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Her itage Education Communit y Building Dig Diar y Junior Archaeologists Passage Grave

Pa st Hor izons
Digging through the thick layer of green clay (left). Uncovering evidence of
habitation beneath the green clay layer (right).
O nline Journal
of volunteer
The stereobate (leveling) courses of stone were archaeology
laid atop the clay, and then the temple proper was and training
constructed. The temple was probably destroyed
Adventures in Archaeology
in the early 2nd century BC when Bylazora itself August 2010
was sacked and then deserted. The ruins of the
temple must have remained undisturbed for quite
some time before later generations (the Romans?)
came by and quarried the stones of the temple to
burn down for lime mortar. We will have a more
complete discussion of the evidence for the
history of the temple, including its fate in the lime
kilns, in our 2010 report.
Clearing the stones of the stereoba

A deep sounding was made through the


green clay layer which uncovered walls
of an earlier period. A Field School volunteer explains li
production.

Shielings:
L ife in the H i g h Pa s t u re s
Issue 13
August 2010

Editors:
Felicity Donohoe
Maggie Struckmeier

Layout:
Maggie Struckmeier

Graphics
David Connolly

Past Horizons
Traprain House
Luggate Burn
Haddington
East Lothian
EH41 4QA

Tel: +44 (0)1620 861643


Email: editor@pasthorizons.com
Web: www.pasthorizons.com

Contributors: 30 Delancey Park


Stuart Dewey
Judy Dewey Delancey Park on the island of Guernsey is a Neol i t h i c g a l l e r y
Eulah Matthews
Bill Neidinger
grave. One of only three in the Channel Islands, i t c o m p r i s e s
Annie Evans two parallel lines of stone that extend for around nin e - a n d - a - h a l f
Si Cleggett metres fr om east to west, and this year Clifford Anti q u a r i a n C l u b
Fiona Baker began excavations on the site with some promising r e s u l t s .
George Nash
Jane Summers

Front cover:
Jamie Humble, at 6’4”, modelling
the sl e e p i n g p o s s i b i l i t i e s a t a
circula r ce l l s t y l e hu t a t A l l t
Fearn a , S co t l a n d

Note
Past Horizons can give no endorsement
of any listed project or guarantee the
accuracy of the information supplied.
The editors accept no responsibility
for any loss, injury, or inconvenience
sustained by anyone using the resources
contained within this magazine and/or
the websites mentioned herein. When
considering a project, be sure to contact
the director with any questions you might
have about conditions, travel, health
issues, etc. Check for references from
previous participants, seek advice where
possible and select a project that will be
of the greatest benefit to you, the project
and the team.
20 Wallingford
All content is copyright and no With only limited display and storage space the Wa l l i n g f o r d
reproduction of text or images is
allowed without prior permission
museum i n England made plans to build a timber fram e e x t e n s i o n
from the author. to their existing medieval building. In order to fulfil t h a t d r e a m ,
the townsfolk of Wallingford joined ranks to raise t h e n e c e s s a r y
Past Horizons 2010
funds to give their museum a whole new lease of life .

past horizons 2
Contents
Dig Diar y - Byla zora

8 Project Archaeology 48 Bylazora


A n award-winning educational team Follow the Texas Foundation for Archaeological and
f r o m America explains why the use o f Historical Research in their quest to find Bylazora, the
a r c h aeology is helping young peopl e largest city of the Paionians, who occupied territory to the
a p p r eciate the places and objects tha t north of ancient Macedon. Find out how their third digging
d e f i n e the past. season is progressing through their weekly dig diary.

38 Lost? 42 Shielings
Children and teachers from Aboyne academy Shielings played a significant part in the rural practices of the
in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, adopt a variety of Highlands of Scotland until the 19th century. Archaeologist
archaeological techniques to discover more about the Fiona Baker explains where to locate them and describes
small, abandoned settlement of Auchtavan. their particular functions.

R e g u l a rs
5 Editorial 47 Profile
Making way for change. Fiona Baker.

6 News 54 Dig In
Stories from around the world. Current excavation opportunities.

14 Exhibition Focus 56 Dig Cook


Alexander the Great and Unearthed’s Culinary escapades from Annie Evans.
ancient clay figures from East and West.
59 Viewpoint
28 A Digger’s Life David Connolly on the benefits of teaching
Si Clegget discusses children in history. cultural heritage.

3 past horizons
www.aerial-cam.co.uk

adam@aerial-cam.co.uk
past horizons 4
M akin g w a y f or ch a n g e . . . .
WELCOME to the new edition of Past Horizons . This

editorial
issue includes a couple of articles on the new and exciting
steps educators are taking towards history, heritage and
archaeology in both the United States and the United
Kingdom. Archaeology is now included at some schools
as a means to equip children with the skills to explore
h e r i t a g e i n a way that has never been presented to them before. The ability
t o t h i n k c r i t i c ally is a very powerful tool and one that is extremely useful
w h e n t r y i n g t o uncover the truth about the past; after all, pseudo-archaeology is
e v e r y w h e r e a n d most of us have been fooled by it at some time or another.

T h e I n d i a n a J ones movies and books such as The Da Vinci Code are mainly
h a r m l e s s f u n b ut they can make fools out of people when they do not apply the
b a s i c t e n e t s o f archaeology, which are the presence of physical evidence and
c r i t i c a l t h i n k i n g. Believing in something is one thing, but proving a theory can
b e m u c h h a r d e r and in the end is a m uch more satisfying experience.

H o w m a n y a r c haeologists would deny they have been influenced by Erik von


D a n ik e n ’s s e r i e s of books, which carefully mix factual evidence with unsupported
s p e c u l a t i o n l e a ving the reader with the impression that there must be some truth
i n w h a t i s w r i t t en? It is usually with maturity of thought that the archaeologist
i s a b l e t o l o o k back and dissect the supposed evidence leaving a less fanciful
– b u t m o r e r e a l istic – picture of the past.

W h e n w e f i r s t c hallenge established beliefs and question what we have previously


a c c e p t e d t h e n t he world appears a less certain place. However, the real evolution
o f h u m a n i t y i s extraordinarily diverse and colourful, and the ability to observe,
i n v e s t i g a t e a n d use forensic analysis opens up a whole new way of viewing the
w o r l d a n d a l l o ws for genuine archaeological advancement – leaving less need
t o b e l i e v e i n p yramids built by aliens. Truth can be stranger than fiction, after
all.

E m b r a c i n g c h ange enables learnin g, and utilising the tools available in


a r c h a e o l o g y p r ovides an excellent framework to assess any situation whether a
n e w s s t o r y o r an accepted theory. The same is true when others scrutinise our
o w n w o r k a n d as archaeologists we have to be as open to challenge as we are to
c h a l l e n g i n g o t hers.

C h a n g e c a n a l ways be a positive step and this is exactly the direction Past


H o r i z o n s i s t a k ing. From next month, a new magazine format will be introduced
t o b e t t e r d e a l with the ever-changing and fast-paced world of archaeological
d i s c o v e r y. T h e quarterly flip-page magazine will make way for a rolling article
b a s e d w e b s y s t em that will maintain the same high quality writing and images
w h i l s t r e s p o n d i ng instantly to breaking news, bringing a better, more up-to-date
s e r v i c e t o o u r readers.

editor@pasthorizons.com 

5 past horizons
Executed m e n we re o f Vi k i n g o r i gi n
news

E X P E RT S h a v e d e t e rmined that the human remains dis covered at


R i d g e w a y H i l l , We y mouth, last year are most likely of Scandinavian
o r i g i n . I s o t o p e a n a l y sis on the males, which included 51 decapitated
s k u l l s , s h o w s t h a t t h at the men had grown up in countries where the
c l i m a t e i s c o l d e r t h a n in Britain, with one individual thought to be
f r o m n o r t h o f t h e A r c tic Circle. Studies also found that the men had a
h i g h p r o t e i n - b a s e d d i et, comparable with known sites in Sweden.

S a mples taken from the teeth of 10 of the individuals have been p a i n s t a k i n g l y


p r o cessed by Dr Jane E vans and Carolyn Chenery at the NERC G e o s c i e n c e s
L a boratory, part of the British Geological survey, based in Nottin g h a m . E v a n s
a n d Chenery analysed the samples for strontium and oxygen, which r e f l e c t l o c a l
g e o logy and climate respectively, and carbon and nitrogen, which r e f l e c t d i e t .
To g ether, these isotopes are a useful means of exploring where the in d i v i d u a l s a r e
m o st likely to have originated.

D r Evans said, “Isotopes from


d r i nking water and food are fixed
i n t he enamel and dentine of teeth
a s t he teeth are formed in e arly life.
By completing a careful preparation
a n d chemical separation process
i n the laboratory, the elements
a r e extracted and their isotope
c o mposition can be measured.”

T h e extraordinary burial site was


d i s covered in June 2009 during

past horizons 6
t h e e a r t h w o r k o peration for a relief road, and
w a s e x c a v a t e d by Oxford Archaeology over
t h e f o l l o w i n g months. The remains of bodies
b e l o n g i n g t o t he skulls had been discarded
h a p h a z a r d l y i n another area of the same grave,
w h i c h w a s a r e - used quarry pit.

M a n y o f t h e e xecuted men suffered multiple


w o u n d s t o t h e skull and jaw as well as the
u p p e r s p i n e , inflicted by a sharp-bladed
w e a po n a n d t h o ught to relate to the process of
d e c a p i t a t i o n . O ther wounds so far identified
i n c l ud e a c u t t o the pelvis, blows to the chest
a n d d e f e n s i v e i njuries to the hands.

O x f o r d A r c h a e ology project manager David


S c o r e s a i d , “ T he find of the burial pit on
R i d g e w a y w a s remarkable and got everyone
w o r k i n g o n s i t e really excited. To find out
t h a t t h e y o u n g men executed were Vikings is
a t h r i l l i n g d e v e lopment.

“ A n y m a s s g r a ve is a relatively rare find, but


t o f i n d o n e o n this scale, from this period of
h i s t o r y, i s e x t r emely unusual and presents an
i n c r e d i b l e o p p ortunity to learn more about
w h a t i s h a p p e n ing in Dorset at this ti me.”

R a d i o c a r b o n dating placed the rem ains between AD910 and AD1030, and sp e c i a l i s t s a r e
c o n t in u i n g t o e xamine the remains to try to piece together the events surrounding t h e g r u e s o m e
d i s c o v e r y.

I f y o u a r e v i e w i n g t h i s m a g azine on SCRIBD, then


y o u w i l l n o t b e a b l e to see the video.

