Past HorizonsOnline Journal of Volunteer Archaeology and Training

Adriatic Archaeology

The Archaeology of the battle of culloden

Issue 2 : May 2008 Issue 3 : July 2008

the towers of ras al-khaimah

Frontier Postings Albanian Opportunities Jerusalem Heritage Zone

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18 Towers of Ras al-KhaimahArchaeology can be an adventure. David Connolly recounts a survey of defensive structures in the UAE.

88 Cres: Island of the Griffon VultureAn Adriatic island starts to reveal a multi-layered landscape where man and vulture co-exist.

Volume 1 : No. 3July 2008

Editors: Felicity Donohoe & Maggie StruckmeierLayout: David Connolly

Past HorizonsTraprain HouseLuggate BurnHaddingtonEast LothianEH41 4QA

Tel: +44 (0)1620 861643 Email: editor@pasthorizons.comFind us on the web: www.pasthorizons.com

Contributors: Dr Richard GoddardLorna RichardsonDerek KennetJamie DonahoeKatie JohnsonMeg Sullivan Edward North-Hager

Additional Material: Goran SusicDan Linwoodwww.fl ickr.com/photos/danlinwoodMatthew Haswellwww.pbase.com/xerius/gjirokastra 8Brian Neginwww.fl ickr.com/photos/bdneginJames Emerywww.fl ickr.com/photos/emeryjl

Front Cover: Mudbrick Tower on the Shimal Plain, UAE(credit: David Connolly)

NotePast 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 benefi t to you, the project and the team.

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5 Editorial

6 News Recent news stories from around the world.

17 ViewpointDavid Connolly considers a holistic approach to archaeology and public interaction.

39 Dig in...A selection of volunteer projects around the world from the Past Horizons website.

36 Dig CookAnnie Evans on culinary escapades, with a delicious recipe each issue.

38 Profi leWe interview Lorna Richardson, outreach offi cer for L - P Archaeology.

40 ScribeYour news, views, comments and criticisms.

41 Fun PageHave a break.

Regulars

28 Archaeologists make historyA new agreement is signed by Israeli and Palestinian archaeologists that offers hope for future co-operation.

32 Prescot StreetL - P Archaeology, a London based company lead the way in mixing commercial with community.

14 Fort GarlandWhen excavation, research and re-enactment come together to tell the story of a Colorado frontier fort.

24 AlbaniaA look at three volunteer heritage projects that are currently operating alongside the Albanian National Trust.

Contents

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Expert-ledArchaeological Tours

thatgetyou

closer to the past

Ring for further details, or visit our website...01722 713800 - tours@andantetravels.co.uk - www.andantetravels.co.uk

One of the conservators in the lab at Pompeii shows us acast of one of the victims of the disaster 2000 years ago

past horizons digital magazine:Layout 1 11/7/08 15:35 Page 1

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Editorial

A busy time

It has been a bit of a race to the fi nishing post to complete this issue of the magazine as we have been away in Croatia for the last few weeks. David has also been re-vamping the Past Horizons website, which has taken up a lot of his time. He always tries to stretch technology just a little bit further and I think that you might like the new look.

Croatia was very interesting and turned into an unexpected busman’s holiday. We thought we were going to help rebuild walls on the island of Cres and ended up looking at the archaeology with a view to going back next year to survey the area. It is very diffi cult to explain why the landscape is so special but for us, walking in the forests, meadows and deserted villages with their sink holes, tombs and communal ponds, there was a sense that this place was defi nitely worth the effort.

Yesterday, we carried on the project at Cousland clearing around a 17/18th century ruined windmill. When we got there Sheena had spotted an extremely cute young tawny owl perched on the ledge of the structure we were about to work on. It seemed half asleep, opened one eye but made no attempt to move. Luckily for us, two men from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Lothian Ringing Group were in the area, so they came and rescued it. We had plenty of volunteers and made a lot of progress clearing away ivy and vegetation to reveal the extent of the windmill. Unfortunately, heavy rain stopped play by late afternoon, but we went home very happy with our day’s work.

Most of you by this time will have seen the new Indiana Jones fi lm. David insisted that we go on the fi rst day of its release here in the UK. It has had very mixed reviews so far but I must say that I quite enjoyed it. By the way, Skara Brae is not off the west coast of Scotland as Professor Jones told his students in the fi lm, and as a Scot I do feel the need to point this out. See the Past Horizons fi lm review on page 41.

David and I are now gearing up for a month’s archaeological survey of the Jerash hinterland, Jordan, in September. We are really looking forward to getting back to the survey as it’s been two years since we were there, and if all goes well we will be spending the fi nal week in Syria. This means we’ll be working hard to fi nish up September’s Past Horizons ahead of schedule so if you have any gripes, comments or complaints you want included in the magazine, get them to us by mid August.

Maggie StruckmeierMaggie Struckmeier

editor@pasthorizons.com

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This special exhibition will explore the life, love and legacy of Rome’s most enigmatic emperor, Hadrian (reigned AD 117–138).

Ruling an empire that comprised much of Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East, Hadrian was a capable and, at times, ruthless military leader. He realigned borders and quashed revolt, stabilising a territory critically overstretched by his predecessor, Trajan.

Hadrian had a great passion for architecture and Greek culture. His extensive building programme included the Pantheon in Rome, his villa in Tivoli and the city of Antinoopolis, which he founded and named after his male lover Antinous.

This unprecedented exhibition will provide fresh insight into the sharp contradictions of Hadrian’s character and challenges faced during his reign.

Objects from 28 museums worldwide and fi nds from recent excavations will be shown together for the fi rst time to reassess his legacy, which remains strikingly relevant today.

24 July - 26 October 2008Reading Room

Admission £12 plus a range of concessions.Book tickets online or by telephone +44 (0)20 7323 8181http://www.britishmuseum.org

An accompanying book, Hadrian: Empire and Confl ict, by exhibition curator Thorsten Opper will be published by British Museum press.Available from June 2008, priced £25 paperback, £40 hardback.

NE

WS Hadrian: Empire and Conflict

Exhibition overview at the British Museum

British Museum video

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Ancient Australia not written in stone“Has the life of Australia’s Aborigines remained unchanged for 45,000 years? A new approach to archaeology challenges us to rethink prehistory.”Read Full Story: http://tinyurl.com/5hwv85 (ABC News)

Wet weather turns Cerne Abbas chalk giant into invisible man“The famous Cerne Abbas giant appears to be fading from view as his modesty - and every-thing else besides - is covered by grass.”Read Full Story: http://tinyurl.com/6eyarz (London Evening Standard)

Parsagadae and Mausoleum of Cyrus the Great in danger of destruction“Cracks have started to appear on the stonework of the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great in the historical site of Parsagadae, thanks to an all-time high level of humidity.”Read Full Story: http://tinyurl.com/6qon7c (Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies)

Researchers open secret cave under Mexican pyramid “Archaeologists are now revisiting a cave system that is buried 20 feet beneath the towering Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan near Mexico City.”Read Full Story: http://tinyurl.com/6qmtye (Reuters/Yahoo News)

Kettle Creek dig providing new insights into 1779 battle“An archaeological dig in Wilkes County has opened a 229-year-old window to one of the piv-otal points in the early years of the American Revolutionary War.”Read Full Story: http://tinyurl.com/5mtqqm (The Florida Times-Union)

Magnetic fi elds used to date Indian artefacts“You might be surprised what you can learn from a campfi re. A campfi re that has been cold for, say, 300 years.”Read Full Story: http://tinyurl.com/65j89j (The Wichita Eagle)

New research refutes myth of pure Scandinavian race“Human beings were as genetically diverse 2000 years ago as they are today and indicate greater mobility among Iron Age populations than was previously thought.”Read Full Story: http://tinyurl.com/5l3wdo (University of Copenhagen)

For more news stories that are updated constantly, try:Past Horizons News Blog: http://pasthorizons.wordpress.com/category/news-and-articles Stonepages Weekly News and Podcast: http://www.stonepages.com/news CBA Archaeology News Feed: http://www.britarch.ac.uk/newsfeed

Small FindsSmall Finds You can follow a direct link to a website where you see this symbol:

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In the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Croatia lies the Island of Cres (pronounced Tres). Only 42km long and in places only 1km wide, this unique island is

home to many archaeological treasures, and contains amazing bio-diversity with more plant species than the whole of the UK, several of which are found exclusively on Cres.

