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Online Journal of Volunteer Archaeology and Trainin
P a s t H o r i z o n s
etternear Excavation Bosporan Kingdom Slievemore Mystery Aerial-Cam
Exploring Rock-Art in Malaysia
March 200
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12ArtezianAn ongoing excavation of the fortified township of Artezian
in the Crimean peninsula. Focusing mainly on the era of the
Bosporan Kingdom, particularly the time of the war with theRomans of 44-45 AD where a wealth of finds has enabled the
archaeologists to build up a strong narrative for that time.
18Slievemore - Excavating a Bronze Age PlatformAchill Archaeological Field School began excavating what
looked like a roundhouse platform on the slopes of Slievemore
mountain. Stuart Rathbone discusses why he now thinks the
structure is not domestic and may have a more ritual purpose.
e 7
ch 2009
ors: Felicity Donohoe & Maggie Struckmeier
out: David Connolly & Maggie Struckmeier
Horizons
prain House
gate Burn
dington
Lothian
41 4QA
+44 (0)1620 861643
ail: [email protected]
d us on the web: www.pasthorizons.com
tributors:
ny Dransart
Trigg
olai Vinokurov
hie Mamattah
n Sull ivan
yana Van Loo
art Rathbonem Stanford
Phillips
erta Gilchrist
ry Lewis
Horizons can give no endorsement of any listed project or
antee the accuracy of the information supplied. The editors
pt no responsibility for any loss, injury, or inconvenience
ained by anyone using the resources contained within
magazine and/or the websites mentioned herein. When
dering a project, be sure to contact the director with
uestions you might have about conditions, travel, health
s, etc. Check for references from previous participants,
advice where possible and select a project that will be of
reatest benefit to you, the project and the team.
content is copyright and no reporduction
xt or images is allowed without prior
mission from the author.
t Horizons 2009
nt cover: Colonial period contact ar t in
Lenggong Valley
tograph: Barry Lewis
mailto://[email protected]://www.pasthorizons.com/http://www.pasthorizons.com/mailto://[email protected] -
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5 EditorialThe addictive romance of archaeology.
6 NewsNews stories from around the world.
40Dig CookMore culinary escapades from Annie
Evans.
42 ReviewPast Horizons reviews the Festival of
Archaeology in Cardiff.
44 Interested In...The study of rock-art.
45 Dig InArchaeological volunteer digs and
field schools for 2009.
46 ProfileArchaeological photographer Adam
Stanford.
47 Fun Page
C
ontents
8FetternearThe Scottish Episcopal Palaces Project
has been excavating at Fetternear,
the summer palace of the mediaeval
Bishops of Aberdeen.
24 Low Level Aerial PhotographyAdam Stanford discusses the archaeological
benefits of this method of photography.
30Accessible, Inclusive ArchaeologyHow to make the study of archaeology
accessible to everyone. Reading University
leads the way in facing that challenge.
34 Rock-Art Field SchoolMalaysia is the focus of this rock-art
field school which brings together
experts from around the world at the
forefront of research.
Regular s
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Dont keep it to yourself! If you think that a friend would love reading the online
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We only sell the best equipment for the job and everything is tried and tested in thefield, we send anywhere in the world. Order and pay online and leave the rest to us.Our customers include museums, universities and archaeological companies around the
world as well as community groups and individuals.
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e
dito
rial
Each time I collect and update the field schools and volunteer
opportunities forPast Horizons I become enthralled all over again
by the breadth of archaeological activity happening around the
world. Names such as Easter Island, Lake Titicaca, Pompeii, the
Amazon and the Western Sahara, to name but a few, conjure images
in my head that make me wish I was there in the midst of it all.
I experience similar feelings when articles arrive for this magazine. Although living here in
the present, I am also transported back in time where I can imagine the lives of the people who
once lived there. One article that inspired such thoughts is Artezian (page 12) which concerns
the Bosporan Kingdom in the Crimea, southern Ukraine. After receiving the translation
from Russian into English the scene was set and I became immersed in the story to such an
extent that I felt I was standing on the ramparts of the fortified township, looking out over the
grasslands of the Crimean steppe and across the sea of Azov.
Another article arrives, this time from the other side of the world, and this soon has me
fighting my way through tropical jungle to discover previously-unknown rock-art in Malaysia.World Rock-Art, Landscapes and Creativity (page 34) describes an opportunity to learn about
non-invasive recording techniques, research principles and conservation issues both in the
classroom and out in the field. The scientific study of rock-art is gaining serious attention within
archaeology and brings with it the real chance for adventure. Invariably new discoveries are
to be found in remote and difficult terrain, and there are projects underway around the world
beginning to map some of these paces in a more systematic way. This will enable researchers
to look at artistic and stylistic similarities that may provide clues about migration and cultural
interaction of the many tribal groups who created this art.
I sometimes get emails from people describing their experiences of actually signing up for an
excavation or field school. In fact some describe their first dig as a life-changing experience;
others see it as a chance to learn, meet new people and have a good holiday all at the same
time. It can be difficult to take that step if you have never done it before but be warned:
archaeology can be addictive and you may find yourself looking at the world with new eyes.
So if you have ever dreamed of following in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia, wanted
to travel from here to Timbuktu, longed to live amongst Mongolian nomads or negotiate
Amazonian rapids in a reed boat whilst discovering lost civilisations along the way, then these
adventures are all out there for the taking.
What are you waiting for?
To find a project go to: http://www.pasthorizons.com/worldprojects
Maggie Struckmeier
MaggieStruckmeier
N a m e s t o c o n j u r e w i t h . . .
http://www.pasthorizons.com/worldprojectsmailto://[email protected]://[email protected]://[email protected]://www.pasthorizons.com/worldprojects -
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new
smass aztec grave found in mexico city
On 10 February 2009, an excavation at a
pyramid in Mexico Citys Tlatelolco
square revealed a mass grave with the
remains of 49 adults. The unexpected discovery
was made by a team led by Salvador Guilliem
from the Mexican governments archaeologyinstitute, and they belie ve the bodies may be some
of those who fought Hernan Cortes, the Spanish
conquistador and leader of the expedition to
Mexico that caused the fall of th e Aztec empire.
One of the interesting features of the burials
was the presence of copper necklaces and bone
buttons from pre-Hispanic cultures. The burials
were most l ikely ordered by the Spanish overlords as some of the features are
Christian in nature, but wer e probably carried out by the Aztecs themselves.
Large scale deaths at the hands of the conquistadors may expla in the need for the
mass grave. However, one other possible explanation for the size of the grave
may be disease, which devastated large numbers of the indigenous population
between 1545 and 1546. The team is exploring both possibil i t ies.
Read the full story: http:// t inyurl.com/azykyq
If you are viewing this magazin e on SCRIBD, then
you will not be able to see the video.
You can view it on either the full fl ip page version
of the magazine:
www.pasthorizons.com/magazine
OR: on our dedicated video website:http://www.pasthorizons.tv/tv/view/302/mexico-city-
s-tlatelolco-square-aztec-burials/
http://www.pasthorizons.com/magazinehttp://www.pasthorizons.tv/tv/view/302/mexico-city-s-tlatelolco-square-aztec-burials/http://www.pasthorizons.tv/tv/view/302/mexico-city-s-tlatelolco-square-aztec-burials/http://www.pasthorizons.tv/tv/view/302/mexico-city-s-tlatelolco-square-aztec-burials/http://www.pasthorizons.tv/tv/view/302/mexico-city-s-tlatelolco-square-aztec-burials/http://www.pasthorizons.com/magazine -
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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
Archaeologica: http://www.archaeologica.org/NewsPage.htm
Archaeologists unearth statues of a pharaoh
Two giant anchors have been found which could shed li ght on a monumental
event in Vietnamese history, the Great Battle of Bach Dang, when the Tran
dynasty defeated inva ding Yuan Mongolian troops in 1288.