Yo u c a n v i e w i t o n e i t h e r t h e full flip page version of


t h e m a g a zine:

w w w. p a s t h o r i z o n s . com/magazine

OR

H e r e : h t t p : / / w w w. youtube.com/
w a t c h ? v = 3 U V L G 7 j9zLA&NR=1

I mage s co u r te s y o f Ox fo rd Arc h a e o l o g y

7 past horizons
D ig di re c to r D. B a r r y H o b s o n ( h a n d ra i s e d i n w h i te shir t), a retired general prac titioner, welcomes a group of visitors to the
excava t i o n s i te. D r. H o b s o n to o k a d e g re e i n A rc haeolo gy at Bradford Universit y a f ter his retirement.
Tipi proj e c t

past horizons 8
CO NFR ONTING TH E
CHALLENGE
of cultural her itage preser vation

In te ra c t i ve s h e l ter mo dules

I m a g e s a n d tex t by the Projec t Archaeology Team

IN TODAY’S wo r l d , w e f a c e m a n y c h a l l e n g e s
in negotiating m u l t i c u l t u r a l l a n d s c a p e s , a n d
to equip the next g e n e r a t i o n f o r t h i s t a s k , i t i s
necessary to prov i d e t h e m w i t h a n e d u c a t i o n a l
foundation that i s g r o u n d e d i n a r e s p e c t f o r
social and cultur a l d i ff e r e n c e s . T h e d i s c i p l i n e
of archaeology p r o v i d e s a u s e f u l t o o l t o h e l p
instill a reverenc e f o r t h e p l a c e s a n d o b j e c t s t h a t
define our past, a r e s p e c t f o r o u r s h a r e d c u l t u r a l
heritage, and to e m p h a s i s e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f
protecting it now a n d i n t h e f u t u r e .

9 past horizons
Worksh o p p a r t i c i p a nt s a t a b u f fa l l o j u m p s i te, M o ntana

I n t h e U n i t e d States, the Archaeological cultural legacy. That same year, t h e A m e r i c a


R e s ou r c e s P r o t ection Act (ARPA), amended 2000 Education Strategy called f o r F e d e r a l
i n 1 9 8 8 , i n s t r u cts Federal land managers to agencies to lead the way in p r o m o t i n g
i m p l e m e n t e d u cational programmes to inform education objectives.
t h e p u b l i c a b o ut the significance of cultural
a n d a r c h a e o l ogical resources on public
l a n d s a n d t h e need to protect them. Project “ Pro j e c t Arc h a e o l o gy now
A r c ha e o l o g y w as founded two years later to
e m p l o y e d u c a t i on in the protection of cultural i n c l u d e s 2 8 s t ate and
r e s o u r c e s o n p u blicly owned lands throughout re gi o n a l p ro gra m mes”
the nation.

B e c a u s e t h e p rogramme is designed to be Under the heading Project Arch a e o l o g y, t h e


d e l i v e r e d p r i m arily by classroom teachers, BLM planned to develop a res o u r c e g u i d e
a l l P r o j e c t A r c haeology educational materials and comprehensive heritage e d u c a t i o n a l
p r o v i d e w a y s f or educators to teach science, programme for teachers and o t h e r y o u t h
s o c i a l s t u d i e s , language arts and mathematics, educators, which would use a v a r i e t y o f
p r o m o t i n g c i t i zenship, civic dialogue, and activities to teach pupils about th e s c i e n c e o f
cultural understanding through the examination archaeology and the stewardship o f c u l t u r a l
o f h e r i t a g e p r e servation issues. resources. It would also advance t h e g o a l s o f
the America 2000 Education St r a t e g y w h i l e
I n 1 9 9 0 , t h e Bureau of Land Management promoting the protection of Ameri c a ’s c u l t u r a l
( B L M ) , a n a g e ncy within the United States resources.
D e p a r t m e n t o f t he Interior that administers the
2 5 3 m i l l i o n a c r es of public lands, developed In the late 1990s Project A r c h a e o l o g y
a n e w h e r i t a g e education programme that sought out a partnership to help e x p a n d a n d
w o u l d p r o m o t e an appreciation of the nation’s maintain the programme, and M o n t a n a S t a t e

past horizons 10
workshops, reaching an estima t e d 2 2 5 , 0 0 0
pupils each year. The curric u l u m g u i d e
has been distributed throughou t t h e U S A
and several other countries, an d h a s b e e n
adapted by various organisations , s u c h a s t h e
Smithsonian Institution, for othe r u s e s .

The primary means of distribu t i n g P r o j e c t


Archaeology curricular material s i s t h r o u g h
professional development wor k s h o p s f o r
teachers. The workshops offer a v a r i e t y o f
engaging, hands-on experiences, a n d e d u c a t o r s
often have the opportunity to exp e r i e n c e l o c a l
archaeological sites and listen to s p e c i a l g u e s t
speakers. In Montana, for exampl e , w o r k s h o p
participants visit stone circle and b u ff a l o j u m p
sites, and in 2009, educators cam p e d i n t i p i s
on the edge of the Little Big Hor n B a t t l e f i e l d
during Crow Native Days. Partic i p a n t s w o k e
to bugle calls and the US Cav a l r y i n f u l l
19th century uniform crossing t h e r i v e r o n
horseback headed to an annual r e - e n a c t m e n t
of the Battle of the Little Bighor n .

In 2009 Project Archaeology l a u n c h e d i t s


first online course. In partnersh i p w i t h t h e
U n i v e r s i t y, a l e ader in conservation education University of Utah and the Utah M u s e u m o f
p r o g r a m m i n g , was selected. Operations were Natural History, the course off e r s t e a c h e r s
t r a n s f e r r e d t o Bozeman, Montana, in 2001. the opportunity to fit a worksho p i n t o t h e i r
P r o j e c t A r c h a e ology now includes 28 state busy schedules, allowing them t o l o g i n
a n d r e g i o n a l p rogrammes and has published and participate in the eight-wee k c o u r s e o n
a n e w c u r r i c ulum, Project Archaeology: their own time. In addition, they c a n d i s c u s s
I n v e s t i g a t i n g Shelter, for teachers and implementation strategies with t h e i r p e e r s ,
p u p i l s i n u p p er elementary grades. Since fulfilling a need for professiona l i n t e r a c t i o n
t h e n , e d u c a t o r s in 30 states have attended and mutual support. Teachers ha v e a c c e s s t o
P r o j e c t A r c h a e ology in-service or pre-service supplementary materials includ i n g r e g i o n a l
investigations an d historic
photographs on o u r w e b s i t e ,
allowing them t o l o c a l i s e
the curricular materials,
focusing on the i r s p e c i f i c
region. The respon s e h a s b e e n
overwhelmingly p o s i t i v e a n d
three online wo r k s h o p s a r e
scheduled for 2010 .

Project Archaeolo g y a c t i v i t i e s
are hands-on, inte r a c t i v e , a n d
engaging opportu n i t i e s t h a t
�������������������� both teachers and p u p i l s e n j o y –
������������������������ and the experience l e a d s t o r e a l
������������������� learning. The new c u r r i c u l u m ,
�����������
Project Arch a e o l o g y : 

11 past horizons
Shawn e e s i te s c i e n ce

I n v e s t i g a t i n g S helter, focuses on how people four different perspectives of d e v e l o p e r s ,


l i v e d l o n g a g o , and takes pupils through the archaeologists, new home o w n e r s a n d
p r o c e s s e s o f l e arning about a group of people descendant community mem b e r s , and
f r o m t h e o b j e c t s and features they left behind. allows pupils to consider the i m p l i c a t i o n s
P u p i l s l e a r n t o think like archaeologists, of land use decisions. We hope t h a t p u p i l s
u s i n g o b s e r v a t ion, inference, classification develop understanding of social a n d c u l t u r a l
a n d c o n t e x t t o piece together the p uzzle of differences, and carry this expe r i e n c e w i t h
past lifeways. them into the future.

The journey continues as Project A r c h a e o l o g y


“Pu p i l s lear n to think like enters its 21st year. The organisati o n c o n t i n u e s
a rc h a eologists, using to grow, and in 2010 and 2011 we w i l l e x p a n d
o b s e r vation, inference, the online courses, explore new o p p o r t u n i t i e s
with informal science education, a n d c o n t i n u e
c l a s s i f i c ation and contex t to to develop our network of ed u c a t o r s a n d
p i e ce to gether the puzzle of archaeologists.
past lifeways” Many countries face the problem o f l o o t i n g
and site destruction. These issues a r e v a s t a n d
complex, but education has enorm o u s v a l u e i n
O n c e p u p i l s understand the basic skills, confronting them, and instilling r e s p e c t a n d
t h e y a p p l y t h em to a particular regional understanding of the past in y o u n g p e o p l e
i n v e s t i g a t i o n t hat emphasises their own local can assist in protecting our cultu r a l h e r i t a g e .
h i s t o r y. I n e a c h regional investigation, pupils A programme like Project Arch a e o l o g y t h a t
h a v e t h e o p p o rtunity to meet a descendant engages pupils in the past can f o s t e r t h e
w h o g u i d e s t h em through the inves tigation. necessary sense of stewardship to h e l p p r o t e c t
T h e d e s c e n d a n t representatives are integral our cultural resources, now and i n t h e f u t u r e .
t o l e a r n i n g a n d demonstrate to the pupils
t h a t d e s c e n d a nt communities have not Projec t A rchaeolo gy recently won the Award
v a n i s h e d . T h e r e are currently eight regional for Excellence in Public Education from the
S o ciet y for A merican A rchaeolo gy.
i n v e s t i g a t i o n s and we plan to add more in the
For more infor mation on Projec t Archaeology :
f u t u r e t o e n s u r e pupils have the opportunity http://w w w.projec tarchaeology.org
t o s t u d y t h e i r l ocal history and environment. Facebook : http://w w w.facebook .com/home.php?#!/
T h e f i n a l l e s son exposes learners to the group.php?gid=325400120483&ref=ts

past horizons 12
WHS
W O R K H A R D O R S TA RV E

F i n d i t H e re

13 past horizons
exhibition focus
Th e I m m o r t a l Al ex a n d e r t h e Great
Alexander the Great will be
brought to life nex t month at
the Her mitage Amsterdam,
the first time a D utch museum
has devoted an exhibition
to the M acedonian K ing. The
I mmor tal Alexander the Great
char ts the k ing’s jour ney to
the East and explores the
influence of Hellenism through
the last 2500 years, with over
350 master pieces including the
famous G onzaga cameo from
the State Her mitage M useum
in St Petersburg.
R e l i e f f ra g m e n t : Pe r s i a n s o l d i e r f ro m D arius or Xer xes’ royal
g ua rd. I ra n . C . 5 0 0 B C . L i m e s to n e, 2 2 .3 x 20.2 cm

Th e e xhibition presents several themes exploring the myths, reality a n d h e r i t a g e


o f A l exander (356-323 BC) using art, terracotta figurines, papyrus, t a p e s t r y a n d
v a r i o us multimedia. Born in 356 BC as the son of King Philip II of M a c e d o n i a ,
A l e x a nder was taught by Aristotle who
h a d a lasting influence. At just 20-years-
o l d h e succeeded his father and two years
l a t e r embarked on the great expedition
t h a t would assure his fame, taking him to
S y r i a , Egypt, Persia, Bac tria and India.
H i s p resence in these regions had a lasting
i m p a c t on architecture, art, language and
c u l t u r e, and over time they displayed Greek
i n f l u e nces in a process that became known
a s H e llenism.

Ex p l oring the myths of Alexander, this


p a r t of the exhibition uses images from the
s e v e n teenth to the nineteenth centuries and
d e c o r ative arts display hi s heroic deeds
a n d conquests, with paintings by Pietro
A n t o nio Rotari and Sebastiano Ricci, and
a t a p estry depicting The Family of Darius
b e f o r e Alexander the Great.
A rchitec tural element with lion’s head (metop e)
Par thia. 2nd centur y BC-1st centur y AD
A l l i m a ge s © S t a te H e r m i t a g e M u s e u m, St Petersburg Terracotta, 25.3 x 14.4 cm

past horizons 14
A n exploration of his life in Macedonia th e n e x a m i n e s
his teachers, heroes and ideals, and a l s o i n c l u d e s
his Great Expedition to the East, his c a m p a i g n o f
conquest lasting over 10 years, supported b y a 5 0 , 0 0 0 -
strong army. Objects from Egypt and Per s i a , f r o m t h e
nomads and the Babylonians, show the r i c h c u l t u r e s
he encountered on his travels, and can b e t r a c e d b y
visitors using interactive maps and comp u t e r s .