The north of the island is known as Tramuntana, and on its rocky sea cliffs nest most of the surviving Eurasian Griffon vulture population. This magnifi cent bird, with a huge three-metre wingspan, has witnessed every period of human occupation of this area, and has been rescued from the brink of extinction by the work of an eco-centre near the picturesque hilltop village of Beli.

Past Horizons was intrigued to explore the connection

between the Griffon vulture and the ever-evolving landscape as it has changed through human intervention. Goran Susic, an ornithologist and founder of the eco-centre, asked us if we could carry out a survey of the surrounding archaeological features, and soon we came to realise that this near unexplored (archaeologically) island has an incredible depth of potential, with recognisable sites stretching from at least the Bronze Age to the present.

Before the fl ooding of the Adriatic region around 20,000 years ago Cres was a long limestone ridge overlooking a wide valley. There are several known caves on the island, and recently brown bear bones were recovered from one, as well as some Iron Age pottery. Evidence from similar sites in the region have shown that careful examination may locate Palaeolithic occupation and

Cres:

Text and images by david connolly & Maggie Struckmeier Text and images bydavid connolly & Maggie

The village of Beli

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these early inhabitants would have shared the cliffs with the Griffon vulture. By the time the fi rst farmers settled in Cres the wide valley would have long been fl ooded, becoming the Adriatic Sea, with the limestone ridge now dramatic sea cliffs.

Due to the nature of the landscape most of the monuments are of stone construction. During our initial investigations it became possible to disentangle the confusing network of walls, structures and natural features into recognisable types and patterns. There is clear evidence that each new period either re-used or respected the previous constructions. Inserted within a wall in Beli, for example, was a stone bearing a cup-and-ring and boss-and-ring motif that bore striking resemblance to Bronze Age ceramics found on mainland Croatia. We started to notice possible tombs from this period, including an unusual one in the shape of a heart, and aerial photographs showed the exciting possibility of an excarnation site where humans and the Griffon vulture may have been ritually linked, though this hypothesis requires further examination. An intriguing arrow-shaped settlement might also date to this pre-historic period.

Cres was already settled by the sea-faring Liburnians before 400BC, though a local legend claims that the village of Beli was named after a Celtic king. In the 1st century AD after the conquest by the Roman Emperor Tiberius, this area of Cres was renamed Caput Insulae (Head of the Island). The village of Beli with its harbour below was converted into a military garrison and a

network of Roman roads, including the only surviving Roman bridge in the eastern Adriatic, were constructed. It is still possible to walk these 2000-year-old roads even now. Seemingly contemporary with the roads are thousands of narrow terraces that cover the steep slopes of Cres, designed to hold rows of olive trees for the large-scale production of olive oil. It is entirely possible that some of the present olive trees date from that time.

The next major phase of land use came with the Venetians during the mediaeval period, the landscape planted with vast oak forests to provide wood for their navy. Strict laws regulated everything from the number of pigs allowed in the forest to the access for sheep, to

Cres: island of the griffon vulture

Stone terraces and enclosures

Heart shaped tomb?

Griffon Vulture (credit: Dan Linwood)

continued

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communal water supplies in the form of large circular ponds. It is not exactly known when these ponds were constructed and there is a series of large stone-lined wells near Beli which are said to have been built by the Romans. Water is extremely scarce and there is much evidence of a carefully planned water management system in the shape of channels feeding into cisterns throughout the island. Areas not used for forestry were given over to pasture land for sheep and cattle, and another regional feature was also exploited; the sink hole. These collapsed limestone caverns form huge circular craters along the lines of underground rivers, and their flat bases were used to grow vegetables until very recently.

When the Austro-Hungarians took over the Island in the 18th century they continued with the forestry exploitation and later began to mine for bauxite in open cast pits. These industrial operations sat alongside the long-established farming practices of sheep and olives. The Griffon vulture was a useful, if unwitting, ally to the farmer as it cleansed the landscape of dead sheep, which protected flocks from potential disease. Finally, after enduring the occupation and eventual retreat of the Italian fascists, at the end of the Second World War people fearing what the future might bring started to

Recording a Roman road (Inset: Roman single arch bridge)

Left: Low wall with rock-cut bowl at terminus

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leave their farms and villages, many of which may have their origins in pre-history. As the people left, the sheep population declined dramatically to only 10,000 and, added to modern farming practices of injection against disease, this has resulted in a lack of carrion for the vulture.

However, the work of the eco-centre has seen the Griffon vulture population increase from 20 pairs 10 years ago to 70 pairs today. They work with the sheep farmers and, assisted by volunteers, help maintain the walls and clean out the ponds. The centre also saves young vultures from drowning after tourists in boats scare them into flight and, out of exhaustion, drop into the sea. The birds sometimes suffer poisoning and shooting, and if still alive are taken to the centre for rehabilitation before being set free again. This, however, may not be enough to protect this incredible bird. This area of the island desperately needs legal protection from hunters who have already destroyed a large section of the Roman road and knocked down ancient walls to allow for vehicle access. Developers are also starting to express interest in the

Above: A complex relationship of walls, terraces and cairnsBelow: One of four Roman wells near Beli

continued

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Roman olive tree terraces area for house building and golf courses. Our brief examination of the area showed us a wealth of unexplored archaeology and introduced us to a beautiful and bio-diverse landscape. A further project to investigate further has now been agreed and will take place in spring/summer 2009, with the intention of both highlighting the incredible archaeology waiting to be discovered and providing supporting evidence for the unique nature of this island. The Griffon vulture has witnessed all periods of human presence on Cres and with a bit of help will still be there to witness the future.

The Croatian government needs to recognise the importance of Tramuntana and will have to act soon to protect this fragile and internationally important landscape.

Unusual ‘arrowhead’ settlement (highlighted) with later terraces. Photographs: Goran Susic

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Get InvolvedEko-centar Caput Insulae-Beli (ECCIB) is a non-profi t, NGO founded in 1993. Its aims are to protect the endangered Eurasian Griffon Vulture as well as the natural resources and the cultural and historical heritage of Cres Island.

From its foundation, ECCIB has been running different programmes to help volunteers, schoolchildren and the public acquire knowledge they can then apply to their own environment.

The volunteer action projects run from the period of 15th January until 15th December.

The minimum period for volunteering is seven days, and you can fi nd yourself on any of the following activities:

1. PROTECTION OF THE EURASIAN GRIFFONS2. REBUILDING DRYSTONE WALLS 3. CLEANING FRESHWATER PONDS4. MANAGING THE ECO-TRAILS5. WORKING IN THE INTERPRETATION CENTRE6. HELPING LOCAL FARMERS7. LOOKING AFTER THE RESCUED VULTURES IN THE CENTRE

Find out more from their website, and consider a holiday with a difference.www.supovi.hr/english/index.php

Eurasian Griffon Vulture in the wild Caring for the sheep Volunteers with school children

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Kit Carson, The Buffalo Soldiers, the Battle of Glorieta Pass, the Ute Campaign of 1879: these are the topics that are of interest to the visitor who arrives at

the Fort Garland Museum in Southern Colorado. While all of these are important topics that relate to the history of this frontier post, they are secondary to the focus of the 20 students and half dozen volunteers that make up the crew of the Fort Garland Archaeology Field School run by Adams State College for six weeks every summer. It is the minutiae of everyday life at a frontier outpost that grabs their attention.

words & pictures by Dr. richard goddard

Kit Carson Fort Garland Buffalo Soldier

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In 1852, the U.S. government established Fort Massachusetts in Colorado’s San Luis Valley to control raids on local settlers by Ute Indians. However, its location proved unsatisfactory and in 1858 Fort Garland was established which continued as an important frontier outpost until 1883. After the abandonment of the fort, the San Luis Valley was largely bypassed by modern development and the remains of the old fort became forgotten. The result of this benign neglect is that the fort contains a rich archaeological record of daily life on the frontier.