Read more: http:// t inyurl.com/amr8g5
Archaeologists date earl iest known domesticated horses
Archaeologists date ear l iest known domesticated horses. An international team of
archaeologists has dated the ear l iest known evidence of horses being domesticated
by humans back to the Botai Culture of Kazakhstan around 5,500 years ago
Read more: ht tp: / / t inyur l .com/d9m84a
Olduvai, evolution and Darwin
Interview with David H. Koch by Archaeology Magazine , discussing his new
hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, where evidence
of six million years of human evol ution will be part of an inter active display.
Read more: http:// t inyurl.com/bqvx5j
Small statue of Tutankhamen found in northern Iraq
A Kurdish archaeological expedition recentl y announced it had found a
small statue of the ancie nt Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen in northern
Iraq.
Read more: http:// t inyurl.com/bsbv9o
Wreckage of HMS Victorys predecessor discovered
The worlds most successful marine treasure hunters, Odyssey Marine
Exploration, yesterda y unveiled evidence that they had found HMS Victory,the most advanced fighting ship of i ts t ime.
Read more: http:// t inyurl.com/dgsruz
Hobbit feud: scientists argue over mysterious bones
The latest chapter of this story is revealed in the Journal of Human
Evolution which boasts four reports concerning the hobbits, f ive years after
their discovery was disclosed to the world.
Read more: http:// t inyurl.com/cqyqbo
Anchors may shed light on famous battle
Two giant anchors have been found which could shed li ght on a monumental
event in Vietnamese history, the Great Battle of Bach Dang, when the Tran
dynasty defeated i nvading Yuan Mongolian troops i n 1288.
Read more: http:// t inyurl.com/amr8g5
http://pasthorizons.wordpress.com/category/news-and-articleshttp://www.stonepages.com/newshttp://www.britarch.ac.uk/newsfeedhttp://www.archaeologica.org/NewsPage.htmhttp://www.archaeologica.org/NewsPage.htmhttp://www.britarch.ac.uk/newsfeedhttp://www.stonepages.com/newshttp://pasthorizons.wordpress.com/category/news-and-articles -
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continued
F e t t e r n e a r
A S c o t t i s h E p i s c o p a l P a l a c e
images & textby p. dransart & j.r.trigg
Since 1995 a major par t of our research for the Scott ish Episcopal Palaces
Project (SEPP) has focused on Fetternear , the summer palace of the
mediaeval bishops of Aberdeen, near Kemnay in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
In addit ion to eccles ias t ical duties , these bishops buil t not only their own
magnif icent palaces and cast les , but the cathedrals , too, and SEPP aims to explore
the relat ionships between these two architectural areas .
In an excavation carried out at the end of the
19th century, an Aberdeen architect reportedthat fine architectural moulding had been
discovered at Fetternear, which he said was
of a finer quality than the late 13th century
stonework at St Machars cathedral, Old
Aberdeen. When we started our work we
rediscovered the 19th century dig, but no
evidence for the fine mouldi ngs. However, we
unexpectedly found good evidence for a moat
that surrounded the palace in the 14th century:
until we recovered this information, Fetternear
had not been recognised as a moated site. In
Scotland, such sites have received relativelylit t le archaeological attention, making our
work particularly significant. In addition, we
also found the remains of a wooden palisade
that once enclosed the area within the moat.
As well as investigating the architectural
projects instigated by the bishops, we have
explored their domestic arrangements. In the
south-western sector of the site we located
the late 13th early 14th century kitchens.
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These were represented by a concentration of
iron knives as well as of animal bones, mostof which were cattle and sheep. There was
a series of hearths and an
oven, probably for baking
bread. The pottery consisted
of fragments of locally-
produced jugs, some of
which had been heated. As
is common in castle sites,
the kitchens were situated
in a peripheral corner of the
complex.
The dating of the kitchen
quarters coincides with
the bishoprics of two men
who were noted for their
architectural achievements.
Henry Cheyne was bishop
during the troubled years
of Scotlands first War of
Independence with England. History recalls
Bishop Henrys military career becauseEdward I of England ordered him to accompany
the Earl of Mar to garrison Urquhart Castle
on Loch Ness. Alexander de Kininmund I
succeeded Bishop Henry in 1329. He had a
distinguished career in the church and had
formed part of the delegation that took the
Declaration of Arbroath to Pope John XXII in
Avignon.
These bishops and their successors were no
strangers to interaction with other European
countries. We have excavated pottery sherds
from the north of England, Germany andFrance, and there is also evidence for t imber
originating from the Baltic
which has been dated
dendrochronologically to c.
1357.
Although our work has
focused on the mediaeval
period, we have also
revealed an area of long-
term prehistoric occupationand a rich post-Reformation
history. The religious
significance of the site did
not end with the transfer of
the land into the hands of the
Leslie family of Balquhain,
the neighbouring estate.
The Leslies were prominent
Catholic supporters who,
over time, became antiquarians and laid a great
emphasis on the estates religious heritage.One of the most striking finds from the Lesli e
occupation is part of a North Italian marbled
lion head costrel, a 17th-century pilgrims
flask.
The building the visitor now sees on
approaching the site dates largely from the
16th to 19th centuries; some parts not visible
from the road may date from the bishops
palace. The faade bears the coat of arms,
dated 1693, of Count Patrick Leslie and his
Excavation of the southern arm of the moat during 2007
A rare North I talian marbled
lion head costrel
View of the mediaeval bread oven
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Detail of the t imber palisade under excavation in 2006 An oak s il l be am and beam slot
SEPP invites volunteers to join us for the
fif teenth field season at Fetternear from
29 June to 24 J uly, 2009.
Previous experience is not required as training
can be provided on si te.
Many of our volunteers stay in the campsite next
to Fetternear, but we can put you in touch with
people offering oth er types of accommodation
nearby.
There is no charge for part icipation or for on-si teaccommodation.
Further information is available from Dr. Penny
Dransart at : [email protected]
Ge t Invo l v ed
Volunteers from North America duri ng the 2008 season
second wife, Mary Irvine of Drum. Higher
up the wall above this panel are two stones,one incised with Count Patricks and Marys
monograms, and the other incorporates those
of Jesus and Mary, IHS and MRA. This dual
religious inscription, which is paralleled at
Balquhain, is highly unusual in Scotland but
examples are known in continental Europe.
Our fifteenth excavation season will take
place in July 2009 and study of the finds is
ongoing, but of particular interest is the glass
assemblage, which is the largest to have beenexcavated from a site in Scotland. Aims for
the forthcoming excavation season include
further investigation of the moat in an area
that was producing evidence in 2008 for in
situ wooden structures.
Penny Dransart is director of SEPP and is
Reader in Archaeology and Anthropology
at the University of Wales, Lampeter. Jonty
Trigg teaches archaeology at the University
of Liverpool and is researching a PhD atthe University of Glasgow. SEPP wishes to
acknowledge the donation of si x WHS trowels
by Past Horizons in 2008, which were put to
good use by members of the volunteer t eam.
The findings of previous seasons f ieldwork is
available at :
http://www.lamp.ac.uk/archanth/staff/dransart/fetternear.htm
mailto:[email protected]://www.lamp.ac.uk/archanth/staff/dransart/fetternear.htmhttp://www.lamp.ac.uk/archanth/staff/dransart/fetternear.htmmailto:[email protected] -
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Buildings in the central area of the citadel which date to after the Bosporan/Roman war of 44 - 45 AD
A r t e z i a n
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Romania
Hungary
Poland
Slovakia
Belarus
Russi
UKRAINE
Black Sea
Moldova
Kiev
KerchARTEZIAN
UKRAINE
continued
Excavation
on the
Cr imean
Peninsula
photographs and text byprofessor nikolai vinokurov
Artezian lies close to the Azov Sea in the Crimean Peninsula of Southeastern Ukraine,
a picturesque region of steppe grasslands, winding rivers, springs and reservoirs,
abundant in fish and wild birds. Here, for the past 22 years, a Russo-Crimean
archaeological expediti on has been excavating the fortified settlement of Artezian along with
a team of international volunteers.
There has been a human presence here since
Prehistoric times and the landscape as we see
it now has changed very li t t le since then, with
chains of Bronze Age barrows (second and
third millennium BC) aligned with dirt roads
and tracks connecting the coastal regions
with the more remote interior of the Kerch
peninsula.