Here, the exhibition also highlights the Greek influence


on those cultures. Terracotta figurines d e p i c t i n g m e n
and women, gods and satyrs, musicians a n d E r o s , a n d
stone fragments of architecture, testify t o t h e a r t i s t i c
wealth that characterised the Hellenisti c t e r r i t o r i e s
from the fourth century BC to the first f e w c e n t u r i e s
AD. While many of these works refle c t t h e G r e e k
spirit of cheerfulness and playfulness, the G r e e k s a l s o
took an interest in the atypical, such as d i s a b i l i t i e s
and deformities.

Por trai t s t u d y o f a P to l e m a i c k i n g
Egypt. 3 rd - 1 s t ce n t u r y B C
Limesto n e, h 1 0 . 5 c m

Alexander ’s legacy is then explored


t h r o u gh artefacts such as f ourth-
c e n t u r y reliefs from Palmyra
d e m o nstrating the endurance of
G r e e k traditions outside Greece,
a l o n g with papyruses bearing texts
i n G r eek, which were still being
p r o d u ced in the ninth century.
I n t h e fifteenth and sixteenth
c e n t u r ies, he played a prominent
r o l e i n Persian literature in which
h e i s k nown as Iskander. He is also
r e c o g nisable in finely-executed
m i n i a t ures. Bringing Alexander
i n t o t he present day, photographer
E r w i n Olaf presents the king
t h r o u gh a photographic series and
s h o r t film, skilfully conveying his
c h a r a cter traits and features.

Spanning 2500 years, the exhibition


r e f l e c ts the international, timeless
a p p e a l of Alexander the Great,
d e p i c t ing his life, legacy and
r e l e v a nce even in modern times,
a n d r u ns from 18 September, 2010 Head of M ithridates
- 1 8 March, 2011 at the Hermitage HERMITAGE AMSTERDAM
VI Eupator
W: http://w w w.her mitage.nl
A m s t e rdam. Pergamon. 90-80 BC
E: mail@her mitage.nl
Fine - grained marble
A: Amstel 51, Amsterdam
with yellow tint
T: +31 (0)20 530 74 88
h 38 cm

15 past horizons
exhibition focus Unearthed
Unear thed, The latest
exhibition from the
S ainsbur y Centre for Visual
Ar ts in Nor wich, England,
promises to impress
visitors with its collec tion
of remar k able ancient clay
figures, some 5000-years- old
and drawn from t wo regions:
Japan and the Balk ans.

The collec tion at the


Universit y of East Anglia has
captured the imaginations
of archaeologists and ar tists
alike, explor ing the shape of
the human for m in miniature.
Affec tionately k nown as
the Toy D epar tment, the
exhibition hopes to push the
limits of our understanding
of ancient figu r ines and
encourages viewers to
think about their personal
responses to the human
for m in miniature.
Fi g u r i n e J a p a n , Fi n a l J ō m o n Pe r i o d - h. 19cm
R o b e r t a n d L i s a S a i n s b u r y Co l l e c t i on
U E A 1 0 9 1 , Ph o to : J a m e s Au s t i n

Th e oldest expressions of human form are very small, and the making a n d k e e p i n g
o f s mall figurines is widely shared by certain human societies. In preh i s t o r i c J a p a n
a n d t he Balkans people had begun to explore new ways of identifying t h e m s e l v e s ,
a n d f igurines played an important role in showing how these pioneeri n g v i l l a g e r s
m a y have experienced the world and expressed their place within it. Ho w e v e r, a f t e r
a c e n tury of painstaking archaeological investigation, recording and in t e r p r e t a t i o n ,
t h e f igurines remain mysterious; some appear distinctly male or fem a l e w h e r e a s
o t h e r s are less identifiable, and do not look human at all. However, sev e r a l t h e o r i e s
f o r t heir purpose have be en proposed. Some archaeologists focus o n r i t u a l a n d
s p i r i tual life as an explanation for the figurines, other interpretat i o n s s u g g e s t
f u n c t ions such as magical items, afterlife accessories, fertility im a g e s , v o t i v e
o b j e cts and initiation objects.

past horizons 16
Through sight and touch, these figurines provo k e a n u m b e r
of responses in the viewer such as vulnerability, p r o t e c t i o n ,
excitement, fear, confusion and intimacy, and c o n t i n u e t o
make an impact in the present. The exhibition si t s a l o n g s i d e
contemporary artworks that invite visitors to und e r s t a n d a n d
appreciate the objects in new ways, providing i n s p i r a t i o n
for contemporary artists working in a variet y o f m e d i a ,
from prints and drawings to animation and perf o r m a n c e .

The creators of these objects thousands of y e a r s a g o


atte mpted to convey some meaning through the i r f i g u r i n e s ,
and the contemporary works remind us of the s p e c t r u m o f
possibilities they embody.

U nearthed is curated by Professor Douglass B a i l e y, S a n


Francisco State University; Dr Andrew Cochrane , U n i v e r s i t y
of East Anglia; Dr Simon Kaner, Sainsbury Inst i t u t e f o r t h e
Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, Univer s i t y o f E a s t
Figurin e N a ka m i c h i , J a p a n Anglia, and developed by the Sainsbury Centr e f o r Vi s u a l
M iddle J ō m o n Pe r i o d Arts. The research project is led by the Sainsbu r y I n s t i t u t e
11.5 x 6 c m , N a g a o ka M u n i c i p a l S c i e n ce for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, U n i v e r s i t y
Museum , J a p a n
of East Anglia, and is funded by the Arts and H u m a n i t i e s
Res earch Council.

Ja p a n : Over 18,000 clay figures, or dogû (literally ‘spirit and clay’ ) h a v e n o w


b e e n r ecorded from across Japan. Those featured in unearthed are from c e n t r a l a n d
e a s t e r n Japan, from Sannai Maruyama, and the important historical colle c t i o n s f r o m
U n i v e rsity Museum at the University of Tokyo.

S a n n a i Maruyama, occupied from 4000-2500 BC, revealed over 1850 dogû f r a g m e n t s ,


a n d w i th their distinctive cross-shaped bodies they are called ‘slab-shap e d o g û ’ a n d
‘ c r u c i form dogû’. The featur es of their faces are depicted, including eyes , e y e b r o w s ,
n o s e s (and even nostrils) m ouths, and hair. Some are shown wearing o r n a m e n t s ,
a n d a l l have breasts indicating that they represent women. The larges t p r o p o r t i o n
o f d o g û were found in a fragmentary state in the piled-earthen features w h i c h w e r e
i m p o r t ant places for ritual practices, but other examples are complete.

J ō m o n f i g u r i n e s a n d f ra g m e n t s
f ro m S a n n a i M a r u ya m a , J a p a n
M i d d l e J ō m o n Pe r i o d
© Ao m o r i Pre f e c t u ra l B o a rd
o f Ed u ca t i o n

17 past horizons
Th e U n i v e r s i t y Museum, the University of Tokyo, holds approximately 450 pie c e s o f d o g û
d a t i n g t o t h e J ô mon period. A large p art of this collection, kept by the museum’s D e p a r t m e n t
o f A n t h r o p o l o g y and Prehistory, was made from the 1890s to the early 20th cent u r y, a p e r i o d
w h e n a n t h r o p o l ogy and archaeology were being developed as scientific disciplin e s i n J a p a n ,
a n d i t s h i s t o r i cal value is significant. Among the dogû displayed in unearthe d , t h r e e a r e
p e r h a p s o f p a r t icular interest. The shape of one (from Ikarigaseki, Aomori Pref e c t u r e , F i n a l
J ô m o n ) a t t e s t s to a stylistic transition from the famous ‘goggle-eyed dogû’, w h i l e a n o t h e r
( To k o s h i n a i , A omori Prefecture, Middle-Final Jômon) shows a miniaturised repre s e n t a t i o n o f
t h e t y p i c a l f e a t ures of the goggle-eyed dogû. A third example (Tozurasawa, Aomor i P r e f e c t u r e ,
L a t e J ô m o n ) h a s a very rare shape that reminds us of a monkey.

Th i s i s t h e f i r s t time that the University Museum, University of Tokyo has all o w e d a n y o f


t h e s e i m p o r t a n t objects to be displayed overseas.

B alk a n s : F a r ming, accompanied by pottery-making, first entered Europe from i t s r e g i o n o f


o r i g in , t h e c o - called Fertile Crescent of the Near East through Aantolia, modern - d a y Tu r k e y,
a n d a c r o s s t h e Eastern Mediterranean. These early European farmers lived in v i l l a g e s a n d
m a d e s m a l l c l a y figures.

The majority of the figures from t h i s r e g i o n


in unearthed come from Roman i a , o c c u p i e d
early by farming groups who spre a d a l o n g t h e
Danube and its tributaries. How e v e r, t h e r e
are additional figurines from the R e p u b l i c o f
Macedonia and Albania.

The Republic of Macedonia wa s , u n t i l t h e


1990s part of the former Yug o s l a v i a , a n d
some of the most remarkable c l a y f i g u r e s
from the entire Balkans come fro m t h i s s m a l l ,
landlocked country. Most of the M a c e d o n i a n
figures appear to depict women a n d a r e o f t e n
discovered near the hearth, and p e r h a p s t h e
most outstanding form is that of t h e b o d y o f a
woman, wearing jewellery and wi t h a s p l e n d i d
coiffure, fused on to the roof of t h e m o d e l o f
a house. Over 20 examples of t h e s e G r e a t
Mother or Magna Mater figures a r e k n o w n .
The exhibition includes the newly - d i s c o v e r e d
Portrait of an Eneolithic Ancesto r, e x c a v a t e d
at the Shrine of St Atanesie. Un u s u a l l y, t h i s
figurine was modelled on an th e f a c e o f a n
adult male, his ears pierced for e a r r i n g s m a d e
of some organic material.

The Albanian figurines have not b e e n s h o w n


outside of Albania until now. U n d e r t h e
aegis of the University of East A n g l i a , a n e w
generation of archaeologists a n d c u l t u r a l
heritage specialists have been tra i n e d a n d a r e
Repli ca A n z a b e g ovo -Vr š n i k l l l, M a ce d o n i a bringing the treasures of Alban i a n c u l t u r a l
5300 - 4 2 0 0 B C - L N h . 3 9 c m heritage into the 21st century.
Muse u m o f M a ce d o n i a

past horizons 18
Figurin e s a n d Fra g m e n t s f ro m Cu c u te n i , R o m a n i a , 4000 - 3500 BC, National Histor y Museum of Romania

Th e ex h i b i t i o n will run from 22 June - 29 August 2010

S ainsbur y Centre for Visual Ar ts


Universit y of East Anglia
Nor wich
NR4 7TJ
With thanks to: United K ingdom
Okada Yasuyuki, Sannai M a r u y a m a s i t e d i r e c t o r, S a n n a i M a r u y a m a W: http://w w w.sc va.org.uk
Dr Mats uda Akira, The U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m , t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f To k y o T: 01603 593199
Irena Kolistrkoska Naste v a , c u r a t o r, M u s e u m o f M a c e d on i a , S k o p j e , R e p u b l i c o f M a c e d o n i a E: sc va@uea.ac.uk
Nada Andonovska, transl a t o r, M u s e u m o f M a c e d o n i a , S k o p j e , R e p u b l i c o f M a c e d o n i a .