The questions that our archaeological project are trying to answer include:

How many women and children were here? Did Victorian values survive on the frontier? Can we see evidence of the African-American ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ in the archaeological record? What were living conditions really like? What were relations like between the garrison and the local, predominantly Hispanic, population that had only recently been part of Mexico?

Fort Garland is lucky to have an active group of historical re-enactors in the area, and the fi eld school works closely with them. They are often the fi rst people we turn to when it comes to investigating problem artefacts as they have conducted excellent research into the periods they portray. Throughout the duration of the fi eld school, groups of re-enactors arrive and provide the students with hands-on experiences of living in the past using artefacts they may recognise from the excavation.

It is the minutiae of every day life at a frontier outpost that grabs their attention.

a re-enactor explains to visitors about life at the fort

continued

the re-enactors fi re cannons

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After attending these demonstrations, students have a greater understanding of life in the past and are then able to make better interpretations of what they are uncovering. Connecting archaeological excavation with re-enactment is a valuable teaching resource to place objects into context.

The process of historical archaeology can be different from traditional North American prehistoric archaeology as in addition to the excavated material, there are also rich documentary sources and oral history records that can be consulted. The archaeological investigation can often provide solid evidence for many of our questions, but more often than not it presents us with even more questions.

By cross referencing the various sources of information it is possible to build a clearer picture of real life at this outpost. An example came in 2006, when the team encountered a rubbish dump near the stables, which contained dateable material from the late 1870s. Many of the artefacts were unexpectedly of a feminine nature and given that the historical record showed an increased military presence at the fort during the Ute Campaign of 1879, the conclusion was that wives and camp followers, such as laundry women, were probably relocating to the fort along with the troops. Further investigation of railroad records showed a probable reason for the ease with which the women made the journey to Fort Garland; in 1878 a railway line had just been completed, making transport for women in hostile territories safer and faster.

By excavation, artefact recognition and documentary analysis, a window on the past can be opened. Connecting re-enactment and archaeology allows for gaps to be fi lled, and there is plenty more to be discovered on this fascinating project. The answers we are looking for will come from this multi-disciplinary approach and with each season we are building a clearer picture of life on the frontier.

Demonstration of metalworking within the fort

Archaeology starts at any age

Adams State College offers training under the direction of Dr. Goddard in the basic techniques of prehistoric and historical archaeology. Volunteers and casual visitors are welcome without charge, and where possible will be allowed to participate in fi eld school activities. www2.adams.edu/academics/fi eldschool/

Sorting trash

fort garland field school

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VIEWPOINTVIEWPOINT

Recently, the concept of a ‘holistic’ approach to archaeology seems to be appearing on an ever-increasing scale, or perhaps it was always there and I am just becoming more aware of it.

This holistic approach looks beyond the traditional boundaries of archaeology and stands up and reaches out of the trench, talks to the tourist and the local, views the wider landscape, appreciates the wildlife, listens to stories and acknowledges cultural heritage.

The basic interpretation of holistic is one that emphasizes the importance of the whole and the interdependence of the various parts, and there is no escaping the ‘human’ angle of archaeology when it deals with mental, emotional, spiritual, physical and social factors. It then becomes a part of society itself rather than working in isolation.

Two recent ventures that I have been involved in have taken this holistic approach. The Griffon Vulture Project on the Croatian Island of Cres asked us to survey an area that clearly had an abundance of archaeology, but it was also an area of natural beauty, bio-diversity, and a working landscape (see Page 8). Each element carried its own weight, and in this particular case, none had prominence over the other.

It was interesting to talk with the project director, Goran Susic, and see his obvious passion for this diverse approach. I was, for the fi rst time, able to scientifi cally survey a mediaeval farmstead and prehistoric tomb complex, while simultaneously appreciating the mist seeping through the oak forest and the rare orchids growing by the roadside, as well as the Roman road itself. It seemed natural to both record the complex relationships between walls, tracks and settlements while a farmer called his sheep to feed in the same landscape. In this way, it was possible to see how each aspect was individually important, while forming part of what can be described as the total experience. In this instance archaeology will be part of the visitors’ interaction with the landscape as a whole, rather than being the sole attraction.

The Cousland Big Dig in Scotland has also transformed my understanding of heritage projects, with a realisation that the basis for this venture was not just about the collection of data, it was also about community participation. The village already has a strong sense of identity, but here, I am participating in a series of events, where all ages and abilities can come together and share company, experience, rain, sun, wind, mud, clay – and there was as much excitement at fi nding a baby owl in the undergrowth as there was at uncovering an 18th century windmill. The group feeling of working together in the rain within a small woodland, was enhanced by a collective desire to share the space with others.

Archaeology is a fabulous gateway that can open onto a whole range of possibilities that include teaching, physical activity, art, poetry, storytelling, bio-diversity, farming, tourism, social responsibility... the list is endless. The holistic approach, therefore, seems to be a sign of things to come, and promises a much richer experience of archaeology for those who choose to explore their heritage.

David Connolly, BAJR

When archaeology is not the whole story

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A dventures in archaeology are hard to come by in these days of satellite technology and the increasing

loss of remote locations around the world.

One example of this lies in the far north of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and only 100km from Dubai. Ras al-Khaimeh (RAK) is one of the seven Emirates that make up the UAE, and is now transforming into a modern 21st century state with even talk of building a space port.

In the late 1980s I worked there on the excavations at Julfar, an Arabic trading port. At that time RAK’s mysterious hinterland and mountains were still largely unexplored. A few archaeologists such as the redoubtable Miss Beatrice De Cardi (now aged 93) had ventured there, and some of the known sites such as Hili and Bat, enormous stone and mud brick third-millennium BC round towers, had already been surveyed.

These buildings were not the only examples of military architecture to be found in RAK, for wherever you looked you could see fortifi ed towers, both round and square, some abandoned only 20 years before and now slowly

crumbling to dust. These buildings appeared to be the most visible testimony of a way of life that had all but disappeared, as the people no longer needed to protect themselves from attack by the mountain tribes, and inter-Emirate warfare was a distant memory rendering these fortifi ed towers largely redundant.

My colleague on the site, Derek Kennet (now a doctor of archaeology at Durham University in England, UK), suggested we attempt to locate every defensive tower in RAK before they vanished forever. So, supported by the Department of Antiquities and Museums of RAK, and the far-sighted understanding of H.H. Sheikh b. Saqr al-Qasimi, we put our project together. Starting in December 1991 we set about what we were told would be an impossible task: to locate, record and interpret every tower in the entire country in the space of six weeks.

Our team consisted of Derek Kennet, who would create the written record and take the photographs, myself and Fiona Baker who would draw the elevations and ground plans, and Miss Beatrice De Cardi who possessed unrivalled local knowledge. Armed with a clipboard, three biros, two pencils, two tape measures, camera, drawing board and an aluminium ladder, we felt well prepared to face the task at hand.

Jumping into our trusty Nissan Patrol, we set off to record our fi rst tower which lay only a hundred yards from our base camp at Falayya. The adventures in the

continued

By David Connolly

Main photograph: The Shimal Round Tower

Inset: The Nissan Patrol in the desert towards al-Khatt

Above: al-Dayya Fort

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weeks ahead as we hunted over deserts and mountains, salt fl ats and wadis were to take us to the limits of our endurance at times, but to this day I still remember it fondly as one of my greatest adventures.

