in f r o m t h e f i e l d
has happened in the Mediterranean at sunset after walking m a n y c h i l l y,
Annie Evans and Europe in boili ng hot summers, dusty and windy kilome t r e s , I h a d a
The Dig Cook so a mid-winter expedition in inland steaming pot of soup and h o m e - m a d e
Australia required a very different bread ready for them.
approach.
I have cooked many type s o f f o o d f o r
The location was Lake Mungo, a desert very diverse groups of p e o p l e . I ’ v e
region in central Au stralia. Mungo is done plenty of catering f o r p a r t i e s
a World Heritage area consisting of a where the food provide d h a d t o b e
series of long dried-up lakes, and is the latest fashionable f i n g e r f o o d
a place where Aborigines have lived for people who aren’t r e a l l y h u n g r y
on the shores of the lakes over many and don’t even notice w h a t t h e y a r e
thousands of years. eating. It’s never like th a t o n a d i g .
The cook really feels app r e c i a t e d .
This is a wide-open, flat landscape of
spectacular beauty and never-ending Archaeology, from my o b s e r v a t i o n s ,
sky. There are very few lights and is very tiring, dirty an d p h y s i c a l l y
the stars are amazingly bright, like taxing work and archae o l o g i s t s a r e
diamonds scattered on a black velvet a hungry and appreciativ e l o t . T h e y
backdrop. make my job, which is a l s o h a r d a n d
tiring at times, very rew a r d i n g .
We stayed on a former sheep station
that is now part of the National Park The following recipe is a b i g h e a r t y,
and slept in the old and very draughty healthy and yummy s o u p , v e r y
shearers’ quarters. I worked in the warming and comforti n g a f t e r a
original kitchen where the shearers’ hard day in the field. It i s b a s i c a l l y
cook would have made damper (an a minestrone with the a d d i t i o n o f a
unleavened bread substitute) and bolognaise sauce. This i s a o n e - p o t
cooked lamb in eve ry way possible. meal when you add eithe r h o m e - m a d e
Back in those days it would have been bread or some good lo c a l b r e a d i f
meat and two veg for almost every available.
meal. Good, but very plain fare.
You can substitute m a n y o f t h e
It was mid-winter and very cold when vegetables and herbs w i t h w h a t i s
the sun went down so I made lots of available in the area w h e r e y o u a r e
‘comfort’ food – slow cooked, rich cooking. I have used h o r t a ( w i l d
casseroles that simmered away on the greens) in Greece and th e r e a r e m a n y
old Aga stove for hours. For dessert, varieties of sweet potatoe s . Yo u c o u l d
rice pudding, fruit crumbles, apple also include pasta, rice , n o o d l e s o r
pies and bread and butter pudding lentils in this soup.
were very popular.
The Dig Cook’s website
http://www.digcook.com
past horizons 42
Annie’s B e e f a n d To m ato M i n e s t ro n e
S o u p I n g r e d i e n ts (for 10 people)
B o l o g n a i s e S a u ce (make first)
B o l o g n a i s e M e t hod
Soup Method
h t t p : / / w w w. s u ssex.ac.uk/cce/1-2-23 -40-1.html
P r i c e s f r o m £ 36
h t t p : / / w w w. b r istol.ac.uk/archanth/continuing/shortcourses
P r i c e s f r o m £ 42 (full)/£21 (concession)
h t t p : / / w w w. b bk.ac.uk/study/ce/arch aeology/awards/XSCAR001.html
h t t p : / / a w a r d b earing.conted.ox.ac.uk/archaeology/HistoricEnvironment.php
h t t p : / / w w w. a chill-fieldschool.com/specialist-courses
past horizons 44
V i e wpoint
S t a n d a rds, what standards?