19 past horizons
Framing the Future with
Walling ford M useum
Wallin g f o rd M u s e u m ( Fl i n t H o u s e )

past horizons 20
������
�����������
������

3D impres s ion of Flint Hous e wi th new a nnexe

B y Judy and Stuar t D e we y

FO R MER LY IN Be r k shire b u t n o w
w ith in the b o un d ar ies o f Ox fo rd shi re,
th e h istor ic to w n o f Wal lin g fo rd
o r igin ated in th e 9 th c en tu ry as o n e o f
th e two la rg est o f A lf r ed t he Great ’s
p lan ne d to wn s or bu rh s . Th e ex te ns iv e
S a xo n r a m pa r ts a nd m uc h o f th e Sax o n
str e et p atter n s till su r v iv e, an d p art
o f th es e b an ks su r r o u nd a g ree n o p en
sp a ce in the h ea r t o f the to w n c all ed
th e Kin ec r of t, p r ov id in g th e b ack d ro p
f o r Wa lling f o r d M u se um . Th e fu ll y -
a cc r ed ite d an d ind ep e nd en t lo cal
h istor y m u se um is ho u sed i n a Gra de
I I lis te d m e diev a l timb er-fra med
b u ild ing co v er e d by a f li nt fa çad e,
a nd is a p pr o p r ia tely k no wn as Flin t
H ou se .

21 past horizons
Aerial v i e w o f t h e e a r t hwo r k re m a i n s o f Wa l l i n g f ord Castle (foreground)

T h e i d e a f o r a l ocal history museum was born the leading town of Berkshire, d o m i n a t e d b y


out of the success of The Wallingford Historical its huge royal castle. It played an a c t i v e p a r t i n
& A rc h a e o l o g i c al Society (TWHAS) formed in the war between Stephen and Ma t i l d a , w h i c h
1 9 7 4 . T h e r e w as a need to display the results resulted in Matilda’s son, Henry I I , g r a n t i n g
o f e x c a v a t i o n s and to explain the rich story of its first Charter of Liberties in 11 5 5 .
t h e t o w n ’s h i s t ory from its Saxon origins to
t h e M e d i a e v a l period when Wallingford was Wallingford is one of only four towns mentioned
in Magna Carta in 1215. Among t h e c a s t l e ’s
many royal inhabitants were K i n g J o h n ;
Richard Earl of Cornwall, broth e r o f H e n r y
III; Edward the Black Prince an d h i s w i f e ;
Henry V’s widow and her young s o n H e n r y V I
with his guardian Owen Tudor, g r a n d f a t h e r
of Henry VII. During the 17th c e n t u r y C i v i l
War, Wallingford Castle was a ma j o r R o y a l i s t
stronghold, and almost the last in t h e c o u n t r y
to surrender after it had held out s u c c e s s f u l l y
against a 12-week siege by Pa r l i a m e n t a r y
troops. It was eventually destro y e d i n 1 6 5 2
but the impressive earthworks s t i l l s u r v i v e
and are publicly accessible.

The museum opened in 1981. I n i t i a l l y t h e


galleries were only on the firs t f l o o r w i t h
an attic store above and a g r o u n d f l o o r
Burh to B o ro ug h ca s t l e e xca va t i o n s
entrance lobby from a side door. I n 2 0 0 5 w e

past horizons 22
been tried in an urban context. To d a t e 3 0 p i t s
have been excavated and reporte d .
“ D espite its long and
signific ant histor y, The museum has a vital role t o p l a y i n
the developing picture of the h i s t o r y o f
Walling ford has rarely b ee n Wallingford, but there are future c o n c e r n s t o
more than a footnote in mo s t be addressed. Storage space for th e c o l l e c t i o n s
has become a critical issue and w e h a v e b e e n
academic tex ts” actively seeking a solution to t h i s g r o w i n g
problem for several years. The an s w e r l i e s i n
the utilisation of the open yard i m m e d i a t e l y
w e r e o ff e r e d t h e lease on the ground floor as behind Flint House, which is p a r t o f o u r
w e l l , s o i n t h e next year we reunited the two lease. After a couple of false st a r t s , w e h a d
p a r t s o f t h e b u ilding and moved the entrance a breakthrough in September las t y e a r w h e n
t o t h e m u c h m ore visible front door on the it was suggested that we build a t r a d i t i o n a l
H i g h S t r e e t . A t the same time we became a timber framed structure as a pub l i c s p e c t a c l e
c h a r i t a b l e c o m pany. on the Kinecroft – a Festival o f Tr a d i t i o n a l
Skills – and then crane the comp l e t e d f r a m e s
D e s p i t e i t s l ong and significant history, into position behind the nearby F l i n t H o u s e .
Wa l l i n g f o r d h as rarely been more than a It was an exciting idea. 
f o o t n o t e i n m ost academic texts but with
t h e ‘ Wa l l i n g f o rd Burh to Borough Project’,
f u n d e d b y t h e AHRC, things were to change.
T h i s t h r e e - y e ar project is the result of
c o l l a b o r a t i o n between the Universities of
L e i c e s t e r, E x e t er and Oxford, with practical
e x c a v a t i o n i n p ut and documentary research
f r o m T W H A S , and hosted locally by the
m u s e u m . A f t e r the first season of geophysics
a n d d i g g i n g i n 2008, TWHAS organised a
h i g h l y - s u c c e s s ful conference and the papers
g i v e n , w i t h a d ditional material, have been
p u b l i s h e d a s T he Origins of the Borough of
Wa l l i n g f o rd – Archaeological and Historical
P e r s p e c t i v e s. A second successful co nference
o n M e d i e v a l Wallingford was organised
l a s t y e a r o n b ehalf of the Burh to Borough
P r o j e c t b y Wa l lingford Museum and a third,
Wa l l i n g f o rd C a stle in Context, is pla nned for
O c t o b e r 9 , 2 0 1 0.

O r i g i n a l l y l a u nched as part of the Burh


t o B o r o u g h P r oject but now with a life of
i t s o w n i s a garden archaeology project
u n d e r t h e a e g is of TWHAS. The intention
i s t o d i g t e s t p its 1.5m by 1m and up to 1.2
m e t r e s d e e p i n 100 gardens scattered around
t h e t o w n . E a c h pit is fully excavated and
r e c o r d e d , f i n d s removed and analysed, and
p r o v i d e s a c o mprehensive picture of strata
a n d o c c u p a t i o n levels in different parts of the
t o w n . W h i l s t t his technique has been used in
a v i l l a g e s i t u a t ion, this is the first time it has G arden A rch aeolo gy 2010

23 past horizons
T h e b u i l d i n g could be entirely independent Apart from the attraction of build i n g i n g r e e n
o f t h e l i s t e d building but would provide oak and its environmental attribut e s , t h e r e i s
t w o s t o r e y s of important display space a unique benefit to the proposed t i m b e r f r a m e .
a n d s o m e w h e r e to address groups, adults Each frame will be constructed in a d i ff e r e n t
a n d c h i l d r e n , as well as providing a much- style so that from west to east, t h e t i m b e r
n e e d e d c o l l e c tions management a rea and work (visible to visitors within t h e b u i l d i n g )
a r c h a e o l o g i c a l workshop. A disab led WC will tell the story of developing t e c h n i q u e s
a n d a s e c o n d , ambulant WC, plus a covered from Mediaeval to Victorian, a ki n d o f 1 2 ” t o
a c t i v i t y a r e a for outdoor events such as the foot scale model.
F a m i l y A r c h a e ology Day, would comp lete the
f a c i l i t i e s . ( S e e plan below.) It was proposed that we should wo r k w i t h T h e
Carpenters’ Fellowship, the no t - f o r- p r o f i t
trade body that represents and set s s t a n d a r d s
for the structural timber frami n g i n d u s t r y
4.3m 9.1m
CAR
PARKING Archaeology
Collections
(Day
in the UK. They were also resp o n s i b l e f o r
3.3m

Workshop
Centre) Management

the construction of the Abing d o n S c h o o l


1m

Coats
etc
Display Boathouse and the award-winning N o r t h m o o r
Activity Area/
Trust building at Little Wittenham .
3.3m

Loading Bay
9.5m

The Carpenters’ Fellowship had a n a v a i l a b l e


DISABLED

Canopy
2.2x1.5

2.9m
1.5m

WC

Fire Exit
Lift &
Stairs
window in August which gave us a v e r y t i g h t
schedule to design the building, g e t p l a n n i n g
GRASS WC
0.9m
VERGE 0.8x1.5
FLINT HOUSE
2.3m

permission, cost it and raise t h e f u n d s .


0.9m

6.2m

Existing New build external


New build internal WALLINGFORD MUSEUM
4.0m
Preliminary plans were drawn up b y N o v e m b e r
and presented to our landlords, Wa l l i n g f o r d
Framing the Future
NORTH 0 metres 5 sjd vs 16 GROUND FLOOR
Mar 2010
FLINT COTTAGE

past horizons 24
To w n C o u n c i l , who enthusiastically embraced
t h e i d e a a n d g a ve it the go-ahead. We held a “ l o c a l wo o d l a n d owners
p r i v a t e l a u n c h i n our local hotel and presented we re co nt a c te d to a sk them
t h e gu e s t s w i t h an information pack sponsored
b y a l o c a l p r i n t er. to d o n ate o a k t re e s to the
p ro j e c t. Th e re s p o n se was
D e t a i l e d p l a n s were completed and the
p l a n n i n g a p p l ication submitted i n early re m a r k a b l e. We n ow have
J a n u a r y 2 0 1 0 . Nearly 300 people wrote to the a l l t h e o a k we n e e d, around
D i s t r i c t C o u n c il in support of the scheme,
u rg i n g t h e p l a n ners to give it their permission, 7 0 t re e s i n to t a l ”
w h i c h w a s g r a nted in mid-March. Meanwhile
a t a p u b l i c l a u n ch in the Town Hall nearly 100
p e o p l e s i g n e d up in support of the scheme and
8 0 t o o k a w a y f orms to sponsor beams in the Individual timber beams have be e n p r i c e d f o r
p r o p o s e d b u i l d i ng. sponsorship, ranging from a comm o n r a f t e r f o r
£25 to £2500 for the main west w i n d o w, w i t h
F u n d - r a i s i n g f o r the target figure of £400,000 lots of beams at around £250-£50 0 . S p o n s o r s
h a s t a k e n v a r i o us forms. A series of lectures will have their names carved in t o t h e b e a m s
o n t h e h i s t o r y of Wallingford raised over by a local woodcarver. With item s d o n a t e d b y
£ 3 0 0 0 a n d w e received generous donations local individuals and businesses, i n A p r i l w e
held a grand auction which raise d £ 7 0 0 0 w i t h
£5000 matched funding promised . A t t h e s a m e
time, local woodland owners we r e c o n t a c t e d
to ask them to donate oak trees to t h e p r o j e c t .
The response was remarkable. We n o w h a v e
all the oak we need, around 70 t r e e s i n t o t a l ,
all sourced within a radius of 10 m i l e s o f t h e
museum.