The fi rst few towers that we tackled were either in or near areas that were already settled along the coast. Two very diffi cult fortifi cations to record were the National Museum of RAK and the police station of al-Uraybi: the Museum, because of its sheer size and number of rooms, and the police station because of its obvious security diffi culties. Although they were aware of our arrival, it was very diffi cult to concentrate while 20 heavily-armed policemen stared in bemusement as I attempted, for the umpteenth time, to throw a weighted 30-metre measuring tape over the battlements.

However, the real test came as we moved inland to the large expanse of the Shimal Plain where we realised that each small settlement had its own defensive structure. Talking with locals would often lead us to abandoned courtyards containing a single square corner tower. The biggest problem here was the acacia trees that covered the plain and made visibility at ground level almost zero, so we adopted a novel approach to solve the problem. Derek suggested I stand on the passenger seat with the window open, with my head and body sticking out thus

Above: A Shihu tribesman points the way. Note the 1940s Lee Enfi eld rifl e

Above right: Tower on the Shimal Plain rising above the acacia trees

Right: Collapsed tower guarding the eastern entrance to the Wadi Baih

Far right inset: The last tower near al-Faslayn

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allowing me to see over the thorny acacia trees. The one weakness to this plan was Derek’s careless steering, which led to my body being pricked, scratched and lacerated by the branches, and although he always swore it was a mistake I was sure I could here the sounds of giggling from inside the car.

By the end of this phase we had recorded a wide arc of defended farmsteads that lay on the edge of the gravel plain, and already we were beginning to understand a pattern to the location of these sites and distinctive architectural styles.

On one of our daily expeditions Beatrice remarked on our incredible routine on discovering a new tower. Our car would pull to a halt, each of us would silently jump out and pull out our respective equipment. Fiona and I would begin with the ground plan while Derek recorded the exterior. The ladder would be placed against the tower to reach the door which was invariably on the fi rst fl oor. I would then pick a principal elevation which displayed the essence of the building and, using the stone tied to the end of the measuring tape method, would throw it to the top, something I became better at as time went on. Fiona would then shout out measurements as I drew a scaled elevation which I would then complete by eye.

By this time Derek was inside the tower and we would join him on completion of the exterior elevations to draw internal plans and signifi cant features. With us hidden from view, Derek would photograph the exterior after which we would descend the ladder, pack our equipment and return to the Nissan Patrol. This could take as little as an hour, and with the minimum of equipment and fuss we completely recorded an entire building. The further from the urban centre we travelled the more dangerous we realised our mission was becoming. While surveying

a site called Sheba’s Palace perched on a precarious rocky ridge we heard the occasional pop and whizzing noise. We soon became aware that the source of this noise was gunfi re from an AK-47, wielded by the son of an irate old lady whose garden we had inadvertently walked through. Retreating to our car we were confronted by a crowd of angry locals and, realising that the situation was getting out of hand, decided to make a hasty escape. This episode prepared us for the odd pot shot that would be fi red in our direction from time to time up in the mountains, which was where we were headed next. There we found dozens of stone-built towers protecting routes and remote villages that clung to the side of dangerously steep slopes. Many of the lookout towers were recorded only after hours of climbing cliffs, crossing chasms

spanned by single palm trunks and, on one occasion, driving up a gravel track that was six inches wider than the car with a sheer drop down into the wadi below. However, our single-minded determination drove us on and by the end of the six weeks we had found and recorded 75 defensive structures.

All the plans and elevations were written up to publication standard, the records collated, the photographs catalogued, and on our return to the UK we carried out further archival study. The project seemed complete but ten years later, in

2002, Derek phoned to say we had missed a tower. It lay close to our original base camp but by some oversight we had missed it, and I promptly returned to RAK to fi nish the job.

And so that’s where the story fi nally ends. In a matter of weeks (for the most part), and with the most basic of equipment, we had recorded the remarkable buildings that were the Towers of Ras al-Khaimah – and despite the gunfi re, angry locals and hazardous locations, it was a story worth pursuing.

Learn more:

Kennet, D. (illustrations by D Connolly) 1995. The Towers of Ras al-Khaimah. BAR International Series 601.Ras al-Khaimah National Museum: www.rakmuseum.gov.ae/

Learn more:

past horizons 22

These are some of the comments we have received from students on last summers Syon Training Excavation.

Our fi ve day training opportunities include the Syon House Archaeological Training excavation, Environmental Archaeology, Experimental Archaeology, Geophysical Survey Techniques and Ewell Training Excavation in Surrey provide an important archaeological fi eldwork element. Our 5-day courses provide practical training in archaeological excavation and recording techniques, initial fi nds processing and other aspects of archaeological investigation.

You’ll be taught by on-site professional archaeologists and visiting specialists, and training will be geared to all levels of experience – including absolute beginners.

During your time at this beautiful location to the rear of Syon House, you’ll be helping to reveal more of the famous medieval Abbey. You’ll be discovering equally exciting traces of the 17th century garden. And you’ll be having a lot of fun! Now in its fi fth year, the Birkbeck Training Dig has proved extremely popular.

The Faculty of Lifelong Learning at Birkbeck College offers a wide range of Archaeology, Egyptology and Ancient Near East and Aegean courses. The courses are all at fi rst year undergraduate level and are designed for students wanting to gain an academic award to Certifi cate or Diploma level or who want to learn for pleasure.

A number of our students have progressed to the MA in Archaeology a fl exible programme taught part-time over two years mainly over one week blocks and weekends. The MA is particularly useful for both volunteer and professional archaeologists and for students wanting to continue their studies in Archaeology. Current and past studies have been able use the MA to prepare for a career change.

Our Certifi cate and Diploma programmes cover a number of subject areas: World Archaeology, The Ancient Near Eastern and Aegean, The Romans, Celtics and Vikings, Understanding Archaeology, Archaeology and Medieval England, Languages and Literature in Archaeology, Languages and Literature in Egypt, Egyptian Lifestyle, Art, Artefacts and Archaeology, Archaeology and the Human Body.

Syon 2007 main excavation

School of History, Classics and Archaeology

I thoroughly enjoyed the course. I found it fascinating and it gave me an appetite for excavation.

The tutors on the site were always helpful and there was a very good atmosphere. The range of tasks was very good and there was an excellent coverage of different aspects of excavation and archaeological processes.

Like the Ronseal advertisement, it did what it said on the tin! I felt I was taking part in an excavation that could actually augment the archaeological record.

I really enjoyed my dig at Syon Park. The team were very friendly and patient for newcomers such as myself and I fell that I have really learnt lots of new skills within one intensive week.

Lots of hands on experience! Good mixture of diggers with different levels of experience. Something different to the sites I’ve previously excavated.

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learn about archaeology at birkbeck college

Advertising Feature

The School of History, Classics and Archaeology has a high profi le for both its teaching and research. History at Birkbeck has a long and distinguished tradition as an international centre

of excellence, and a distinctive intellectual character.

Archaeology & Egyptology Courses Part Time, Evening and Weekly Courses At Birkbeck we offer a wide range of courses on all aspects of Archaeology taught by people who are as passionate about the past as they are about sharing their expert knowledge with you. We offer a number of courses within the following awards:

MA Archaeology – 2 years Part time Certifi cate HE Archaeology Certifi cate HE The Archaeology of Britain Certifi cate HE Egyptology Certifi cate HE Ancient Near Eastern and Aegean Studies Certifi cate HE Archaeologicall Practices & Techniques

Archaeology modules include: Society and Culture in the Roman Empire Birth of a Nation: The Archaeology of England c.400-1540 Human Evolution Discovering Archaeology: Studying the Past Bioarchaeology – The Archaeology of Human Bones Landscape Archaeology Prehistoric Britain: New Ideas Thoughts & Theories Art and Archaeology I: Prehistoric Art After the Excavation: Archaeology from Processing to Publication The Study of Artefacts Kings over Everything: The Archaeology of Britain within the Roman Empire London Bodies: An Introduction to the Study of Human Skeleton Remains

We are also offering the following new modules: Archaeology, Codices and Ethnohistory of Sixteenth-Century Mexico The Ancient Near East in the Second Millennium BC: The Rise of Nationalism and International Relations Discovering Mesopotamima: History of Ancient Middle Eastern Studies Historical Developments in Ancient Egypt Introduction to Akkadian Advanced Akkadian

1 day conferences (study days) From Babylon to Amarna: Ancient Middle Eastern Interaction s in the Days of Akhenaten (1 day conference) Gods of Ancient Egypt New Research in Egyptian Archaeology The Beginning of the Egyptian State

MA ArchaeologyThe MA Archaeology is designed to teach the methods and practice of contemporary archaeology. It is suitable for both volunteer and professional archaeologists. Our MA in Archaeology has been designed to fi t around the lives of working people. Core course and options modules take place over the weekend and in one week slots. The MA course runs from October to July and is undertaken over two years on a part-time basis. Interviews for the MA in Archaeology are between July and September.