By the fifth century BC, with the foundation
of the Bosporan kingdom, this area becamean important economic and strategic base
of Imperial power, colonised by military
settlers. The larger settlements occupied
commanding elevations, ideal for defensible
fortified towns requiring a clear l ine of site
and communication to the other regions of
the Bosporan state. Situated in the middle
of this territory and covering approximately
seven hectares Artezian sits high above the
surrounding landscape well protected by the
natural terra in .
An area of 8000 square metres has been
excavated so far and archaeologically, the site
contains a complex stratigraphy that reaches
to a depth of around six metres and stretches
back over thousands of years. However,
the most informative layer is the burnt one
which represents the near destruction of the
settlement at the time of the Bosporon/Roman
war of 44-45 AD. Lying 1.20 metres beneath
the surface, i t contains a wealth of finds such
as hundreds of terracotta figurines (many
complete), thousands of coins and domestic
utensils, and the remains of weapons belonging
to the defenders of the fortress.
It is not clear what this ancient fortification
was originally called but some historical
researchers believe this may have been
Parosta, mentioned by the Roman author Pliny
and the Greek geographer Ptolemy. Parosta,
when translated from ancient Persian, meansstanding at the front and from Indo-Aryan
as situated by the mouth of a river by the
port. Certainly its location suggests that i t
was on the frontline of a complex system of
fortifications encircled by banks and ditches
guarding the vitally important centres of the
Bosporan kingdom from attack by marauding
nomads from the steppe. It would also have
been an ideal place to exert control over
the surrounding regions, housing the kings
governor, a military garrison, tax collectorsand merchants.
The for t i f ied se t t lement is la id out in
a rectil inear plan with the central area
containing the citadel. Around the edges are
ancient altars that are now represented by four
ash mounds. Throughout its 1200-year history
the fortress appears to have been repeatedly
burnt down during attacks and damaged by
powerful earthquakes, but w as always re-built
or repaired soon after.
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The citadel consists of mighty rectangulartowers and walls constructed from large, rough-
hewn stone blocks dating from the turn of the
first century BC to the first century AD. The
towers are notable for their mathematically
exacting construction designed to provide
protection against earthquake damage. The
fortress itself was surrounded by a ditch
(three to five metres deep
and up to 12 metres wide)
which was partially faced
with stone. A subterranean
drainage system consisting
of square masonry blocks
was used to conduct water
away from the ditch.
Within the walls of the
citadel, four wells, with
a depth of up to 15 metres, have now been
excavated, three of which are faced with
timber and one with stone.
One of the rulers in this period was a mighty
adversary of Rome, the King of Pontus,
Mithridates VI Eupator Dionysus. The lower
floors of the citadel housed impressive
barracks dating from this period and these
grand buildings, situated on several terraces,
were extremely well planned. The walls
were constructed of a chequerboard pattern
consisting of large blocks with smaller stones
packed in between, an unusual feature in the
northern Black sea region.
When combined with the richness and varietyof the excavated finds and the quality of the
architecture, there is clear evidence that the
inhabitants had attained a good standard of
l iving. The business and domestic premises
grouped together in a regular arrangement
along the paved streets had rendered walls
built of stone and adobe with ti led roofs.
The residential buildings
contained water and
sewerage drainage
systems, and some
houses contained marble
classical architectural
detailing. The occupants
had spacious granaries
and large wine-making
premises with semi-
basement areas and vessel s dug into the floor
for wine storage. The population was also
occupied in cattle rearing, poultry farming,
hunting and fishing, pottery manufacture,weaving, copper smelting, iron work and
glass blowing. In the hinterland area there
is evidence of agriculture sub divisions,
including ancient vineyards, farmsteads
and vegetable plots. Also, sti l l visible are
a number of quarries for the extraction of
building mater ials.
The settlements necropolis occupies over
15 hectares of which around 3000 square
metres have been excavated. This consists
Remains of the one of the citadel towers dating from the
second half of t he f irs t century ADStructure forming part of the regular planning
One of the rulers inthis period was a mighty
adversary of Rome,the King of Pontus,
Mithridates VI EupatorDionysus.
-
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of approximately 400 burials as well as seven
monumental barrows with stone vaults for
the wealthy elite. The dead were buried
in coffins or sarcophagi, decorated with
painted gypsum mouldings, and placed in
the graves were sets of red
lacquer and glass wares,
such as dishes, bowls,
jugs, goblets, embalmingvessels and small phials
for precious fragrances.
The burials of women and
children contained beads,
bronze bracelets, earrings
and rings, while the adult
males were buried with
daggers, swords, arrow
tips and metal fit t ings for
clothing and equipment.
Also excavated in thenecropolis were the burials
of horses and dogs. Horses
were buried with iron curb
chains and buckles, forming
part of the bridle and harness. Several of
them had traces of serious battle wounds
incurred during their l ives which appeared to
have successfully healed.
The recovery of weapons, the remnants of
metal armour and the war wounds of the buried
testify to the existence of a strong military
presence including a cavalry contingent
within the population. Statuettes of static
and galloping horsemen,
images on graves in the
strata of the first centuries
AD, the burial of horsesin the necropolis, the
presence of good stabling
and the large number of
horse bones found in the
other strata paint a very
clear picture of this.
Aside from the military
evidence it also appears that
the inhabitants enjoyed a
good level of education andcultural continuity, for the
settlement contains many
thousands of examples of
graffit i and inscriptions
using the Greek alphabet with abbreviations of
Greek words and names. The material culture
of the period is also Greek in appearance
showing very li t t le barbarian influence.
continued
Ceramics found within the necropolis burials
Glassware grave goods
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G e t I n v o l v e d The Artezian Archaeological Expedit ioninvites both professionals and amateurs from
all over the world to take part in the summer
2009 excavations.
All excavation activit ies are supervised by
qualif ied archaeologists who guide, instruct
and explain the work to volunteers and
students.
Professionals from a wide range of
archaeological and historical backgrounds
are also welcome, as is anyone interested in
carrying out their own research.
Cost: 50 per day
Dates: 10 July - 25 August, 2009
During excavations, the expedit ions camp is
located in the Crimean steppe. All volunteers
are expected to bring along tents and sleeping
bags to accommodate themselves when out i n
the f ie ld .
For more information please contact Sergei
Boriskin at : [email protected]
Excavations in t he southern area revealing the regular plan s truct ures dating to the 1st ce ntury AD
find out more about the Bosporan Kingdom
The Danish National Research Foundations Centre for Black
Sea Studies provides information about current research and
includes a good introduction to the Bosporan Kingdom at:
ht tp: / /www.pontos.dk
This long period of relative stability was to
come to an end, for around the fourth century
AD there was a notable reduction in the
size of the settlements population and the
site of Artezian fell into neglect. This wasdue to worsening environmental conditions
and military upheavals across the region,
eventually leading to the extinction of the
Bosporan statehood system.
From out of the steppe Khaza rs and Alans then
appeared. Living in yurts and small circular
adobe houses with cattle enclosures, their
religion and language was entirely different to
that of their predecessors, and so marked the
beginning of a new wa y of life in t he region.
Professor Nikolai Vinokurov of Moscow State
Pedagogical Universi ty has been the director
of the Artezian expedition since 1988, and
has carried out excavations on the site in
co-operation with the Crimean Branch of
the Insti tute of Archaeology of the National
Science Academy, Ukraine.
Original text translated from the Russian
by Sophie Mamattah, John Sullivan andTatyan a Van Lo o.
mailto:[email protected]://www.pontos.dk/http://www.pontos.dk/mailto:[email protected] -
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Advertising Feature
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S l i e v e m o r eE x c a v at i n g a B r o n z e A g e P l a t f o r m
by stuart rathbone
In 2008 excavations began on what was believed to be a roundhouse pl atform at Achill Island,
West Ireland. In fact, what Achill Archaeological Field School revealed was the remains
of a substantial, stone-built , circular structure thought to date from the Early or Middle
Bronze Age. So now that a domestic structure seemed unlikely, what was its intended functi on?