The tree operation has also b e e n a k e y


educational tool. One of th e m u s e u m ’s
education officers has been worki n g w i t h t h r e e
local schools, each of which has ‘ a d o p t e d ’ a
wood nearby. Children have visi t e d t h e s i t e s
and watched the felling in progr e s s , a n d w i l l
follow through with a replanting s c h e m e w e
are organising to replace the timb e r t a k e n o u t
(much of which has been removed f o r t h i n n i n g
or because of dying trees).

We have to date submitted n e a r l y 2 0 0


applications to grant-giving bod i e s b u t t h i s
is where our tight timetable p r o v e d t o b e
Public l a u n c h i n Wa l l i n g f o rd tow n h a l l
our temporary undoing. We dis c o v e r e d t h a t
many of the Trustees meet only o n c e a y e a r
f r o m p r i v a t e i n dividuals. We have sold many and decisions were being made t o o l a t e f o r
o f t h e 1 5 0 0 1 0 ” (250mm) oak pegs which will an August build. In the case o f t w o m a j o r
h o l d t h e t i m b e r frame together structurally, applications for which we had h i g h h o p e s ( a
a n d p u r c h a s e r s may have the opportunity to total of £150,000) we were unable t o c o m p l e t e
k n o c k t h e i r p e gs in while the frames are still the applications in time because w e c o u l d n ’t
o n t h e g r o u n d . For children, we are holding a get the required number of quotat i o n s f o r e a c h
c o m p e t i t i o n f o r the best decorated peg. budget item before the deadline.

25 past horizons
Public support continues and w e a r e s t i l l
selling pegs and encouraging sp o n s o r s h i p o f
beams as well as pursuing grant a p p l i c a t i o n s .
Our next big fund-raising even t w i l l b e o n
21 August, 2010, a Mediaeval f a i r o n t h e
Kinecroft. Attractions include a l i v i n g h i s t o r y
display, craft demonstrations and ‘ h a v e - a - g o ’
opportunities, a pig roast, and m u c h m o r e .
Further events are planned for th e f u t u r e .

Despite the delay we are still full y c o m m i t t e d


to the project, which is crucial f o r a n u m b e r
of reasons. The volunteer-led s c h e m e h a s
fired imaginations and seems to h a v e b e c o m e
something of a flagship for the c o m m u n i t y,
recognising its key role in th e e c o n o m i c
View of t h e K i n e c ro f t f ro m t h e mu s e u m viability of its future. The m u s e u m s t i l l
desperately needs to expand f o r p r a c t i c a l
I n t h e e n d , w e decided that the build event reasons (collections, better mob i l i t y a c c e s s ,
w o u l d h a v e t o be postponed for a year, so we space for larger groups etc.) but w e a l s o w i s h
a r e n o w l o o k i ng at a September 2011 build. to seize the opportunity to enhanc e t o u r i s m f o r
T h i s d o e s a t l e ast buy us time to raise more the good of the town as a whole, e x p a n d i n g o u r
f u n d s a n d c o m plete the grant applications. displays to put more emphasis on Wa l l i n g f o r d
& the World featuring internation a l l y f a m o u s
T h e a v a i l a b i l i t y of The Carpenters’ Fellowship locals like Agatha Christie, Jeth r o Tu l l a n d
f o r n e x t y e a r is currently under review. If Judge Blackstone. The annexe w i l l a l l o w u s
w e a r e u n a b l e to use them, we will have to to encompass all these things a n d c o n t i n u e
s e e k a t i m b e r- f rame contractor, but one who honour the town’s heritage, an d w i t h m o r e
i s p r e p a r e d t o build the frame in public view support and funding we can make i t h a p p e n i n
a n d m a i n t a i n the community invo lvement. the coming year.
M e a n w h i l e , r a i sing the funds is the key issue.

Finds washing at the museum

How You Can Hel p


• S p o n s or a beam (and get your name car ved on it):
co nt a c t Stuar t D ewey at museum@piepowder.co.uk
• M a k e a donation: http://w w w.justgiving.com/walling fordmuseum
• Vi s i t o ur website http://w w w.walling fordmuseum.org.uk for the latest n e ws

past horizons 26
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27 past horizons
A DIG G E R ’S L I F E
S u r f i n g f o r b a rrow ditches on wave s of wet
c l a y, f i s h i n g for Rome in urban puddles,
c h e w i n g t h e m etaphysical in the monumental,
c r a w l i n g d e e p below ground in search of
l i g h t, n e g o t i a t i ng with the dead or juggling
w i t h a f t e r l i v e s ... Si Cleggett (a.k.a Troll) is
a f i e l d a rc h a e ologist and loves it.

I N MY LAST offering, I discussed th e a l m o s t as prestige ‘goods’ in the sense that they convey a
u n i v ersal thirst for shiny things and th e b i z a r r e far more profound manifestation of social position
h u n g er to re-establish the primacy of ‘ s t a t u s ’ . than functional and attractive items placed
Perhaps this is a reflection of modern capitalism and within a burial context. The stresses of weaning,
t h e l oss of individual identity in a life d o m i n a t e d childhood mortality and birth itself would surely
w i t h the relentless pursuit of social adva n c e m e n t . have presented something of a lottery to societies,
P a r a doxically, physical manifestati o n s of communities and cultures who would had relied
p e r c eived social dominance today may r e f l e c t a upon reproduction for their very survival almost
n e e d to climb out of an individual ide n t i t y a n d as much as food sources.
g a i n access to a social grouping we aspi r e t o b u t
i n t e r pret in different ways. Philippe Ariés in his book Centuries of Childhood
claimed that before the “invention of childhood”
M o d ern archaeol ogists are consistently g u i l t y o f i n t h e Vi c t o r i a n p e r i o d , c h i l d r e n w e r e s i m p l y
m a k i ng the assumption that the acqui s i t i o n o f percieved as small adults. This was expanded
m a t e rial goods in the distant past was an a c c e p t e d upon in The Making of the Modern Family by
v e h i cle to asserting individual posi t i o n . B y Edward Shorter who claimed that in certain
e x t e nsion, this sated envy and signalled t o p e e r s s o c i e t i e s m o t h e r s v i e w e d t h e d e ve l o p m e n t a n d
t h a t some transformation had taken place , t h e r e b y h a p p i n e s s o f i n f a n t s w i t h i n d i ff e r e n c e o n t h e
g r a n ting access to a niche where so m e w e r e basis of high mortality rates. In her book A
s e e m ingly promoted to a ‘superior ’ statu s . D i s t a n t M i r ro r B a r b a r a Tu c h m a n d e m o n s t r a t e d
that during the Mediaeval period, an absence of
O f c ourse, material goods can equally be s e e n a s i n t e r e s t i n c h i l d r e n a n d t h e i r p e r c ei v e d s t a t u s a s
t o o l s , containers and necessary accoutrem e n t s f o r “unrewarding products” prevailed.*
t h e p erceived journeys into afterlives de t e r m i n e d
b y s ocial and cultural values, but a grav e s h o u l d As these historians have shown, it is likely that
n o t exclusively been seen as an opport u n i t y f o r for many cultures young children were often
a g g r andisement. Reading archaeology in t h i s w a y v i e w e d i n a p r a c t i c a l s e n s e . H o w e v e r, h i s t o r i c a l
i s e x traordinarily naïve and archaeolog i s t s c a n evidence also points to a deep emtional attachment
o f t e n be guilty of judging a book by i t s c o v e r of people to their children. For example, the
w h e n others have the foresight to read t h e b o o k diarist John Evelyn and his wife lost six of eight
first. children in childhood and, after the death of his
oldest child who died three days after his fifth
Wi t h this in mind, it is possible to arg u e t h a t birthday in 1658, he wrote, “Here ends the joy of
c h i l d ren – in prehistory at least – could b e v i e w e d m y l i f e ” . T h e w r i t e r Wi l l i a m B r o w n l o w l o s t o n e
child every year for seven years admitting that the
t r a g e d y “ h a s t b r o k e n m e a s u n d e r an d s h a k e n m e
to pieces”.

The loss of a child in the early modern era would


be traumatic and emotional but in prehistory it
may have had other dimensions. The transition
i n f u n e r a r y p r a c t i s e s f r o m t h e N eo l i t h i c t o t h e
B r o n z e A g e i n C y p r u s c o u l d a rg u a b l y b e s e e n
as the polar opposite of those recorded in the
Ka fkall a Pl a te a u

past horizons 28
N e o / Bronze transition here in the Briti s h I s l e s . 500 years suggests that the number of sub-adults
I n g eneral terms, the Cypriot Neolith i c ( f r o m who survived to adulthood must have been very
7 0 0 0 B.C) sees individual burial within d o m e s t i c much higher than believed. Archaeologists really
c o n t exts (under house floors/hearths et c ) a n d a have little notion of the place of sub-adults within
m o v e towards co llective burial within ch a m b e r e d the daily lives of prehistoric communities and yet
t o m b s during the Bronze Age (from 2 5 0 0 B . C ) . here at least, in death, there is no major distinction
T h e communal and often chambered tom b s o f t h e between them and adults.
B r i t i sh Neolithic (from 4000 B.C) give w a y t o
l a rg e ly individual burial in the Bronze A g e ( f r o m If archaeologists accept the idea that Bronze
2 5 0 0 B.C). Age communities in Cyprus had a developed and
structured concept of afterlives, it would follow
I n 2 0 04, I took part in the excavation of an e x t e n s i v e that sub-adults also had a place or a perceived
B r o n ze Age cemetery complex in Deneia , C y p r u s . role to play also, hence burial in the same tomb
T h e s e cemeteries lie to the south of th e O v g o s s p a c e s . A rg u a b l y, t h e a b i l i t y t o p r o d u c e c h i l d r e n
v a l l e y and occupy around six hectare s o f t h e amongst the female members of society may
l i m e stone Kafkalla plateaux. With over a t h o u s a n d have resulted in an elevated status within the
t o m b shafts visible across the area, Dene i a i s t h e community and children may have been viewed
l a rg e st known Bronze Age burial groun d o n t h e as prestige achievements of these women: new
i s l a n d. Throughout the twentieth cent u r y a n d members of the community to farm, hunt, produce
e v e n today, archaeologists working in C y p r u s goods and enrich the fabric of society for the
h a v e paid little or no attention at all t o h u m a n future. Children were potential assets; pots were
r e m a ins. Material goods and ceramic ty p o l o g i e s for storing and eating.
h a v e characterised the island’s prehistor y a n d a s
a r e sult it was accepted that children w e r e n o t
a l l o c ated the same burial space as adult s d u r i n g
t h e B ronze Age.