For more information please go to: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/archaeology/ma_archaeology.htmlT: 020 7631 6627 E: archaeology@FLL.bbk.ac.uk

For a copy of the new 2008/2009 prospectus please telephone 020 7631 6627 or 0845 601 0174 or go towww.birkbeck.ac.uk/ce/archaeology where you can enrol directly online by completing the online form beside each module description or by calling central enrolment on 020 7631 6651.

past horizons 24

Giving the Past Albania

A future

The greatest achievement for heritage conservation and archaeology to date in Albania has been the creation

of Butrint National Park. This success story is due to the tireless efforts of many individuals and organisations involved in the campaign to put Butrint on the heritage map and rescue it from years of neglect.

The benefi ts for the local people have been enormous and have shown how progress can be made in a relatively short space of time if there is a strong will to do so. Of course, Albania is still a poor country in European terms and the people themselves desperately need to learn new skills as the old industries disappear. The recently formed Albanian National Trust is working to address this problem by inspiring local and international communities to work together in projects which will provide training for volunteers and create a basis for increased heritage tourism which will in turn benefi t the local community. This article takes a look at three groups that are currently involved in projects around the city of Gjirokastra, in southern Albania, and explains how you can participate in these exciting ventures.

conservation holiday - responsible travel

Gjirokastra is one of Albania’s most beautiful and original towns, known as the ‘town of the thousand steps’ with houses huddled one above the other around the dramatic fortress. The castle of Gjirokastra is the second biggest

in the Balkans and in the centre of the town is the Bazaar Mosque.

In the Old Bazaar quarter there are many shops situated in the narrow streets, and in the Mecite quarter are the old Turkish baths dating to 17th century. Nearby is also the Tekke of Melan, a Bektashi monastery at a former fortifi ed site dating back to the 4th century, but now almost lost beyond the remote villages of the region.

Volunteers will work on two sites – the castle at Gjirokastra, and the monastery at Melan, moving between them during the holiday. The work will focus on clearing overgrowing vegetation on and around both of these historic buildings. There is an ongoing archaeological excavation at Melan and, assuming it is active at that time, workers can help out with this, too.

Much of the work is defi ned by local need at the time, so be prepared for fl exibility in the programme. Finally, there will be a visit to Saranda where the group will have a personalised tour of the legendary Butrint National Park.

Dates: 15 september - 30 September 2008

Cost: £580 excluding flightsWebsite: www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip100199.htm

Clock tower and the sheer castle walls at Gjirokastra

by maggie struckmeier

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A futurekullë conservation - heritage conservation network

The man responsible for the creation of Butrint National Park also campaigns tirelessly for his

country’s built heritage. Auron Tare’s latest efforts focus on Gjirokastra. He is working with Heritage Conservation Network (HCN) to bring volunteers to the Museum City to help restore one of the many Turkish tower houses that characterise the city.

Known as kullë houses, this vernacular form developed in the 17th century and was used for several hundred years. The houses consist of a tall cellar, a fi rst fl oor used in the cold season, and a second fl oor used in the warm season. Many of the surviving kullë also retain their original, richly-decorated interiors, with intricately

painted fl oral decoration and elaborately carved beams and cupboards.

Volunteers will document the buildings’ current conditions with photos, measurements and drawings, then learn and practice masonry conservation skills. HCN hopes to establish a long-term project at the site, returning with volunteers each year to continue with preservation work. The Museum City of Gjirokastra was added to the World Heritage list in 2005 and is one of just two sites in Albania on the list. It is known for its many conical, slate-roofed structures and is the setting for Ismail Kadare’s book Chronicle in Stone, his story of growing up in the city during World War II.

Dates: 27 September - 11 October 2008

Cost: US$950 per person for 1 week, US$1,800 for two weeks. There is a discounted rate for people from Albania and neighbouring countries. The fee includes lodging, breakfast and lunch, insurance, materials, training and field trips to historic sites outside the city.

Website: www.heritageconservation.net/ws-albania.htm

Old houses, both restored and crumbling

Photographs by Matthew Haswellwww.pbase.com/xerius/gjirokastra

continued

past horizons 26

The multi-period site of Melan is located in the Drinos Valley in southern Albania, near the city of

Gjirokaster. Katie Johnson of the University of Chicago fi rst encountered this site in 2006, when she was invited by Auron Tare of the Albanian National Trust to tour the area in order to gauge its archaeological potential. The long occupational history of the site — its origins are thought to be in the fi fth century B.C. — includes many

traces of past cultures, such as aqueducts, walls, and building foundations. This site at Melan is part of her ongoing research into the continuity of sacred spaces and the historical relationship of the Bektashis to the region. In 2007, Katie had a very exciting fi rst season. With volunteers from several countries two large mosaics were found (tentatively dated to the fi fth–sixth centuries A.D.) and several as yet undated burials. The mosaics

archaeology - albanian national trust & The university of chicago

Top: Drinos Valley Above: Cleaning the mosaic

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archaeology - albanian national trust & The university of chicagohave many colours of tesserae and motifs of pheasants, deer, horses, vines, and other geometric designs. In another area, the team revealed a Byzantine church (ninth–thirteenth centuries A.D.), which they excavated down to the still extant fl oor. This Autumn, the second season, Katie and her team will continue to work in both areas, giving volunteers the ability to excavate mosaics, burials, within the church, and around an Ottoman fountain.

Past and present volunteers range in age and archaeological experience. While some have had extensive experience or are in full time education others have never excavated before and Katie will provide instruction. Volunteers are welcome on an individual basis and will be able to work on all aspects of excavation, as well as gain experience for a range of digging techniques. The team stay at the functioning Bektashi Tekke, the Sufi equivalent of a monastery, about a fi ve-minute walk from the site. While somewhat rustic, the accommodation provides a full cultural experience, as well as beautiful scenery.

Dates: 10 September - 10 October 2008

Cost: Volunteers must pay for their own travel expenses plus $25 per day for food and lodging

EMAIL: klj@uchicago.edu

Excavating at Melan

Photographs: Katie Johnson

past horizons 28

ArchaeologistsMake History

Negotiations lead to first agreement on region’s archaeological riches

By Meg Sullivan & Edward North-HagerBy Meg Sullivan & Edward North-Hager

Jerusalem: The Old City and the City of David (credit: Brian Negin)

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After three years of tense negotiations, the Israeli-Palestinian Archaeology Working Group has produced a 39-point document of recommendations, which was formally presented to 50 Israeli archaeologists in April this year at a four-hour conference at the Van Leer Institute.

“Israelis and Palestinians never previously had sat down to achieve a structured, balanced agreement to govern the region’s archaeological heritage,” said Dodd, a lecturer in religion and curator of USC’s Archaeological Research Collection.

“Our group got together with the vision of a future when people wouldn’t be at each other’s throats and archaeology would need to be protected, irrespective of which side of the border it falls on.”