View to the southwest from above Roundhouse 1 wi th Deserted Village s tructures vis ible i n the background
Roundhouse 1 is one of a pair of circular
structures located 50m apart on the 150m
contour on the southern slopes of Slievemore
Mountain. Prior to investigation the siteappeared as a level circular platform, with
a slightly dished interior and the top of a
circular stone wall visible in places around the
perimeter.
Whilst the interior seemed a li t t le unimpressive,
the view from down slope was more dramatic
as the scale of the curving wall was clearly
apparent. The structure is built on steeply-
sloping ground overlooking the valley floor
far below, and equidistant between the two
structures there is a curvilinear pre-bog field
wall running up the mountain, apparently part
of a field system that divides the southe rn side
of Slievemore into a series of long strips.
A total of six trenches were excavated across
the site and a complicated and monumentally
proportioned structure has been revealed. The
structure is roughly circular in plan with an
external diameter of approximately 11m. It is
defined by a substantial stone wall and has an
entrance at the south east. The southern arc
of the wall is particularly complicated and
consists of numerous components. The outer
perimeter of the wall is defined by a ring of
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substantial kerbstones behind which is a large
dry stone wall that stands up to 1.7m high and
is up to 2.2m wide. The internal edge of thewall is also defined by a second ring of l arge
kerbstones. The top of the wall is wide and
level and a vertically-sided, flat-bottomed
trench runs through the middle of i t which was
0.5m wide and 0.7m deep where investigated.
The slot contained a loose sandy clay fil l with
some charcoal.
The kerbstones, of varying sizes, included
some very large boulders. Sections of both
the inner and outer rings of kerbstones had
fallen away from the wall, but as the wall had
not subsequently collapsed it is suspected thatthe kerbstones were not actively retaining the
wall .
continued
The southern wall of Roundhouse 1
Roundhouse 1
Roundhouse 2
Deserted Village
Castlebar
IrelandAchill
Island
Slievemore
North
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Detail of t he northern wall Detail of the southern wall
Hearth and postholes in the centre of the s tructure
The wall at the north was generally similar in
construction, but was shorter and narrower.
It again consisted of internal and external
rings of kerbstones, but with a rubble core,
retained by dry stone facing rather than the
well coursed stone work seen at the sou th.
There is no continuation of the central slot
feature around the north of the building. The
northern wall is approximately 1.4m wide
and 0.8m high. A small exploratory trench
was placed over the wall at the west of the
structure where there was a suggestion that an
entrance may have been located. This trench
did not reveal the full width of the wall but
showed that the entrance was a secondary
feature relating to the use of the structure as
an animal pen in the Early Modern period.
The slot feature was present at the east of
this trench but the wall otherwise had more
in common with the smaller northern part of
the wall than the larger southern part.
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A trench in the centre of the structure
revealed a deep build up of peat within the
interior overlying a thin buried turf layer,
complete with preserved grass and frequent
charcoal. Underneath this turf was a spread of
dark charcoal-rich material which covered a
hearth, two adjacent postholes and a series of
small stakeholes. Samples from these features
are being processed in order to obtain furtherradiocarbon dates which should relate directly
to the use of the structure.
The structure has a complicated entrance
located at the south east. The entrance is an
elongated sunken feature with a stone-lined
base and large stone slabs flanking the sides.
A pair of pillar-like orthostats is present at
each end of the entrance, with the western,
inner pair slightly taller than the eastern,
outer pair. A sil stone runs between the twostones of the outer pair. Interestingly the
entrance feature extends into the buildings
interior and so the inner pair of orthostats are
actually internal features. On either side of
the entrance there is a large mass of rubble,
similar to a cairn, retained by large boulders,
and the eastern end of the entrance beyond
the orthostats expands out, funnel-style, to
join with this material.
A final feature was found abutting the northern
side of the north wall and the northern side
of the cairn-like material to the north of the
entrance. This is a low platform of densely-
packed rubble measuring 1.2m in width and
at least 2m in length which is retained by a
large stone slab. The top surface of the rubble
is quite level, and it is possible this feature
originally extended further to the east and
west but has subsequently collapsed.
The artefact assemblage from the structure
was very limited, consisting of a fragment
of a flint plano-convex knife, a small fl int
scraper, a fragment of a chert blade and a
few pieces of flint debitage. No bones were
recovered from the site due to the highly
acidic nature of the soil . A radiocarbon date
of 1411 - 1210 cal BC has been obtai ned from
a piece of charcoal from the preserved turf
layer within the structures interior, but as
this layer has been conclusively demonstratedto postdate the collapse of the structure, this
date is terminus ante quem.
The structure is more architecturally complex
than could have been imagined prior to the
excavations and it is not entirely clear how
a timber superstructure could be incorporated
into the stone walls. Whilst there are two
postholes in the centre of the building, they
could not have been used simul taneously, andthere is no evidence indicating the presence of
an internal post ring closer to the perimeter of
the structure. This suggests the superstructure
was supported by a solitary upright post and
the top of the dry stone wall. The absence of
the slot feature in the northern part of the
wall is confusing if this feature was used to
tie the roof into the walls. Extended covered
entrances are frequently observed at Bronze
Age roundhouses, but the entrance to this
structure was almost certainly not covered by
a roof as no postholes were located along itssides.continued
Looking along the entrance into the interior
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The preserved turf layer overlying the hearth and postholes
Looking over the northern cairn like projection towards the entrance
Approaching the building from the east a
person would have been channelled between
the two horn-shaped projections of stone into
the entrance feature proper, which was marked
by two orthostats and a sil stone. Progress
would have been made along the stone-linedentrance through the door of the building,
but instead of opening out immediately, the
entrance continued for a short distance and
a second, larger pair of orthostats would be
passed through before the inte rior space could
be properly accesse d. The interior space w ould
be dominated by the central post supporting
the roof and the ring of large kerbstones
fronting the wall.
The location of the structure so high above
the valley floor, the way in which the southern
wall was apparently designed to enhancevisibili ty, the limited artefact assemblage, the
complex nature of the entrance and the horn-
like projections of cairn material all suggest
this was not a standard domestic building.
It is possible the structure and the adjacent
building had a special function, such as cult
houses or places in which religious observance
were held. Further to the east a group of
megalithic tombs occupy a similar position
on the mountainside, and it is possible these
structures represent a continuation of ritualactivity at the same alti tude.
The preserved turf layer from which the
radiocarbon date was obtained is relevant
to this discussion. This turf could not have
developed whilst the structure was roofed,
and indeed it was found to overlay both the
kerbstones and the collapse from the wall,
demonstrating its secondary nature. The
presence of charcoal throughout this turf
layer therefore indicates human activity at the partially-col lapsed ruins. That the site was
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stil l visited regularly enough to permeate the
turf with charcoal is surely a reflection of i ts
former importance, although the exact nature
of this secondary activity has not yet been
established.
During the excavations the team discussed
the possibili ty that the structure was some
form of megalithic tomb or unroofed circular
enclosure. These interpretations now seem
unlikely, but the structure does contain
numerous elements that have parallels in
the megalithic repertoire. In particular the
appearance of the entrance with its pairs of
orthostats and the curving projections of
cairn-like material certainly bears a passing
resemblance to some court tombs, passagetombs with in-turned entrances, and the Clyde
cairns of western Scotland. The overall design
of a long passage through a circular cairn
into an open-roofed circular space lined with
kerbstones is also reminiscent of the Clava
Cairns of North East Scotland, and to some
degree even Fourknocks 1 in County Meath,
Ireland.
Is i t possible that the builders of this struct ure
were consciously imitating megalithic
architectural themes? The similarit ies in
design may be entirely coincidental but
more light may be shed on Slievemores purpose as the Achill Field School conducts
its investigations this year into the adjacent
structure. I t is hoped the two excavations will
complement each other and provide a better
understanding of when these structures were
built , what their exact form was and what
activities took place within them.