I c a rried out a field assessment of th e h u m a n


r e m a ins from a single tomb (789) and es t a b l i s h e d
t h a t i t contained at least 46 individuals. Th i s f i g u r e
v a s t l y outnumbered previously ackno w l e d g e d
B r o n ze Age tomb populations on the is l a n d a n d
i t q uickly became apparent that a si g n i f i c a n t
p r o p ortion of the remains were actua l l y s u b -
a d u l t . After examination by an osteoarch a e o l o g i s t Museum analysis
i t t u rned out that 31 of the 46 individua l s ( 6 7 % )
w e r e sub-adult. Of these, 19 were foeta l t o o n e A community that sees a place and a role for
y e a r of age, eight were young children (1- 6 y e a r s ) , children in an afterlife is hardly likely to devalue
t w o were older children (7-12 years) and t w o w e r e them during life, and on an island subject to flux,
a d o l escents (13-18 years). This small s a m p l e change and cultural influence, the survival and
r e p r e sents a me re 10% of the tomb c h a m b e r. viability of new members would have been vital.
C o n t rary to popular belief, it seems that t h e i n f a n t F o r o v e r a c e n t u r y, B r o n z e A g e c h i l d r e n h a v e b e e n
a n d sub-adult skeletons do survive as w e l l a s playing hide and seek with archaeologists who
t h o s e of adults, and unless excavators r e c o g n i s e have failed to grasp the concept that an essential
h u m an remains for what they are, anothe r c e n t u r y part of the game is to search for them. It really
o f e r roneous and wildly inaccurate pub l i c a t i o n s was a once in a lifetime experience to take part in
a r e i nevitable. s u c h a n i m p o r t a n t e x c a v a t i o n . Wi t h a n y l u c k t h e
discovery of these remains will alter the way we
S o w hat does all this mean? It means that c h i l d r e n view Bronze Age Cyprus and force a change in
w e r e interred within the same burial s p a c e s a s excavation strategies that will give a voice back
a d u l t s during the Cypriot Bronze Age from a t l e a s t to these ‘invisible’ children.
2 5 0 0 B.C to around 1125 B.C (Late Cypr i o t e I I I a )
a n d that more adults occupied tombs t h a n w a s * Ariés, Philippe, Centuries of Childhood: A
p r e v iously understood. The ability to p r o d u c e S o c i a l H i s t o r y o f F a m i l y L i f e ( N e w Yo r k , 1 9 6 2 )
v i a b l e offspring must have been fundam e n t a l t o S h o r t e r, E d w a r d , T h e M a k i n g o f t h e M o d e r n
t h e v ery survival of prehistoric communi t i e s . T h e F a m i l y ( N e w Yo r k , 1 9 7 5 )
p r o p ortion of sub-adults within one sma l l s a m p l e Tu c h m a n , B a r b a r a W. , A D i s t a n t M i r ro r, 1 9 7 8
o f a single tomb that was in use for perh a p s o v e r ( N e w Yo r k , 1 9 7 8 )

29 past horizons
Del a n cey Pa rk
Excavating a Neolithic G aller y Grave on Guer nsey
by G e o rg e N a sh
S I N C E t h e a d vent of a fully integrated planning process in the early 1990s,
a r c h a e o l o g y societies in the UK have found it increasingly difficult to
o rga n i s e a n d run excavation programmes. The view post PPG 16 (and
n o w P P S 5 * ) has been to preserve, where possible in situ archaeological
r e m a i n s , i n p articular sites such as prehistoric burial-ritual monuments.
B e a r i n g t h i s i n mind, and the limited opportunities to excavate sites of this
a g e a n d q u a l i ty in Britain, members of the Clifton Antiquarian Club, were
d e l i g h t e d t o e xcavate one of Guernsey’s premier prehistoric monuments,
D e l a n c e y P a r k. Prior to this the last excavation on Guernsey of a Neolithic
b u r i a l - r i t u a l monument was undertaken in 1979 at Les Fouillages.

past horizons 30
Aerial v i e w o f D e l a n ce y Pa r k s h ow i n g t h e o n g o i n g excavation
Clif to n A n t i q ua r i a n C l u b

31 past horizons
D elance y Pa r k i n a s o r r y s t a te i n l a te 2 0 0 9

F o r t h e c l u b , interest in Delancey Park 24 are located in northern Franc e a n d t w o i n


b e g a n i n 2 0 0 8 when negotiations to survey Wales.
a n d e x c a v a t e were finalised with Guernsey
M u s e u m . T h e following year a small team
c a m e o v e r t o s earch the museum archive and
c o n d u c t t h e f i r st ever detailed survey of the
m o n u m e n t s i n c e its discovery in 1919. This
i n i t i a l p h a s e o f work led to an archaeological
e v a l u a t i o n t h a t included the excavation of six
t r e n c h e s i n J u l y this year.

D e l a n c e y P a r k , one of 18 or so free-standing
s t o n e l a t e p r e h i storic burial-ritual monuments,
c o m p r i s e s t w o parallel lines of stone that
e x t e n d f o r s o m e nine-and-a-half metres east-
w e s t . T h i s m o nument is one of three gallery
g r a v e s i n t h e Channel Islands; a further two D elancey Park during the 1932 excavation with archaeolo gist
s t a n d i n n e i g h bouring Jersey and a further M iss Vera C.C. Collum

past horizons 32
B a s e d o n t h e architecture and artefacts workforce to treat the site with g r e a t c a r e ,
r e c o v e r e d f r o m two previous excavations, the believing the stones formed part o f a d o l m e n .
D e l a n c e y P a r k monument appears to date to According to newspaper accounts a t t h e t i m e ,
t h e L a t e N e o l i t hic period and therefore later further stones were uncovered, n e a r l y a l l
t h a n t h e p a s s a ge grave tradition, a group of ‘oblong’ in shape and in a ‘perfe c t l y n a t u r a l
m o n u m e n t s t h a t more or less dominate the condition’. It is not clear if a n o ff i c i a l
N e o l i t h i c b u r i al-ritual landscape of Jersey excavation took place as no reco r d s s u r v i v e .
a n d G u e r n s e y, s uch as Le Varde and Le Dehus However, a small number o f a r t e f a c t s ,
i n t h e n o r t h o f Guernsey. many probably contemporary w i t h t h e u s e

G I S vie w of D elancey Pa r k a n d n e i g h b o ur i n g monu ments and f ind s p ot s - cour tes y of Guerns ey Mu s eum s

I n t h e p a s t D elancey Park has undergone of monument, were recovered f o l l o w i n g


s e v e r a l l a n d s c aping and planting regimes. its discovery including fragmen t s o f b o n e
H o w e v e r, d u r i n g the Neolithic the site would belonging to an ox, a few limpet s h e l l s , s t o n e
h a v e p r o b a b l y had uninterrupted views of tools and pottery.
t h e co a s t l i n e t o the north and west. Prior to
t h e 1 8 t h c e n t u ry, the monument sto od on a The stone tools included a fra g m e n t o f a
p r o m i n e n t h e a d land that overlooked a channel greenstone axe (or rubber) tha t h a d b e e n
t h a t s e p a r a t e d the main island from a small cracked by fire, a small collect i o n o f f l i n t
island. chips, four gun flints (probably 1 8 t h c e n t u r y )
and coarse, gritty pottery.
F o l l o w i n g t h e initial discovery in 1919, 
t h e G u e r n s e y States architect instructed the

33 past horizons
L a t e r i n 1 9 3 2 a two-day excavat ion was larger stones were removed off s i t e f o r t h i s
u n d er t a k e n b y Miss Vera C. C. Collum who, excavation; their in situ position a r e s u p p o r t e d
b a s e d o n s e v e r al site photographs, conducted by digital images that were taken p r i o r t o t h e
a ‘ p r o d d i n g a n d recording’ exercise between 2010 excavation and show that on l y o n e s t o n e
t h e s t o n e s . T he excavation yielded further has been removed, its whereabou t s u n k n o w n .
p r e h i s t o r i c f i nds and possible structures Although its archaeological d i s c o v e r y i s
r e l a t i n g t o t h e construction of the m onument attributed to 1919 Ms Collum d o e s s u g g e s t
i n c l u d i n g a number of possible uprights that a number of the capstones w e r e r e m o v e d
l o c a t e d a l o n g t he northern line of stones (and and broken up around 1878 for f o u n d a t i o n
t h e i r a s s o c i a t e stone packing). Investigations material to support the nearby A d m i r a l d e
w e r e a l s o c o n ducted around the western end Saumarez monument, but it is not c l e a r w h i c h
o f t h e m o n u m e nt. Following the ex cavation ones were removed.
M s C o l l u m r e ferred to Delancey Park as

Plan o f t h e D e l a n ce y M o nu m e n t a n d t re n c h i n g J u ly 2010 by D onovan Hawley

a n a l l é e c o u v e rte. This type of monument, The 2010 season concentrated on t h e n o r t h e r n


c o n s t r u c t e d s i milarly to the gallery grave part of the site where, based o n a r c h i v e
t r a d i t i o n , i s u sually found in cen tral and photographic evidence, little dist u r b a n c e h a d
n o r t h e r n F r a n c e and generally comprises a occurred. Four of the six trenches r a n r o u g h l y
r e c t a n g u l a r c h amber delineated by a series parallel with the northern line of f a l l e n s t o n e
o f l a rg e u p r i g h ts (there are some instances of uprights. It is within several of th e s e t r e n c h e s
s m a l l e r a n t e c h ambers leading off around the that the previous spoil heap o f t h e 1 9 3 2
m a i n c h a m b e r entrance). Based on the 1932 excavation was recorded. Underly i n g t h i s w e r e
s i t e p h o t o g r a p hs it appears that none of the several accumulative deposits c o m p r i s i n g

past horizons 34
Exca va t ion of Tre nc h 1 , w h ic h wa s orgi n a l l y covered by on e of t he fa llen upright s

wind-blown sand. It was consid e r e d b y t h e


Clifton team that the southern s i d e o f t h e
monument had been severely d i s t u r b e d a n d
that little of the prehistoric arch a e o l o g y h a d
probably survived, the result of s e v e r a l r e c e n t
landscaping regimes. However, a s m a l l s l o t
was excavated within the west pa r t o f s i t e t h a t
revealed potential in situ cultu r a l d e p o s i t s ,
a few centimetres below the pre s e n t g r o u n d
level.

Located in one trench within the n o r t h - w e s t e r n


section of the site were several clear structures,
their function unknown. Asso c i a t e d w i t h
these were a small but significa n t c o l l e c t i o n
of locally worked flint and prehis t o r y p o t t e r y.
A similar artefact assemblage w a s r e c o v e r e d
from the other five trenches sug g e s t i n g t h a t
the site was busy, either during o r a f t e r t h e
monument was in use.