At issue is control of all archaeological material recovered inside the borders of a future Palestinian state. Palestinians have expressed the desire to control such resources within their boundaries. However, since the 1967 War, Israelis have excavated extensively in the West Bank, deciding where to excavate then removing the artefacts to storage facilities controlled by the Israeli Civil Administration.

“Archaeology sometimes has been used as a reason to curtail the natural expansion and refurbishing of Palestinian villages and towns,” said Dodd.

“The combination of military, economic and archaeological barriers to prosperity in Palestinian villages caused great resistance to archaeological-heritage preservation among segments of the Palestinian population.

“Prominent Palestinian archaeologists report that for some Palestinians, looting of artefacts becomes a means of resistance to the Israeli occupation.”

Israel-born Boytner, director for international research at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA, added, “According to international law, if there is a future Palestinian state, the Israelis will have to return all archaeological artifacts to the Palestinian state.

“That, for the [Israeli] right wing, would be a major rallying point to oppose the peace process. Therefore, archaeology could be a deal-breaker in future peace negotiations.” continued

Israelis and Palestinians may not be able to agree on their present or future, but, if a pair of Los Angeles archaeologists

have their way, they will soon see eye to eye on their past.

For the past fi ve years Ran Boytner, an archaeologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Lynn Swartz Dodd, archaeologist at the University of Southern California, have guided a team of prominent Israeli and Palestinian archaeologists to arrive at the fi rst-ever agreement on the disposition of the region’s archaeological treasures following the establishment of a future Palestinian state.

Above: Archaeologists discuss a site within the new agreement. Top right: Lynn Dodd and Ran Boytner photographs by Meg Sullivan

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In addition to international law, the agreement borrows from concepts fl oated in previous peace processes, including the Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty (1979) and the Tentative Taba Agreement of 2001.

The document’s recommendations include:

• Repatriation of artefacts excavated since 1967 in the Occupied Territories to the state in which they were originally found. Currently, the Israeli Archaeological Authority and the archaeology staff offi cer of the Israeli military’s Civil Administration maintain control of all archaeological material excavated in Israel and some from the West Bank.

• Increasing the part of Jerusalem that would qualify for special protections as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to include the city’s boundaries during the 10th century, or roughly the era of the Crusades. Currently, such status extends to a one-third-square-mile area that includes the Temple Mount, the Western Wall and the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City.

• Ceding control over archaeological sites and artefacts to the state in which they reside and prohibiting the destruction of archaeological sites because of their cultural or religions affi liations.

• Consideration of archaeological sites that will straddle future international borders proposed under a peace plan to ensure these borders do not divide or harm archaeological remains.

• Support for the establishment of museums, laboratories and storehouses for the protection, study and care of archaeological heritage where they currently do not exist, so that repatriation of materials to territories occupied by Israel in 1967 does not stall for the lack of such facilities.

Palestinian archaeologists have already expressed support for the document’s provisions, which are now on fi le with the Israeli and Palestinian governments, the U.S. Department of State and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is now the offi cial envoy of the Middle East diplomatic ‘quartet’ — the four outside entities (the United Nations, European Union, United States and Russia) involved in mediating the peace process for the Israeli-Palestinian confl ict.

Proposed Heritage Zone showing main sites and monuments

past horizons31

Learn more:

Video produced byUniversity of Southern CaliforniaTodd SchindlerOffice of Media Relations

Chicago Tribune:http://tinyurl.com/6jhvn2

UCLA International Institute:http://tinyurl.com/64md9c

Qidron Valley and the East Wall of Jerusalem (credit: James Emery)

Boytner, credited with initiating the project, and Dodd enlisted six of the region’s most prominent working archaeologists involving 10 institutions from around the world. To fund their activities, the team raised over $150,000 from a range of public and private donors, and met four times over three years, in three different countries.

The stakes were particularly high for the three Palestinian and three Israeli archaeologists who lent their expertise to the project. “People who participated did so at great risk, professional and personal, to themselves,” Boytner said. “It’s not unheard of for Palestinians who are caught negotiating with Israelis to be treated as traitors and shot dead.

“For the Israelis, it’s not unheard of to be branded as traitors and therefore be denied positions or be fi red or basically blackballed.”

So far only four participants — Rafi Greenberg, a lecturer in archaeology at Tel Aviv University; David Ilan, director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem; Ghattas Sayej, a Palestinian archaeologist working in

Norway; and Nazmi el-Jubeh, co-director of Riwaq: The Centre for Architectural Conservation, Palestine — have agreed to be publicly identifi ed. The other two have remained anonymous fearing reprisals.

“The collaboration and investment in future peace made by our Israeli and Palestinian colleagues should be highlighted,” Dodd said. “They are the ones who made the choice to envision a shared future by joining this process and working together. Their role as peacemakers deserves emphasis.”

investment in future peace made by our

Israeli and Palestinian colleagues should be

highlighted

past horizons 32

Prescot StreetCommercial archaeology goes public

by lorna richardson

Archaeological units and developers have often been reluctant to open their sites to

the public. Not only do commercial excavations present some hazards for visitors, but an ‘open-door’ policy towards the public can result in increased costs as work schedules are interrupted. Some developers may be publicity-shy, and in the UK, there is certainly no obligation on the developer’s part to fund a public archaeology scheme. However, one group is challenging such views and is using the latest technology to make its point.

L – P Archaeology has decided to take archaeology to the public with their excavation at Prescot Street, close to the centre of the East London Roman cemetery which, until recently, was one of the largest areas that remained unexcavated. The dig currently underway has already found a number of 1st – 4th century inhumation and cremation burials, and also plenty of interesting mediaeval and post-mediaeval activity including a series of visually stunning horn-core pits.

continued

Above: School children being shown around siteOpposite: Horn-core pit

past horizons33

Prescot StreetCommercial archaeology goes public

Photographs: L - P Archaeology

past horizons 34

The ethos surrounding this particular site was to try to open up the whole process to the wider public without affecting the commercial development. To help achieve this, L – P Archaeology devised a dedicated project website using a content management system which provides the historical background of the area, and shows the excavation process including photographs, videos and educational resources. The company’s IT staff has also been developing the Archaeological Recording Kit (ARK) to aid the online distribution of raw excavation data from Prescot Street, including plans, artefacts and context records. In providing access to this archaeological data and not just interpretation-heavy narrative, ARK encourages feedback from the public. It also means that an ongoing excavation is open for analysis long before the final publication is produced.

Site staff working at Prescot Street are encouraged to make regular contributions to the website through a blog-style journal, focussing on their thoughts and interpretations as they work. Photos and videos of activities on site are added at least three times a week, and members of the public are free to link their own images of the area via the photo sharing website Flickr.

The company has also been experimenting with video production as a tool for communication and site supervisor, Anies Hassan, has written, filmed and edited four short thematic videos that document various aspects of the excavation. These videos are available to view on their website and include a general introduction to the Prescot Street dig, the in-situ conservation of a Roman cremation and the excavation of two Roman inhumations. Video can act as a great archive resource for professional archaeologists, and early examples of this practice came from the Çatalhöyük research excavations in Turkey in the mid nineties. It can also help inform others from outside the profession by providing a window into the reality of onsite work.

However, some people would prefer a more hands-on experience of archaeology in addition to a virtual one, and an outreach and education policy has also been developed to meet this demand. The Mudlarks, a local metal detecting society, were invited to participate on the dig, and local schools are able to take part in object-handling sessions of the artefacts that have been found during the excavation. L – P Archaeology has also created a working partnership with Public Archaeology MA students at University

Mudlarks metal detecting in partnership with archaeologists

past horizons35

College London who have helped produce the downloadable activities and worksheets available on the Prescot Street website.

The day-to-day activities involved with commercial archaeology are rarely seen by the public. TV programmes such as Time Team and Meet the Ancestors do help to make archaeology accessible, but the public never gets to witness the pre-excavation research, the daily grind of wielding a mattock, shovel and trowel, or the endless paperwork, photography, survey, drawing and fi nds preparation that accompanies any archaeological excavation.