Stuart Rathbone (BSc) joined Achill Field
School in spring 2008. He went to Ireland in
2001 and has worked on a wide range of Irishexcavations including the mass ive Bronze Age
Village at Corrstown, County Derry, and the
Viking settlement at Woodstown, C o. Waterford.
Forthcoming publications include a review
of transhumant farming practices in Ireland
and Britain, and excavation reports from the
Bronze Age vil lage at Corrstown; an unusual
Early Medie val enclosure at Castletown Tara
3; Bronze Age barrows, Iron Age ditches and
an Early Medieval ringfort at Garretstown 2;
a Medieval far mstead at Trevet 1 and a Bronze
Age camp site at Pottlebane 1.
Achil l Archaeological Fie ld School offers a
Bare Bones two week course in excavation
and recording procedures on si te . This
course , available in 2009 is par t icular ly
suited to people who have a small amount of
archaeological exper ience but wish to build
on this while excavating Roundhouse 2.
The Bare Bones course includes basic
instruct ion and supervision in excavation/
planning/surveying while on-si te .
Dates: 15 - 26 June excavation of t renches a t
the nor th and east of Roundhouse 2.
3 - 14 August - excavation of t renches a t the
south and west of Roundhouse 2.
Cost: 650 includes se lf -cater ing
accommodation, local t ranspor t and one daytour of archaeological s i tes on Achil l Is land.
Places are l imited t o 20 people so t his offer is
available on a f irst come, f irst served basis.
For details on al l the courses available
visit the website at:
http: / /www.achil l - f ie ldschool .com
G e t I n v o l v e d
http://www.achill-fieldschool.com/http://www.achill-fieldschool.com/ -
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Low Level Aerial
Photography for
Archaeology
Top: The remains of a Moai head amongst the debris of an Ahu and its cobbled surfaced plazaAbove: View of the Moai s tatues and the Ahu (platform) they s tand on
Opposite, left: The Ballowall Barrow in Cornwall, England
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continued
photographs and text by adam stanford
Aerial-Cam out in the f ield
One ought to be a bird in order to be a field
archaeologist said John Peere Williams-
Freeman to English archaeologist O. G. S.
Crawford in the years before the Great War.Indeed, all modern field archaeologists will
appreciate the need to see the evidence on
the ground from a birds-eye view. Since the
development of aircraft and cameras during the
pioneer years of Crawford, colossal amounts
of data have, and are stil l being, gathered
for the archaeological record, and studying
aerial photographs has now become standard
practise for desk-based assessments.
Aircraft-borne cameras yield a fantastic
amount of information over large areas
of landscape, and for the discovery of new
archaeological sites aerial survey is ideal.
However, this is compromised when trying
to record in detail the excavated features in
smaller areas. Conventional aircraft , f ixed
wing or helicopter, are limited by alti tude
regulations and can usually fly no lower
than 500 feet above ground level. This is
where alternative methods have proved moreeffective for site-specifi c and detailed low
level aerial photography.
In 1906 2nd Lt. Philip Henry Sharpe RE
photographed Stonehenge from the basket
of a tethered Royal Engineers hydrogen
balloon. The relative stability and static
position at low alti tude allowed for recordi ng
of the monuments detail , including its low
earthworks, for the first t ime.
Since then many other non-aircraft methods
have been employed with varying degrees
of success including raised platforms with
extendable ladders, scaffolding towers and
cherry pickers. Manoeuvring this type of
equipment around an excavation area is often
tricky, and scaffolding requires considerable
effort and checking by qualified personnel
each time it is erected.
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The methods just discussed involve the
photographer actually holding the camera to
operate it , and from personal experience this
can be quite a hair-raising experience. Stories
recounted by archaeologists from the good old
days tell of attempts to get overhead shots by
balancing on top of vehicles, being elevated
in machine buckets or scaling the nearest high
tree, wall or building.
Remote camera operation is possible with the
use of unmanned aeri al vehicles ( UAV), from
the low-tech and reasonably inexpensive kites
and blimps to the much more costly remote-
controlled aircraft . Although excellent
results can potentially be achieved with this
type of equipment it can be hazardous as the
operator of the UAV is also attempting to
take the photographs. As well as the obvious
safety implications, attaching a camera to
a moving and vibrating object can lead toimage quality issues such as camera shake.
Normally with this type of equipment, only
compact l ightweight cameras can be used
Stonehenge at sunrise, taken from 20m above the Avenue
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which restricts the photographic potential.
Between 1970 and 1979 the Royal Commission
on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of
Wales (RCAHMW) employed a new method
of photography in the form of a telescopic
mast system called the High-Spy camera.
Mounted on the back of a Land Rover it enabled
safe remote operation of various camerasat heights equivalent to scaffolding towers.
One of the main benefits of this system was
the ease in which camera positions could be
changed in a matter of minutes with the Land
Rover giving access to difficult terrain. When
the High-Spy system needed renewing the
RCAHMW decided it was too costly and came
to an agreement with the Royal Commission
in Scotland who used a trailer-mounted mast.
This continued until the early 1980s.
As a field archaeologist working for commercialunits, rarely was there a safe and practical
way to photograph excavations from over
head. This led me to investigate methods that
continued
I was inspired to take this picture of Stonehenge after my interest in the monument was rekindled while working on the
Stonehenge Riverside Project in 2006. I was concerned that a lot is said about the stones, many photographs depicting the
stones and the sky, ignoring the wider landscape and the rest of the monument. I planned my tr ip carefully so as to arr ive
before sunrise and be rea dy with the camera 20m above the avenu e. As the mist cleared, the sun cre pt over the horizon and
warmed the stones, the bank and ditch clearer now with the oblique l ighting. I waited for the sun and I spent the longest
t ime I had ever done before just looking at Stonehenge. I t was magical, frustrating and eerie all at the same time. After
nearly three hours of taking pictures I was freezing cold, but i t was worth i t .
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might prove more suitable. In 2006 after someexperimentation my company, Aerial-Cam,
was created specialising in low-level aerial
photography using the mast system. Delivering
very high quality images from a variety of
heights using a telescopic mast mounted on
a Land Rover, Aerial-Cam is a safe, low-cost
and accurate method, differing considerably
to photography taken from aircraft . Greater
detail and accuracy is achieved at heigh ts up to
22 metres above ground level. The equipment
allows for precise photographic recordingdue to the stability and control of the camera
mounted on the mast, which acts as a verylarge monopod in stil l weather and a tripod
(when guyed) in windy conditions. Camera
set-up locations can quickly be changed and
multiple angles achieved on excavation sites
or around buildings.
Where vehicle access is an issue, a l ightweight
tripod-mounted mast system is employed
which can be easily carried to remote sites
or erected inside buildings, such as churches.
This has all the advantages of the Land Rovermounted system but with slightly less potential
An Easter Is land boat house taken with the l ightweight pole cam
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for height and stability in windy conditions.In fact the portable mast system was used in
January 2009 to aid my photography work as
part of the Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Lands capes
of Construction Project, where it proved
invaluable when creating the photographic
record.
In just under three years since setting up the
Aerial-Cam system providing the service
to commercial archaeologists, universities
and special projects, a range of sites from prehistory to industrial have been worked
on and consistently excellent results have been achieved. Archaeological excavation is
a destructive process and the evidence will
only be available for a relatively brief t ime,
so it is imperative to ensure the photographic
record is of the highest quality possible.
Adam Stanford is the director of Aerial-Cam.
He also runs Archaeological Safaris running
f ield trips and field schools, and is involved
in the Anglesey Rock-Art Field School, detailsof which can be seen above.
Ge t Invov l ed Anglesey Rock-Art Project Field School
Llwydiarth Esgob Stone
A recent photographic survey (Nash & Stanford 2009)
has indicated that there is in fact much more to the art
on the Llwydiarth Esgob Stone than previously thought .
As well as the possibil i ty of below-ground rock-art , the
survey may have revealed dist inct similari t ies with art
of the Boyne Valley, thus stro ngly adding fur ther to the
suggestion of an Ir ish influence for the rock-art found
in Anglesey and north Wales.