Two trenches, were solely d e d i c a t e d t o


recording the soil deposition t h a t h a d
occurred over the past four to fiv e m i l l e n n i a .
These trenches were delibera t e l y l o c a t e d
away from recent archaeological a c t i v i t y b u t
both yielded significant quanti t i e s o f l a t e r
I n s i t u p ack ing f or a rem ove d upr i g h t prehistoric flint and pottery. In t e r p r e t a t i o n

35 past horizons
A r tist i m p re s s i o n o f D e l a n ce y Pa r k by E l l i e M c Q u een

o f s o i l p r o f i l e s uggests that wind-blown silty- The stone was carefully moved on J u l y 2 0 a n d


s a n d d e p o s i t s covered the site shortly after a trench laid out which extended n o r t h w a r d s
t h e M i d d l e t o L ate Bronze Age. into Collum’s spoil heap. Revea l e d w a s t h e
accumulated detritus – broken bo t t l e s , l i t t e r,
I n a n o t h e r t r e n ch, close to the western end of leaf mould and several coins th a t m a n a g e d
t h e s i t e , s m a l l fragments of burnt, possibly to creep within exposed niches b e t w e e n t h e
c r e ma t e d ( h u m an?) bone were found . Based ground surface and the stone. U n d e r n e a t h
p a r t l y o n t h e burial deposition from other this recent cultural deposit was e v i d e n c e o f
g a l l e r y g r a v e s ites and bone recovered from the 1932 excavation, including a p r o b a b l e
t h e 1 9 3 2 e x c a vation, the western end of the trench edge, and beneath this was a t a n t a l i z i n g
m o n u m e n t m a y have been the area where the glimpse into the early history of th e m o n u m e n t
a n c e s t o r s w e r e finally laid to rest. including possible in situ stone p a c k i n g f r o m
both the northern and southern li n e o f s t o n e s
T h e f i n a l a n d most exhausting achievement and a small but significant as s e m b l a g e o f
o f t h i s s e a s o n ’s work was to remove one of worked flint and pottery.
t h e f a l l e n u p r i ghts, centrally located along
t h e n o r t h e r n l i ne of stones. Due in part to This season’s work has proved a g r e a t s u c c e s s
r e c e n t f i r e h e arth activity, this stone and and has identified those areas of t h e s i t e t h a t
o t h e r s n e a r b y were fractured. However, potentially have significant a r c h a e o l o g y.
b a s e d o n t h e 1932 photographic archive, it As part of the post-excavation p r o c e s s , t h e
a p p e a r s t h a t t h i s and other fallen uprights had Clifton team employed a number o f s p e c i a l i s t s
r e m ai n e d i n s i t u. If this was the case then in who will analyse the pottery, fl i n t a n d s o i l
s i t u N e o l i t h i c / Early Bronze Age deposits may chemistry. In addition, a numbe r o f o rg a n i c
e x i s t u n d e r n e a t h. samples taken from clear prehisto r i c h o r i z o n s

past horizons 36
w i l l h o p e f u l l y provide radiocarbon dates for
p a r t i c u l a r s e q u ences, the first from a gallery G et Involved
g r a v e s i t e i n t he Channel Islands. Several
m e m b e r s o f t h e team also researched those CLIFTON ANTIQUARIAN CL U B
u n s t r a t i f i e d a r tefacts, in particular faunal
r e m a i n s o b t a i n ed from the 1919 and 1932 Originally formed in 1884, Th e C l i f t o n
excavation. Antiquarian Club, based in C l i f t o n ,
Bristol, lasted 28 years before o p e r a t i o n s
T h i s r e s e a r c h will hopefully paint a clearer resumed in 2006. We seek to p r o m o t e a
p i c t u r e o f w hat was happening at this better understanding of our archaeological
m o n u m e n t b e t ween c. 2500 and 3000 BC. heritage and meet on several o c c a s i o n s
A s f o r n e x t y e ar, we hope to target an open during the year for lectures, t o u r s a n d
a r e a t r e n c h a l o ng the northern line of fallen research projects. Please fee l f r e e t o
u p r i g h t s , b a s e d on the results from this contact us if you have any que r i e s o r a r e
s e a s o n . I f t h e r esults of this year are anything interested in getting involved.
t o g o b y, t h e D elancey Park monument should
p o s e a v e r y i n teresting prospect. However, W: http://www.cliftonantiquari a n . c o . uk
a s w i t h a l l p r o jects like this, there are more E: theeditor@cliftonantiquaria n . c o . uk
q u e s t i o n s t h a n answers, reminding us that
e v e n d u r i n g t h e Neolithic, life and death was
a c o m p l i c a t e d matter.

P ro j e c t d i re c t o r and club member Dr George


N a s h l e c t u re s part-time at the University
o f B r i s t o l . H e is also senior researcher at
t h e M u s e u m o f Prehistoric Art (Quaternary
a n d P re h i s t o r y Geosciences Centre), Maçao,
P o r t u g a l , a n d associate professor within
t h e D e p a r t m e n t of Architecture, Spiru Haret
U n i ve r s i t y i n B ucharest, Romania.

* P P S 5 i s a p lanning policy document that


s e t s o u t t h e U K govern ment’s polic ies on the
c o n s e r v a t i o n o f the historic environment.

Fu r t h e r R e a d i ng

J o h n s t o n , D . E., The Channel Islands: An


Archaeological Guide (Chichester, Phillimore,
1 9 8 1)
K e n d r i c k , T. D ., The Archaeology of the
C h a n n e l I s l a n d s Volume 1: The Bailiwick of
G u e r n s e y ( L o n don: Methuen, 1928)
K i n ne s , I . A . & Grant, J., Les Fouaillages
a n d t h e M e g a l ithic Monuments of Guernsey
( G u e r n s e y : A m persand Press, 1983)
K i n ne s , I . A . , “ Les Fouaillages and Megalithic
O r i g i n s ” , A n t i quity (56:216, 24-30, 1982)
L u k i s , F. C . , “Observations on the Celtic
M e g a l i t h s ” , Archaeologia (35, 232-288,
1 8 5 1)
S e b i r e , H . , T h e Archaeology and Early History
o f t h e C h a n n e l Islands (Tempus, 2005)

37 past horizons
Br ingi n g Lo s t ?
Com m u n i t i e s
Bac k to L i fe

WH E N m o d e r n s t u d i e s t e a c h e r Jane Summers got involved with Scotland’s


Rura l P a s t , a p r o j e c t o rg a n i s e d by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and
Hist o r i c a l M o n u m e n t s o f S c o t l and (RCAHMS), two years ago, she had no idea
just h o w m u c h o f a n i m p a c t h e r volunteer work was to have. A year later she was
still i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e R C A H M S project, had completed two weeks’ excavation
on a S c o t t i s h h i l l f o r t a n d s i g ned up for a part-time degree in archaeology at
the U n i v e r s i t y o f A b e r d e e n . H er enthusiasm culminated in the groundbreaking
Lost ? p r o j e c t i n v o l v i n g 1 3 0 p u pils of Upper Deeside in bringing the history of
loca l c l e a r a n c e s b a c k t o l i f e .

T h e L o s t ? p r o j ect, thought to be the largest These sessions were run by Meg F a r a g h e r a n d


o f i t s k i n d i n Scotland, began when Jane Ruth Bortoli, supported by Jane a n d M i c h a e l .
s u b m i t t e d a p r oposal for ‘Archaeology in the Pupils developed map and aeria l p h o t o g r a p h
s e c o n d a r y s c h o ol curriculum’ to Michael Foy, interpretation skills and artefact r e c o g n i t i o n ,
p r i n c i p a l t e a c her of humanities at Aboyne handling and reconstruction skill s . T h e p u p i l s
A c a d e m y i n Scotland. The main ambition also learned the benefits of exc a v a t i o n a n d
o f t h e p r o j e c t was to raise awareness of the worked on a simulated excavati o n , l e a r n i n g
c l e a r a n c e c o mmunities and to ge t young to piece facts together to tell a b i g g e r s t o r y,
p e o p l e d i r e c t l y involved in supporting and with the opportunity to handle 4 0 0 0 - y e a r- o l d
d e v el o p i n g a c ommunity enterprise. Working artefacts from the National Muse u m .
w i t h l o c a l a n d national archaeology groups,
t h e p r o j e c t b e gan in June this year with the With this experience in place, th e p u p i l s a r e
h e l p o f A r c h a e ology Scotland who r an skills now working over an eight-mon t h p e r i o d t o
w o r k s h o p s f o r primary seven pupils of all 10 research, survey and record th e c l e a r a n c e
a c a d e m y f e e d e r schools, preparing them to areas of Auchtavan and Loin a t I n v e r c a u l d
t a k e t h e l e a d r ole in their project. Estate in Glen Feardar, around 1 5 m i l e s f r o m
the school in the Cairngorms N a t i o n a l P a r k .

right: re s to re d co t t a g e a t Au c h t a va n

past horizons 38
39 past horizons
Sur vey i n g w i t h t h e u s e o f a p l a n e t a b l e, l o o k i n g a t old maps and planning using a grid

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Map s h ow i n g t h e d e s e r te d ������
settlem e n t o f Au c h t a va n . Th e
projec t w i l l a l s o b e s e a rc h i n g
for an o l d c h a p e l w h i c h i s �
��
though t to h a ve e x i s te d a t ���
Balno e. ��� � ���

Wo r k i n g w i t h Braemar Castle run by Braemar which looks set to be engagin g , e n j o y a b l e


C o m m u n i t y L t d, the youngsters will plan and and rewarding for the pupils an d t h e w i d e r
d e s i g n a p e r m a nent display to be hosted in the community. Archaeology involv e s s t u d y i n g
c a s t le , w h i c h w ill tell the story of the ordinary people in the past by examining t h e o b j e c t s ,
c o m m u n i t i e s o f the estate and showcase the buildings and landscapes they l e f t b e h i n d .
w o r k o f t h e p r o ject. It is hoped that Auchtavan By investigating the abandoned s e t t l e m e n t
a n d t h e c a s t l e will be available as permanent at Auchtavan the pupils will fi n d o u t w h a t
l e a r n i n g r e s o u r ces for the community schools the ruined buildings can tell us a b o u t a n o w -
and beyond. vanished rural way of life, and h e l p v i s i t o r s
to the area understand the storie s b e h i n d t h e
Wo r k i n g w i t h t he support of Scotland’s Rural many deserted settlements foun d t h r o u g h o u t
P a s t a n d A r c h a eology Scotland the pupils will Deeside and across Scotland.
u n d e r t a k e a f u l l site survey, field sketches and
s i t e d e s c r i p t i o ns for each of the properties “The Lost? project will also t e a c h t h e m
t o f o r m t h e b asis of a series of in-school archaeological survey skills t o c r e a t e a
r e s e a r c h p r o j e c ts. Ultimately, the site survey valuable detailed record of Auch t a v a n . T h e i r
w i l l c o n t r i b u t e to records on the Canmore drawings and descriptions of t h e t o w n s h i p
D a t a b a s e . I t i s hoped that the pupils will not will be submitted to the Royal C o m m i s s i o n
o n l y b e a b l e t o record the substantial township on the Ancient and Historical M o n u m e n t s o f
i n t h e g l e n b u t also build up a wider picture of Scotland, and make a real contrib u t i o n t o o u r
w h a t l i f e m i g h t have been like for the people understanding of rural life in the p a s t . ”
o f t he s e s e e m i ngly remote communities.
Although the work presents quite a c h a l l e n g e
B r i a n Wi l k i n son, education officer for to the budding archaeologists , J a n e a n d
S c o t l a n d ’s R u r al Past, said, “It is very exciting Michael are confident the pup i l s w i l l r i s e
t o b e i n v o l v e d i n this innovative school project, to the occasion, and are now p l a n n i n g a n