Archaeology also uses its own jargon, which can create barriers to understanding relatively straightforward concepts such as contexts, features and artefacts.

These barriers can be lifted by reaching out to the public using the endless possibilities that the internet offers. Engaging with people on many levels opens up exciting avenues for the future, and will undoubtedly present a more accurate picture of the rigours of commercial archaeology to the public without taking away the sense of discovery, excitement and adventure that makes archaeology so special to all of us.

ARK, the Archaeological Recording Kit is an opensource, standards compliant, web-delivered system for the creation, storage, manipulation and publication of archaeological data and media.ark.lparchaeology.com/ 8

Villa Magna represents a unique opportunity to implement the ARK system from the earliest stages, at a site of international importance.www.villa-magna.org/ 8

Çatalhöyük web site designed for those interested in the ongoing excavations. Its aim is to provide information about the activities and the different aspects of the research currently being conducted, as well as educational resources. www.catalhoyuk.com/ 8

Prescot Street website: www.lparchaeology.com/prescot

Learn more

Anies Hassan at work fi lmingPrescot Street website homepage

past horizons 36

Annie Evans,The Dig Cook

The Dig Cook’s website http://www.digcook.com

Potatoes are enjoyed all over the world. Consider the mashed potatoes of

American Thanksgiving, the baked potato of England with the Sunday roast, and the universal chipped potato or French fry for every day of the year. The humble potato is actually the king of the vegetables.

The ranks of potato varieties are very large and I don’t know of anyone who’s done a head count of those available to cooks today. One hundred? Perhaps more, but there are rarely more than a few available in any local area and probably only two or three in any given store, market or supermarket. We have just a fraction of the potato richness that has survived in the Andes where it’s been estimated that more than 4000 different varieties can still be found.

We owe a vote of thanks to the Spanish conquistadors, not for their bloody victories in South America in the 16th century, but for bringing back the potato when they returned to Europe. In time, it was worth more than all the gold and silver of the Inca Empire.

Potatoes can be fat, skinny, lumpy or smooth; long, short, round, or square; red, yellow, white, green, blue or purple. Their cooking qualities vary greatly. My favourite potato is the one known as the Dutch Cream – and no prizes for guessing where it comes from. It’s found in many places, including Cyprus, the UK (particularly in London), in Australia and, of course, the Netherlands. With its creamy yellow fl esh, the Dutch Cream is

perfect for baking, mashing or chipping. Cheap and cheerful, the potato is the planet’s gift to the fi eldwork cook. If you can’t fi nd Dutch Creams, other excellent varieties include the Nicola, Russet Burbank, Jersey Royal, Yukon Gold and Kipfl er.

The potato’s versatility means that you can deal with it very simply, for example by wrapping it in foil with some herbs and oil and cooking it in the coals of a campfi re.

You then unwrap it, slash it and add toppings such as sour cream, chopped tomato, avocado, corn and fi nely-cut crispy bacon. But potatoes can also be the foundation of much more ambitious meals.

The recipes that follow are not too ambitious because they are designed for use at typical fi eldwork locations. Cooking large quantities of food to perfection, even with quite complex recipes, is easy enough in a restaurant kitchen or a well-equipped home

kitchen but a different matter altogether on the often very basic stoves that are the usual run of things in archaeology.

Here’s how I cook large quantities of baked potatoes to perfection – even on the dodgy stoves that I generally have to use. As always, the quantities in the recipes that follow are for 30 people. If the numbers at a fi eld project are larger or smaller, quantities will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Recipes for Archaeologists

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7 ½ kg (16½ lb) of potatoes, peeled1 ½ cups olive oil 10 stalks rosemarysalt and pepper water

Cut the peeled potatoes into 120 pieces approximately. Place in a large plastic bag, making sure there are no holes in the bag. Add the olive oil and shake until the potatoes are well coated with oil.

Place the potatoes on two or three large, shallow baking trays and pour in cold water to a depth of 3mm (about 1/10th of an inch). The water ensures that the potatoes don’t stick to the trays while cooking.

Sprinkle thoroughly with salt and pepper and spread rosemary evenly over the trays then place in a 180 degree oven for approximately one to one-and-a-half hours.

The trays should be shaken and turned around and their shelf position changed in the oven to ensure even cooking. This compensates for uneven heat and lack of fan in the usual dodgy fi eldwork ovens.

Make sure there is water in the base of the trays up until the last 30 minutes of the cooking process.

When they come out of the oven, potatoes should be golden and all water should have evaporated. Remove rosemary stalks and serve.

Cracked potatoes with red wine

Ingredients

methodUsing a wooden mallet, pestle or hand-sized stone, hit the potatoes – a few at a time – on a chopping board. They should not be crushed but cracked slightly so that they’re partly open. Dry on kitchen paper.Heat the vegetable oil until smoking and deep fry the potatoes in batches until they are golden all over (3-4 minutes). Drain and set aside.

In another large, heavy pan gently heat the olive oil, add the crushed coriander and seasonings and fry gently until the coriander releases its aroma.

Add the potatoes and mix gently to coat with the oil and coriander. Pour in the red wine and cover.

Cook gently (low simmer) for 20 minutes until the potatoes are soft and most of the liquid has been absorbed, tossing occasionally to prevent them sticking to the pan.

This is delicious with meat, fi sh or chicken and a Greek salad.

A good cold potato dish is potato salad.

7 kg (15½ lb) scrubbed potatoes2 cups good mayonnaise2 cups sour cream or yogurt½ cup olive oil2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons prepared mustardsalt & pepper2 cups fi nely chopped chives, spring onions or red onions3 teaspoons paprika

A delicious way of serving the humble spud comes from Cyprus where I collected the following recipe.

Bring potatoes to the boil in a large pot and cook until just tender. Tip into a large colander and drain. Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. When cool enough to handle remove skins and chop into 2cm (8/10th of an inch) cubes.

Mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, olive oil, mustard, spring onions and salt and pepper. Add this mixture to the potato cubes and mix carefully. Sprinkle with paprika and chopped chives and serve.

Rosemary Baked potatoes

potato salad

As the main vegetable dish for the evening meal.Ingredients

method

7 kg (15½ lb) small potatoes (90 potatoes) scrubbed and dried2 litres (US: 4.2 pints, UK: 3½ pints) sunfl ower or vegetable oil1 cup olive oil125 grams (4½ oz) coriander seeds, crushedsalt and pepper1 litre (US: 2.1 pints, UK: 1.75 pints) dry red wine

Ingredients

method

past horizons 38

What was your fi rst archaeological experience?Age seven visiting Norwich Castle Museum – actual hands-on stuff aged 16 with the Norfolk Archaeology Unit.

Do you prefer fi eldwork or paperwork? Depends on the weather.

Which country do you enjoy visiting and why?Lithuania – beautiful, green, interesting history, wide availability of amber and exceedingly strong lager.

What are your top three essential items for travelling?Emergency Marmite, a good companion and a Rough Guide.

BBC Radio 4 or Internet radio? Radio 4.

Do you listen to podcasts - if yes, what was the last one? Never have..

What keeps you awake at night? Worry about work, money and my boyfriend Ashley’s warthog-like snoring.

Are you listening to any music just now? No, it’s nice and peaceful.

What or who makes you laugh? My boyfriend, my sister and Round the Horne.

Do you have a hero/heroine? Tom and Kitty Higdon, Burston Strike School.

www.burstonstrikeschool.org

New Indiana Jones Film: YES or NO? No, please, no... it’s just so wrong.

What place makes you feel relaxed? The pub or my bed.

Do you feel that education and archaeology are under-rated? Hugely. If archaeology was embedded in the national curriculum on a par with history then future generations would have a vested interest in archaeology. If more people understood and valued what we do and why, maybe we would get paid a decent wage and have better job security...