The group is investigating the possibil i ty of further art
below the present groun d level and wishes to record the
panel complete. The stone may also have b een removed
from a now-destroyed, unknown monument nearby, so
this wil l also be investigated. Rock-art surveys and
recording at other monuments on Anglesey, including
Barclodiad y Gawres where art has been discovered in
recent photographic surveys, wil l also take place, as
well as f ield tours of the many fascinating monuments
on Anglesey. Techniques covered are excavation and
recording, special methods of photographic and other
non/minimal contact recording of megali thic rock-art .
There will be camping on si te with water, toi let and
shower facil i t ies, and apart from the project supper/
BBQ evening, i t wil l be self-catering. Transport to and
from the project is at your own expense, but i t may be
possible to arrange pick-ups at the ferry terminal or
train stat ion in Holyhead.
Cost: 115
Dates: 18-22 June 2009 (book early as places are
limited).
Contact Adam: [email protected]
http:/ /www.aerial-cam.co.uk/index.html
ht tp:/ /www.archaeology-safaris .co.uk
mailto:[email protected]://www.aerial-cam.co.uk/index.htmlhttp://www.archaeology-safaris.co.uk/http://www.archaeology-safaris.co.uk/http://www.aerial-cam.co.uk/index.htmlmailto:[email protected] -
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I n c l u s i v e A c c e s s i
The emphasis on f ie ldwork in archaeology
has given the disc ipl ine a macho image
and is of ten seen as something carr ied out
only by f i t and supposedly able-bodied people .
Does this rea l ly have to be the case , should
people with disabil ities be excluded? Fieldwork
tra ining is a key component of an undergraduate
degree in archaeology and through par t ic ipat ion
students gain not only pract ica l ski l ls , but
a lso a number of t ransferable ski l ls that are
increasingly valued by employers. These includeteam-working, communicat ion, se lf -motivat ion,
analyt ica l abi l i ty and a number of other key
competencies.
Over the past few years , the Depar tment of
Archaeology a t the Universi ty of Reading has
devised var ious s tra tegies to include the growing
by tim phillips and roberta gilchrist
A visually-impaired s tudent identif ies f inds by touch.
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number of disabled students in i ts f ie ldwork
tra ining programme. Archaeology depar tments in
other universi t ies have a lso repor ted an increase in
disabled people taking up courses. This prompted
the conception of a new project , to develop the
provision of antic ipatory support for disabled
students involved in f ie ldwork tra ining: Inclusive ,
Accessible , Archaeology ( IAA). Fie ldwork
involves the acquisi t ion and development of a
number of ski l ls ,
so this supportactual ly has the
potenti al to be used
by all students.
Providing support
of this nature
can actual ly be
more dif f icult
than i t sounds.
An archaeological
excavation is a
dynamic place . I ts physical nature
and appearance
and the work
priorities involved
change from
day to day, if not
hour by hour. The
usual methods of
inclusion are much more dif f icult to apply in such
an environment. Added to this , s tudents ski l ls and
abil i t ies vary wildly, and these wil l change and
develop over t ime as they gain more exper ience.
All of this poses quite a challenge for directors:
how can they antic ipate the specif ic needs of
every individual s tudent who might potentia l ly
be present on fieldwork training? Moreover, in
what may be a tota l ly new environment for
them, can a s tudent be expected to ful ly antic ipate
beforehand what their needs may be?
Rather than focusing on what people cannot
do, the IAA project team took a more posi t ive
approach. I t decided to identify what abil i t ies areactual ly required to carry out the pr incipal tasks
in archaeological f ie ldwork. Working c losely with
occupational therapists and access consultants ,
the archaeologists invest igated the pract ica l
archaeological ski l ls that s tudents acquire dur ing
f ie ldwork tra ining. Through observation, the team
recorded the physical and cognit ive demands of
each activity. Then they identified a number of
everyday act ivi t ies that c losely resemble each of
the archaeological tasks. They a lso identif ied the
transferable ski l ls
acquired throughfie ldwork.
From this
information, a self-
evaluat ion toolki t
was developed,
known as the
A r c h a e o l o g i c a l
Skil ls Self -
Evaluati on Toolkit
(ASSET). The
idea behind thetoolki t is that i t
enables s tudents
to gain an idea of
their potentia l
abil i t ies and ski l ls
before embarking
on f ie ldwork. The
toolki t helps them
to evaluate their abi l i ty to perform a ser ies of
tasks that c losely resemble the archaeological
tasks. After identifying any areas of dif f iculty, a
support s tra tegy can be devised and put in place
before fieldwork takes place. Therefore, there is
less pressure on the f ie ldwork director to antic ipate
and prepare for every eventuali ty. For the s tudents ,
the toolki t a l lows them to identify their s trengths
and weaknesses and to target areas that need
developing. After par t ic ipat ing in f ie ldwork, the
toolki t can be used to re-evaluate actual abi l i t ies
in the l ight of pract ica l exper ience.
Because abil i t ies and ski l ls are evaluated a t
var ious levels of dif f iculty, their development canbe tracked over time by repeatedly using ASSET.
continued
b l e A r c h a e o l o g y
The usual perception of disabili ty. Note how the tr ipod legs have been
adjusted to a reasonable height.
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Consider ing the increasing importance placed on
the development of ski l ls in higher education, the
toolki t is highly valuable . I t can be integrated into
student programmes of Professional Development
Planning, which emphasise the need to identify
and develop a range of dif ferent ski l ls .
One notable benef i t of ASSET is i ts ease of use .
Students s imply have to answer quest ions about
their abi l i ty to carry out a ser ies of everyday
tasks a t varying levels of dif f iculty. ASSET
then automatical ly produces a summary of their
potenti al to successful ly carry out particula r
archaeological tasks, which can then be tested
in the f ie ld. Following f ie ldwork, s tudents feed
information into the toolki t to log their ac tual
abil i ty in carrying out specif ic tasks. Because
abil i t ies can be evaluated a t dif ferent levels , the
toolki t can be used on subsequent occasions and
the development of abil i t ies and ski l ls effect ively
tracked. This applies to a l l s tudents , not just thosewho are seen as disabled .
As well as developing ASSET, the project a lso
produced a set of good practice guidelines for
including disabled students in archaeological
f ie ldwork tra ining. These are based par t ly on
the observations of the project team, but the
main sources of information were inf luenced by
the exper iences of archaeology depar tments and
disabled archaeology students , drawing on the
good pract ice a lready being carr ied out . With the
increasing public interest in archaeology, this publicat ion a lso conta ins guidelines for making
an excavation accessible to visi tors .
Disability and the
Archaeological Profession (DAP)
Following on from the IAA project,Archaeology a t the Universi ty of Reading
have been commissioned by English Heri tage
to carry out a project looking a t disabil i ty
within the archaeological profession working
in c lose consulta t ion with the Inst i tute for
Archaeologists ( I fA) as a major s takeholder.
The br ief is to produce good pract ice
guidelines for the employment of disabled
archaeologists in the profession. These are
to be based on the good pract ices a lready
being followed by employers and employees.
The guidelines wil l be published as an I fA
Professional Paper.
The project team is looking for par t ic ipants
wil l ing to te l l their s tory, whether this be
positive or negative. We are very eager to
ta lk to anyone who has had exper iences of
disabil i ty within archaeology, e i ther a t a
personal level, with the people they have
worked a longside or supervised, interviewed
or employed. We are interested in talking to
people about a l l aspects , including the less
obvious things such as dyslexia , diabetes,
asthma, RSI and so for th. All the information
wil l be used anonymously and presented in
such a way that no individual or organisa t ion
can be identif ied. The par t ic ipants wil l a lso
be invited to comment on the draft of the
guidelines.