C
ommercial archaeology appears t o b e short courses available (see page 44) which may
running headlong into the aby s s . T h e be suitable for obtaining some of the necessary
boom time of the previous years s a w m a n y skills and although I would recommend them as
c o m mercial companies offer work to peo p l e w h o a means to get some form of structured training,
h a d no specific ability or any real expe r i e n c e i n it is obviously a commitment in time and money
f i e l d work. As a result, standards have d e c l i n e d that many people just do not have in this already
n o t i c eably even at basic levels and the i n d u s t r y, p o o r l y p a i d i n d u s t r y.
n o w in crisis, is being forced to admit t h a t t h e
l a c k of any formalised system of skills tr a i n i n g i s When I was a regular face on the digging circuit
b e c o ming a real issue that needs to be ad d r e s s e d . in the eighties and early nineties archaeology was
b e g i n n i n g t o m o v e i n t o t h e c o m m e r c i a l s e c t o r. A t
I t i s essential to the future health o f f i e l d t h a t t i m e , h o w e v e r, w e d i d n o t o c c u p y t h e c u t -
a r c h a eology that key skills, identified b y t h e throat world of competitive tendering to the extent
U n i t ed Kingdom National Occupational St a n d a r d s , w e d o n o w. A l t h o u g h s t i l l w o r k i n g t o d e a d l i n e s w e
b e c o me formally standardised. When a p p l y i n g were able to hone our skills within the workplace.
f o r a job it should be entirely possible t o s h o w a Some of us had no archaeological qualifications
p o t e ntial employer a set of qualification s w h i c h w h e n e n t e r i n g t h e p r o f e s s i o n b u t le a r n e d i n t h e
a r e r ecognised as an industry standard. A l t h o u g h field from those with more experience. Nowadays
t h i s is already available in the UK as a N a t i o n a l a person cannot really expect to learn in this way
Vo c a tional Qualification, the cost of sign i n g u p t o because commercial work has neither the time nor
t h i s i s more than most people can afford a n d h a s the space to allow this to happen.
r e s u l ted in very little uptake.
There has to be some way out of the situation
C u r r ently, a major problem is a lack of con s i s t e n c y we have so quickly found ourselves in. Do
i n t r aining. So me universities, who, i t c o u l d we really want to be ‘temporal contamination
b e a rgued, shoul d be teaching field ski l l s t o a n engineers’, skilled in the task of cleaning up a
i n d u stry standard feel it is either not t h e i r r o l e site for the developer but lacking the skills of a
o r h ave little id ea of the needs of com m e r c i a l g o o d a r c h a e o l o g i s t ? F o r m e t h e c h o i c e i s e a s y,
a r c h a eology. A graduate should expect to b e a b l e I know the direction I would choose and it is
t o p r ove to an employer that they have a c h i e v e d d e f i n i t e l y n o t t h e f o r m e r. I a m , t o m y v e r y c o r e ,
r e c o gnised skills , otherwise what is the p o i n t o f an archaeologist.
t h e i r education? As there are simply no t e n o u g h
r e s e a rch posts to go around the only ot h e r l a rg e If as an industry we really want to move forward
e m p l oyer of archaeology graduates is w i t h i n t h e there is a need to formalise the teaching of
c o m mercial sector, so it would make sen s e t o t r y skills before our working life starts, then allow
t o a t least fulfil some of its needs. for continued growth within the workplace.
Embarking on this process will not be without
I n P oland, for ex ample, a student needs t o o b t a i n teething troubles but we desperately need to do
o n e year ’s work experience in the fiel d b e f o r e something to improve standards. If we achieve
r e c e i ving their degree. However, here in t h e U K , a this goal we can begin to justify calling ourselves
s t u d e nt need only achieve on average six t o e i g h t professionals and maybe then we will enjoy the
w e e k s of experie nce through the non-com m e r c i a l benefits that we have denied ourselves for so
e n v i r onment of the field school. There a r e s o m e long.
David Connolly is the direc tor of Br itish Archaeological Jobs and R esources (BA JR)
Web: http://w w w.bajr.org
45 past horizons
Back Pages - Comedy Videos
A s e l e c t i o n o f classic comedy videos on the subjec t of archaeology for your en j oy m e nt .
To watc h m o re go to http://w w w.pasthor izons.t v/t v
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