If you could have unlimited budget, what would you create.?A country-wide, stand-alone, archaeology outreach service, with statutory authority to make archaeological excavations over a certain size available to the public via digital technology at the very least; a full programme of archaeological education for seven to sixteen-year-olds; huge bursaries for people of all ages to study archaeology at university from working-class backgrounds; sponsorship for all undergraduates to spend a year in industry, so they had the technical skills required to take up digging jobs on graduation; a television series about archaeology that is neither inaccurate, over- dramatised or featuring Tony Robinson, upon which the TV-watching nation can base its understanding of what archaeology is, why it is relevant, why it is important, and how it works in the real world... all total fantasy, of course.

What is your current obsession? Making trifl es. I will be perfecting the chocolate and banana trifl e this very weekend.

If you weren’t an archaeologist, what would you do instead?I would write historically-based erotic fi ction (under a pseudonym, of course).

Lorna Richardson is the outreach offi cer for London based L - P Archaeology where she has worked since October 2007. She studied medieval archaeology at University College London, where she is now fi nishing a Masters degree in Public Archaeology.

After graduating, she worked for a number of charities and not-for-profi t organisations, and most recently as a fi eld archaeologist in London and the south west of England. Her main archaeological interests are medieval – migration period Europe, Vikings and Anglo-Saxon cremations – and archaeology in education, widening public involvement in archaeology wherever possible.

profile

past horizons39

This is only a small selection of available sites, and many more can be found here:Past Horizons: www.pasthorizons.com Archaeological Institute of America: www.archaeological.org/webinfo.php?page=10015

spain: Celtic-Iron Age Necropolis of PintiaThe excavation focuses on the Vaccean necropolis, an Iron Age people with Celtic links that settled in north-central Spain around the fi fth century B.C. 1 June - 4 Sept 2008Website: www.archaeospain.com/pintia/index.htm

england: North Pennines Archaeology 2008 Field School at Historic DilstonThis year the fi eld school will be focusing on excavating and recording the remains of the Jacobean Range at Dilston Castle, near Hexham, Northumberland. 1 June - 1 Oct 2008Website: www.nparchaeology.co.uk/fi eldschool.html

bulgaria: Roman Villa near Antique Town CambusticaThe project includes excavation work on a Roman site, lecture courses on excavation method-ology and site interpretation and visits to nearby archaeological sites. 16 Aug - 13 Sept 2008Website: www.cambustica.archbg.net/index.html

greece: Excavations at the Neolithic Settlement of DispilioDispilio is one of the most important Neolithic sites in the Aegean, and the fi rst prehistoric lakeside settlement to be excavated in Greece. 1 July - 1 Oct 2008Website: web.auth.gr/dispilio/

Arizona: Elden Pueblo ProjectRecent excavations revealed much about the construction sequence of the site; late Sinagua social organization, subsistence, and its role as a major trade centre. 15 April - 10 Oct 2008Website: www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/about/districts/peaks/elden-pueblo-project.shtml

St. Eustatius: Caribbean Historical Archaeology Lab ExperienceAutumn Lab Experiences allow extensive hands-on learning for artefact conservation,documentation, catalouging etc. on this tiny Caribbean island. 1 Sept - 15 Dec 2008Website: www.secar.org

argentina: Museology Project with Archaeological MaterialsStudents will have the opportunity to work on an ongoing research project on northwestern Argentinean archaeology with involvement in laboratory duties. 3 Aug - 6 Sept 2008Website: www.archaeology.ucla.edu/Argentina/overview.htm

israel: Tell AssawirThe mysterious Tell Assawir lies in the centre of Israel, not far from the Mediterranean coast and near the entrance to the historical ‘Ara pass’. 31 Aug - 24 Sept 2008Website: assawir.haifa.ac.il

cyprus: Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project2008 will mark the 13th anniversary of the University of Sydney’s excavations of theHellenistic-Roman period theatre site of Nea Paphos in Cyprus. 15 Oct - 15 Nov 2008 Website: www.paphostheatre.com

Dig In..... get involved with archaeological projects around the worldYou can follow a direct link to a website where you see this symbol:

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Do you have something to say?Email us at editor@pasthorizons.com

Looking for the impossible

In your last issue, you made mention of seeking the Ark or Eldorado as if somehow

it was both wrong and/or something to be derided. Rather than see it as quests suitable only for those you feel are a bit mad, why not consider that the search for the impossible is as valuable as the search for the mundane.Derek Jones

Ed: You have a point about searching for the impossible, it only becomes worrying when any archaeology that is found becomes forced to fi t the theory, thereby creating a skewed record.

Swan Pits

I was just reading Past Horizons magazine and was sucked in by the article on the

animal pits found in Cornwall. The mention of ‘tiny stones wrapped in organic material’ made me think of ‘gastroliths’ - small stones swallowed by birds and some reptiles to help grind up food. It wouldn’t surprise me if the ‘organic material was actually the bird’s crop. www.hull.ac.uk/HBP/ActionPlan/MSwan.htmHenry

Ed: Thank you for that information, I am sure they may have considered this, but the link and suggestion is very useful.

Spend some time

I’ve just spent the last 3 hours fl icking thru’ Past Horizons and I had to write to say

congratulations - it’s fabulous. The layout is amazing and the articles so varied. Thank you. An excellent way to spend a Sunday (instead of fi nishing my assignment!!!)Best wishes for the future!Jo

All this and more

Congratulations! We are struggling to keep pace with all your new activities...

Where on earth you can fi nd all the time to devote to your multiple projects is still a mystery for us! Bravo! And keep up the good work.Diego (Stonepages)

Ed: Praise indeed, from one of the best websites out there on world megalithic and prehistoric sites.

new look past horizons website

We have recently launched the new look Past Horizons website and have added some new features including a video sharing site, where you can upload and view your own heritage related videos. There are already nearly 150 videos ranging from comedy to commentary.

The podcast page provides access to the weekly archeo news and the increasingly popular blog is updated daily.

The World Projects section opens up a host of archaeology opportunities across the globe, so go and choose your adventure now.

www.pasthorizons.com

past horizons41

Fun Page... archaeology can be fun...honest

Where in the World??Where are the following places?

click each image to fi nd out if you are right

A r c h a e o l o g i s t s ’ Bloopers

“I was watching a recent graduate digging a shallow linear feature, or more correctly the shadow of a ranging pole stuck vertically into the ground. Every so often she managed to spot more of these ‘cuts’ as the sun changed. I eventualy went over, picked up the pole and wandered off leaving her looking very confused. I know I should of done it earlier but I was interested in how she found the sides and base each time.”

Trowelfodder

“In the archive of a certain very large and infamous mid 90’s excavation in East Anglia, England, there is a fabled context record sheet. The interpretation box details one of the most magnifi cent rants I’ve ever read, about the unit management, the appalling way the site was run, the rottenness of the local pub and even the unsatisfactory nature of the sexual encounter they had had the night before. It overfl owed onto two continuation sheets, which is something I’ve never seen for any other context before or since.”

Beardstroker

“One record sheet had only this sentence for context description. ‘A sandy coloured texture’ Fantastic - if anyone knows what a sandy colour feels like please let me know. ”

Sarah

film ReviewIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Watch Richard Roeper & Michael Phillips’ review of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” from May, 2008:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT9fy2dfgBo

Well, by now you should have got yourself along to watch the latest outing of the worlds favourite archaeologist. It has been a while for all of us, and now a more elderly hero must try to thrill like a young ‘un. Though the plot elements are certainly over familiar, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull still

delivers thrills and Harrison Ford’s return in the title role is more than welcome. Don’t go with any hope for a return to the class of the fi rst fi lm, but open your mind and you should be pleasantly surprised and come out thinking... I enjoyed that, even if it was a bit far fetched. Far-fetched I hear you say? You have to remember that the fi rst fi lm had the Ark of the Covenant, the second had beating hearts ripped out and the third was about the Holy Grail! So sit back, buy a big tub of popcorn, and go with the fl ow. It is even fun to try and spot all the fi lm references.

We rate it:

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