I f you are interested in par t ic ipat ing in this
project, please contact:
Dr Tim Phil l ips
T: 0118 3788293E: t . j .phil l [email protected]
Par t i c i pa t e in the p r o j e c t a n d g i v e y o u r v i e w s
The IAA project was funded by the Higher
Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
and carried out by Archaeology at the Reading and
Bournemouth Univ ersities and the Research Group
for Inclusive Environments at Reading. Support
was provided by the following s takeholders:
Ins ti tu te for Archaeologis ts
Council for Brit ish Archaeology
English Heritage
Oxford Archaeology
The Higher Education Academys SubjectCentre for History, Classics and Archaeology
The good pract ice guidelines are available
from The Higher Education Academys
Subject Centre for History, Classics and
Archaeology:
h t t p : / / w w w . h e a c a d e m y . a c . u k / h c a /
archaeology/features_resources/guides
ASSET is available as a f ree resource
on the project website , and is supported
by a selection of case studies and
supplementary project information:
http:/ /www.britarch.ac.uk/accessible
mailto:[email protected]://www.heacademy.ac.uk/hca/archaeology/features_resources/guideshttp://www.heacademy.ac.uk/hca/archaeology/features_resources/guideshttp://www.heacademy.ac.uk/hca/archaeology/features_resources/guideshttp://www.britarch.ac.uk/accessiblehttp://www.britarch.ac.uk/accessiblehttp://www.heacademy.ac.uk/hca/archaeology/features_resources/guideshttp://www.heacademy.ac.uk/hca/archaeology/features_resources/guidesmailto:[email protected] -
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Advertising Feature
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Georeferencing rock-art using digital photography, a s imple and cheap method for scaling out-of-reach rock-art using
techniques s imilar to those often employed in buildings recording
-
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World Rock-Ar t ,
Landscapes and
Creat iv ity
R
ock-art sites are to be found
scattered across the world and
altogether they contain millionsof images of individual or group identity,
most of which were created from around
30,000 years ago. As paintings, drawings,
engravings, prints, stencils and beeswax
designs, rock-art seems to have captur ed our
imagination sinc e the late 18th century.
Surprisingly, rock-art remained marginal
to archaeology until the early 1980s, only
recently emerging as an area of serious
scientific research. Now interest has reached
the point where rigorous methodologies
have been developed, with ideas of
origin and meaning discussed regularly
in academic journals and new discoveries
reported in the mainstream media.
In order to equip people with the
skills necessary to investigate rock-
art more thoroughly and to address the
issues surrounding its preservation and
presentation, a five-day course ran in
2008 called World Rock Art, Landscapes
and Creativity, based at the University
of Nottingham campus in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
by barry lewis
The approach to Gua Tambun
continued
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An intensive and challenging course, i t was ledby renowned expert s from Australia, Malaysi a
and the United Kingdom, and covered many
topics from current interpretation theories to
modern methods of non-invasive recording
which could prove suitable for studying rock-
art anywhere in the world. Students attending
the course also had the opportunity to visit
Malaysias most spectacular known rock-art
site, G ua Tambun (Tambun Cave).
Lying in the Perak region of Peninsula Malaysia
on a large limestone formation called Gunong
Panjang (the Long Mountain), Gua Tambun
consists of a high, slightly concave, wall
containing pigment art and drawings which
were first discovered by Lt. R.L. Rawlings of
the British army while stationed in Malaysia
in 1959. The floor of the shelter has been
quarried away some time in the past leaving
the art stranded almost impossibly high from
the uneven ground surface. In the heat andhumidity, the short walk and steep pull up
to the site had everyone reaching for theirwater bottles but the effort was worth it for
the chance to view, study and discuss these
wonderful drawings which include human,
abstract and animal motifs. Here the students
were taught to look at the various recording
approaches that could be adapted to suit the
challenging terrain, such as taking successful
digital photographs. They were also asked
to consider what the future threats to the site
might be and what management strategies could
possibly be employed to pr otect, conserve and
present the art to the public.
The course itself was designed to suit a broad
range of interested students. Coming from all
over the world their backgrounds ranged from
heritage management professionals, university
graduates, PhD students to lay people. The
teaching team was le d by Professor Paul Taon
of Griffith Universit y, Queensland, Australia,
who has built up many years of knowledgeand experience in this field, particularly in
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Aboriginal rock-art. He has recently been
part of the research team working alongside
Aboriginal elders to investigate contact art
in Arnhem Land, northern Australia, where
many cave shelters have been found to contai n
depictions of modern inventions such as
ships, cars and bicycles. Other contributors
to the course were Dr. George Nash of Bristol
University bringing with him expertise inEuropean rock-art, and Dr. Sally May also of
Griffith University (now Australian National
University) who shared her knowledge on
management of rock-art sites.
Professor Mohd Mokhtar Saidin of Universiti
Sains Malaysia (USM) talked about his
pioneering work recording rock-art in Sabah,
northern Borneo, and Peninsula Malaysia as
part of the first scientific Malaysian rock-art
project, and discussed new discoveries that
were made during his expeditions into the
jungle to find and map sites. This work is
stil l in its early stages but is already producingmuch new data including charcoal drawings
and cave engravings depicting human figures
with distinctive triangular bodies.continued
Above: Colonial period contact art in the Lenggong Valley
Main: The Perak r iver sweeping through the dense jungle of Peninsula Malaysia
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The warm evenings were spent relaxing over
a cold beer and sampling the fine Asian and
Malay cuisine on offer from the lively street
stalls around Bukit Bintang, something which
proved a popular end to the day.
In order to build upon the success of this
short field school, a longer course will take
place in 2009. Trent & Peak Archaeology
in conjunction with USM will be greatly
expanding the range of skills previously
offered. This time the field school will be
located in the north of Peninsula Malaysia on
the beautiful island of Penang and the class-
based element wi ll be taught at USM. This will
include a detailed introduction to rock-art and
current recording methodologies, working with
indigenous groups and local communities, and
the conservation and management of sites.
There will be a strong field-based element
to the 2009 course and this will take place
in the Perak regions Lenggong Valley which
has some of Malaysias, and east Asias,
oldest sites; Kota Tampan (c. 75,000 - 30,000
years old) and Bukit Jawa (c. 200,000 years
old). Earlier Palaeolithic occupation and
activity ceased in the Lenggong Valley with
the eruption of Mount Toba 74,000 years ago,
a super volcano that deposited a thick layer
of ash (up to nine metres thick in some parts
of Malaysia), some of which is sti l l visible in
parts of the valley today.
The terrain of the Lenggong Valley which is
covered in dense jungle will certainly providethe field school with many challenges, along
with the exciting potential to discover and
record previously undiscovered rock-art.
There is also the chance to look at colonial
contact art which is known to exist at a few
sites in the valley, some depicting images
such as motor cars.
This field school provides an excellent
opportunity to learn from some of theworlds leading experts and will challenge
the participants on many levels. I t is also a
chance to meet people from all over the world
and share ideas about a common passion, i n a
country that has some great examples of rock-
art to offer us.
Barry Lewis is a project off icer at Trent &
Peak Archaeology, University of Nottingham,
UK, and is the co-ordinator for the Malaysian
rock-art f ield school for 2009.
Dates: 3 - 13 September, 2009, inclusive
Costs: UK and EU student tui t ion fees, 670
International student tui t ion fees, 1150
Plus f ieldwork and accommodation costs, 385
The total cost includes accommodation (for 10nights) , lunches during the class based element
(in Penang) and all meals during the fieldwork,
transfers between Penang and the Lenggong
Valley, and all f ield tr ips.
Contact: Barry Lewis
Webpage: www.nottingham.ac.uk/tpa/f ield_school
Observing 74,000-year-old volcanic Toba ash deposits
Professor Taon teaching the group at Gua Tambun
G e t I n v o l v e d
mailto:[email protected]://www.nottingham.ac.uk/tpa/field_schoolhttp://www.nottingham.ac.uk/tpa/field_schoolmailto:[email protected] -
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Learn about Archaeology at
Advertising Feature
We offer a number of courses within the following awards:
MA Archaeology 2 years Part time Certificate HE Archaeology
Certificate HE The Archaeology of Britain Certificate HE Egyptology
Certificate HE Ancient Near Eastern and Aegean Studies Certificate HE Archaeologicall Practices & Techniques
www.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.
Archaeology & Egyptology CoursesPart Time, Evening and Weekly Courses
Archaeology modules include:
We are also offering the following new modules:
1 day conferences (study days)
MA Archaeology
From Babylon to Amarna: Ancient Middle Eastern Interaction i n the Days of Akhenaten (1 day conference)
Gods of Ancient Egypt
New Research in Egyptian Archaeology
The Beginning of the Egyptian State
For a copy of the new 2008/2009 prospectus please
telephone 020 7631 6627 or 0845 601 0174 or go to:
The 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 fit 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.html
T: 020 7631 6627 E:[email protected]
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 EgyptIntroduction to Akkadian
Advanced Akkadian
At Birkbeck we offer a wide range of courses on all aspects of Archaeology & Egyptology,taught by people who are as passionate about the past as they are about sharing theirexpert knowledge with you.
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
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/archaeology/ma_archaeology.htmlmailto://[email protected]://[email protected]://www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/archaeology/ma_archaeology.html -
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nnie Evanshe Dig Cook
Recipes for Archaeologists
The Dig Cooks websitehttp://www.digcook.com
Hands up, a l l you chocoholics! is
a ca l l that would produce a forest of
hands in the dining room of every digIve ever a t tended.
Its not a call I would make every day
but when the works hard and the days
are hot the team needs an occasional
treat .
Thats when I dive into my trusty old
recipe book and f l ick to the page where
my shard cake is l is ted. I a lso make
this cake as a t rea t
for members ofthe team who are
having bir thdays.
The reason why I
cal led i t a shard
cake was to make
it specia l for
a r c h a e o l o g i s t s .
The shards are
large flakes
of chocola te ,
i n s e r t e dver t ica l ly into
the cream on top
of an absolute ly
luscious cake
made from hazelnuts, coffee and
chocola te . The blend of those three
wonderful ingredients produces a
flavour made in heaven. I ts sooo
good!
Comparisons with other ecsta t ic
exper iences general ly come down infavour of this cake but best not to
go into deta i ls in this c lean, family
magazine!
A l i t t le bi t of exper imenting with a thin
layer of chocola te melted into a f la t
pan and then broken into irregularly-
shaped large chunks produced the
shards while the coffee and chocola te
that make up the body of the cake
suggest the ear th in which the team
searches for ancient t ruths.
I t is extremely r ich and so i t goes a long
way. Any reasonably competent field
cook can make this specia l occasion
cake providing the ki tchen has a small
handheld electric mixer.
The a l ternat ive is to use a large whisk
and strong muscles. And le ts not
forget that an oven is another essentia l
piece of equipment in the making of
this cake. Those
sad cooks whohave to make do
with a couple
of gas burners
can forget about
the recipe that
fol lows.
This cake is so
good that fraud has
sometimes been
suspected when a
suspic ious str ingof bir thdays has
occurred. I f that
happens, the cook
may have to s tar t
checking passpor ts for bir thdates.
I ve learned that there are people out
there who are so addic ted to chocola te
that nothing wil l s tand in the way of
a good feast of their favouri te food.
Somewhere a long the way Ive heard
of a T-shirt that bears the text: Handover the chocola te and no-one wil l get
hur t .
The f ie ld cook can usually count on
lef tovers to help him or her out on the
following day but I have to repor t that
with this cake lef tovers are not going
to happen. This is death by chocola te ,
coffee and hazelnuts who could ask
for a nicer way to go?
http://www.digcook.com/http://www.digcook.com/ -
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Shard
Cake
For 25 people
INGREDIENTS - CAKE
500g hazelnuts , toasted and skins
removed ( t ip: put toasted, cooled
hazelnuts in a paper bag and shake and
rub vigorously through the bag. Tip
them onto a t ray and blow the skins
away but do i t outside!)
One cup of cocoa powder (good Dutch
is best)12 large egg whites
3 cups caster sugar
200g dark cooking chocola te for shards
INGREDIENTS FILLING
4 cups cream
3 tablespoons good quali ty instant coffee dissolved
in 3 teaspoons of boil ing water and cooled
cup ic ing sugar
cup hazelnut l iqueur (optional but good)
METHOD FOR THE CAKE
Process hazelnuts with cocoa powder in a food
processor unti l roughly chopped. Alternatively
roughly chop hazelnuts and mix with cocoa
powder and set aside.
There must be no trace of yolk in with the egg
whites so I a lways break each egg and separate the
white into a small bowl and then put a l l the egg
whites in a bowl together . Make sure your egg-
beater has no traces and bowls have no traces offa t . I l ike the egg whites to be cold before I beat
them with a pinch of sa l t unti l s t i f f peaks form,
then add the caster sugar , cup a t a t ime, and
beat unti l the egg whites have tr ipled in volume
and are quite thick and glossy.
Gently fold the hazelnut mixture into the egg
whites. Spoon mixture into the three prepared t ins
or onto the pizza pla tes and bake a t 150 degrees
centigrade for 40 minutes. Cool in the t ins.
METHOD FOR FILLING
Beat cream with dissolved coffee and ic ing
sugar unti l s t i f f . Sandwich meringue layers
with half the cream mixture .
Spread remaining cream over the top and
sides. Decorate with chocola te shards andrefr igera te 12 24 hours before serving.
METHOD FOR CH OCOLATE SHARDS
Spread a luminium foil smoothly over two
oven trays and l ightly oi l . Melt chocola te
in a bowl over s immering hot water (dont
a l low water to come in contact with the
melt ing chocola te) .
Spread in a thin layer over the two trays.
Refr igera te unti l se t , then break intoir regular shards about 10cm long. These are
pressed into the cream on top of the cake so
that they stand up.
NOTE: Leftover egg yolks can be used for
making pastry, custard, mayonnaise e tc .
Lets not throw away good ingredients!
3 large cake t ins (30cm diameter) , well-oiled and l ined
with baking paper, or three large pizza trays, di t to
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It is not of ten that a conference l ives up to
i ts expecta t ions, but the Archaeology Fest ival
in Cardiff , Wales, in February, managed to
do just that . The conference was organised by
Current Archaeology magazine , and fol lowing
an invita t ion f rom the editor , Lisa Westcott ,
we jumped a t the chance to a t tend an event
that provided a pla tform to present current
archaeological research in a manner that was both
accessible and enter ta ining.
Arr iving with minutes to spare before the f irs t se t of
lec tures a t Cardiff Universi ty ( the conference was
spli t between this venue and the National Museum
Cardiff) , we kicked off with the Romans and were
taken through the recent excavations a t Caer leon
in Wales, moved on apace to Hadrians Wall andf inal ly ended up on the other s ide of the Roman
Empire with a remarkable lec ture
on the Siege of Dura Europos in
Syria . Here , the power play of
Roman and Sassanian poli t ics is
focussed into a s ingle moment in
a s iege tunnel , with a small group
of sappers who batt led and died
in the dark confined passage.
Towards the end you could smell
the f ire and feel the horror of
these f inal moments.
The af ternoon session moved
away from the Romans and took
us back into a re la t ively new area
of s tudy: the enigmatic Copper
Age or Chalcoli thic of Bri ta in.
Dealing mainly with the Wiltshire
area of south England, the la test
studies were presented by Dr.
Stuar t Needham of National
Museum Wales. The highlight of
the day, though, was guest speakerBettany Hughes who captivated the audience with
her personal f i f teen year invest igat ion on the real
Helen of Troy. Ever the professi onal, she held
the audience spellbound, but drew every strand
together in a f inale that shocked, intr igued and
quest ioned.
The fol lowing day we awaited the next ser ies of
seminars with a sense of antic ipat ion. After a look
a t the re la t ionship between the barbar ians and the
fa l l of the Roman Empire by Peter Guest of Cardiff
Universi ty, we heard about s tar t l ing new evidence
concerning the end of Roman occupation in Bri ta in
from Sam Moorhead of the Por table Antiquit ies
Scheme, who has buil t up an interest ing theory
from coins found mainly by metal detector is ts .
We then changed gear yet ag ain, and were plung ed
into the past with the remarkable Steve Mithen
as he presented his s tudies of the emergence
of farming a t the very or igins of the Neoli thic .