past horizons 40
A c a d e m y A r c h aeology club to support the history. Until then, the pupils c o n t i n u e t o
p r o j e c t a n d o p en the experience to all year enjoy the challenge of bringing t h e i r L o s t ?
g r o u p s . H a v i n g done some work previously community back to life.
w i t h p u p i l s o n site surveys, Jane recognised
t h a t a r c h a e o l o gy could appeal to children of Auchtavan and Loin in Glen F e a r d a r m a k e
a l l a b i l i t i e s a n d interests. up a large township at 430m abo v e s e a l e v e l .
The buildings range from ank l e - h i g h t u r f
S h e s a i d , “ We hope that pupils will learn constructions to an intact lat e Vi c t o r i a n
a b o ut d i s t i l l a t ion and the use of lime in cottage. A previous project rescu e d o n e o f t h e
s c i e n c e , c r e a t i ng 3D images from their plane cottages which retained an origi n a l h a n g i n g
t a b l e d r a w i n g s , recreating the homes and the chimney (hingin’ lum) and the re m a i n s o f i t s
a t m o s p h e r e o f the community using artistic cruck framed, lichen thatched roo f . A u c h t a v a n
s k i l l s , r e s e a r c h ing the lives and culture of the has 17 unroofed buildings alone a n d t h e w h o l e
p e o pl e a t d i ff e r ent periods, as well as looking site has at least two corn kilns and a h u g e l i m e
a t t h e w i d e r h i story of Scotland. kiln, the highest building on th e s i t e . F r o m
estate records Jane has already pu t t e n a n t s a n d
“ T h e s e h i s t o r i es should be brought alive by subtenants’ names to the ruins, an d o n e o f t h e
t h e c r e a t i o n o f living history dramas about projects will be to research the n a m e s a n d t h e
t h e c o m m u n i t i es and the events linked to families that lived there, aided b y S c o t l a n d ’s
t h e m . T h e r e a r e massive opportunities to do People which has provided acce s s t o c e n s u s
s o m e e x p e r i m e ntal archaeology, too . In fact material and parish records.
t h e r e a r e s o m a ny creative ideas com ing from
t h e a r c h a e o l o g y it is difficult to keep a lid on The project will also attempt to lo c a t e t h e l o s t
them all.” chapel at Balnoe below Auchtava n . A l t h o u g h
there are a number of references t o t h e c h a p e l ,
T h e p r o j e c t will end with a ceilidh and which is recorded on RCAHMS, i t h a s n e v e r
e x h i b i t i o n o f t he interpretation and research been found, and Jane has enlisted t h e s u p p o r t
p r o d u c e d . T h e ceilidh will also showcase the of local archaeology group OFA R S t o h e l p
d r a m a s c r e a t e d to reflect the life and culture solve the mystery.
o f t h e s e t t l e m ents at various points in its

SCOTL AND ’S RUR AL PAST is a five -year initiative run by R C AHMS with par tnership fundin g. The projec t,
launched in O c tober 2006, is wor k ing with local communities to research, record and promote S cotland ’s
vanishing histor ic rural settlements and landscapes. S cotland ’s Rural Past was awarded H ighly Commended
in the B est Archaeological Projec ts categor y in the prestigious Br itish Archaeological Awards from the Br itish
Academy. This was in recognition of the valuable wor k being achieved by volunteer par ticipants across
S cotland. http://w w w.scotlandsruralpast.org.uk

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTL AND br ings together those for whom archaeology is an interest, an ac tive pastime
or a career, suppor ting local archaeological ac tion and campaigns for the best possible conser vation and
mana gement of her itage. http://w w w.scottisharchaeology.org.uk

For more information on Lost? contact:


Jane Summers
modernmrss@googlemail.com
Michael Foy
saafoym@aboyneacademy.aberdeenshire.sch.uk
T: 013398 85201 M: 07971 062994
Interio r o f re s to re d co t t a g e w i t h ‘h i n g i n g l u m’ a t Auchtavan photo: Nigel Corby

41 past horizons
S h ielings
Life in the H igh Pastures

Fiona B a ke r o f Fi ra t A rc h a e o l o g i ca l S e r v i ce s L td. monitoring machine clearance of overburden at a shieling hut.

past horizons 42
By Fiona Baker

T h e r u r a l l a n d s cape of Scotland is dotted with thousands of huts where, for hundr e d s o f y e a r s ,


p e o pl e s p e n t t h eir summer months grazing cattle on high pastures. These simpl e s t r u c t u r e s ,
c a l l ed s h i e l i n g s, were such a common and normal part of Scottish country life th a t l i t t l e w a s
w r i t t e n a b o u t t hem during their period of use, and they are often not even mark e d o n e s t a t e
m a p s a n d p l a n s . Due to their location they are not usually threatened by major d e v e l o p m e n t :
f o r e s t r y, w i n d farms, hydroelectricity pipelines and power lines usually mana g e t o a v o i d
t h e m a l t o g e t h e r, but despite their endurance they are rarely excavated for ar c h a e o l o g i c a l
purposes.

43 past horizons

A t ypica l re c t a n g u l a r s h i e l i n g hu t a t A rd vo r l i c h , overgrown with tur f and moss on the stones

S h i e l i n g s n o r m ally range in size from groups old shielings around Douglas Wa t e r a n d i t s


o f f i v e t o 1 5 h uts, and on the few o ccasions tributaries in Argyllshire, Scot l a n d , u s i n g
w h e re t h e y h ave been excavated, earlier ordnance survey maps from 18 7 4 o n w a r d s .
s e t t l e m e n t h a s sometimes been found beneath The three main settlement are a s i n c l u d e d
t h e o b v i o u s h u t. Not only were the shieling Achnagoul, Auchindrain and K i l e a n / K i l i a n ,
h u t s t h e m s e l v e s rebuilt several time s during the largest townships in the area, a n d p r o b a b l y
t h e i r y e a r s o f use, but the hut builders seem the main homes for the seasonal o c c u p a n t s o f
t o h a v e h a v e deliberately selected existing the shielings at Allt Fearna, Allt n a m M u c a n d
m o u n d s f o r b etter drainage. The existing Lagantour.
m o u n d o n w h i c h the shieling hut would have
b e e n b u i l t m a y represent a natural landscape The shieling excavated at All t F e a r n a , a
f e a t u r e o r p e r h aps an earlier archaeological settlement made up of around fi v e b u i l d i n g s
site. and most likely associated with th e s e t t l e m e n t
of Kilian, was found to overlie a p r e h i s t o r i c
T h e s h i e l i n g s can be found in the high burnt mound. The burnt mound sit e w o u l d h a v e
p a s t u r e s a n d w ere often located on the upper left a noticeable small mound, a n d f o l l o w i n g
r e a c h e s o f s t r e ams that flowed dow n to the total excavation of the site it appe a r s t h e b u r n t
m a i n s e t t l e m e n t, usually on estate boundaries, mound inhabitants also selecte d a n a t u r a l
w h i c h w e r e o f t e n delineated by water courses. small mound for their activities.
A l t h o u g h s o m e were perhaps only two or three
m i l e s f r o m t h e main township, others were up The lower lying or main fermtou n s e t t l e m e n t
t o 1 0 o r 1 2 m i les away, taking several days of Kilian included a burial gr o u n d t o t h e
t o m o v e t h e s t ock and equipment u p to the north east where a cist is also m a r k e d . A n
h i g h e r g r o u n d f rom the lower lying areas. It entry from the National Monum e n t s R e c o r d
i s p o s s i b l e t h a t the families moved between of Scotland notes that the cover i n g s t o n e o f
d i ff e r e n t s h i e l i ng huts over the course of a the cist was removed for buildi n g t h e f a r m
s u m m e r o r u s e d different sites in different house at Kilian but the owner d i d n o t w a n t
y e a r s , b u t e a c h year the inhabitants would to use a ‘gravestone’ and the lo s t c i s t c o v e r
r e t u r n t o t h e t o wns at the end of the summer stone is reputed to lie somewhere b e t w e e n t h e
f o r t h e b e g i n n i ng of the harvest. farmhouse and the cist. The Ne w S t a t i s t i c a l
Account of 1845 mentions Kilia n a s a p l a c e
I n 2 0 0 8 , i n a dvance of an NPower hydro- where children and infants wer e b u r i e d i n
e l e c t r i c i t y s c h eme, Fiona Baker of Firat the 18th century, and a chapel d e d i c a t e d t o
A r c ha e o l o g i c a l Services Ltd. carried out a St John is recorded. However, i t r e m a i n s
d e s k - b a s e d a s sessment and excavation of undiscovered and it is assumed th a t a n e a r l i e r

past horizons 44
Timber would have been used d e p e n d i n g o n
availability, and the constructio n t e c h n i q u e
was largely determined by the m a t e r i a l s t o
hand. The shape ranged from circ u l a r o r o v a l
chambers, to small stone cells and r e c t a n g u l a r
structures, and all main types are o f t e n f o u n d
on artificial mounds or with artif i c i a l m o u n d s
created around them, probably fro m c o l l a p s e d
turf construction and discarded ro o f i n g t h a t c h
around the building as well as mi d d e n s .

The rectangular huts, which w o u l d h a v e


required additional roofing mat e r i a l s , o f t e n
appear to be more substantial c o n s t r u c t i o n s
and may be later in date, or w e r e p o s s i b l y
occupied for longer periods. F o r e x a m p l e ,
in Caithness and in Glenlyon, P e r t h s h i r e ,
in 1725, some of the shieling hu t s r e m a i n e d
r e l i g i o u s b u i l d ing may lie beneath – or was occupied by herdsmen looking a f t e r y o u n g
i n c o r p o r a t e d i nto – the main complex of cattle or horses in the winter. H o w e v e r t h e
b u i l d i n g s . A l t e rnatively, it may be close by shieling system was in use for c e n t u r i e s a n d
a n d w a s n o l o n ger visible by 1874. some change in building style ov e r t i m e i s t o
be expected.
T h e s h i e l i n g sites, which generally went
o u t o f u s e i n t he late 18th century (although Shieling huts were often re-used a n d u p g r a d e d
s o m e m a y s u rvived into the early 19th to provide more permanent acc o m m o d a t i o n
c e n t u r y ) , a r e a ll in a ruined state, and very for shepherds, and foresters i n p a r t i c u l a r
l i t t l e i s k n o w n about how they were roofed. who often lived at estate bounda r i e s t o k e e p
A s s i m p l e a nd temporary constructions, an eye on the movement of game . A s c a n b e
t h e h u t s d e c a y ed over the winter and would seen at Allt Fearna and Allt nam M u c , s e v e r a l
h a v e n e e d e d r efurbishment every summer, shielings have later constructio n s i n t h e m ,
a n d m a p a n a l y sis suggests that by the 1870s often shooting butts or small shee p p e n s . S o m e
t h e s h i e l i n g s were disused, probably quite of the shieling mounds have quit e s u b s t a n t i a l
d e n u d e d a n d o v ergrown with little sh owing at stone foundations built on them, s u c h a s t h o s e
ground level. at Allt nam Muc and Allt Fearna , w h i c h m a y
be later in date and represent ad a p t a t i o n f o r
I t s e e m s l i k e l y that the timber roofing beams use as bothies or shepherds’ huts .
o r c a b e r s , w e r e taken up to the shieling every
y e a r a n d a n e w roof built of turf and / or The eighteenth century Welsh n a t u r a l i s t a n d
b r a c k e n , h e a t h er or rush thatch each season writer Thomas Pennant visited so m e s h i e l i n g s
a n d t h e r o o f d i smantled and the precious roof on the Isle of Jura in 1772. He de s c r i b e d t h e m
c r u c k s a n d c a bers taken back down to the as, “a grotesque group; some ob l o n g , m a n y
m a i n s e t t l e m e n t for storage over the winter, conic, and so low that entrance i s f o r b i d d e n
a p r a c t i c e t h a t has been recorded throughout without creeping through the lit t l e o p e n i n g ,
t h e H i g h l a n d s and the Hebrides. The stone which has no other door than a f a g g o t o f
c e l l t y p e o f s hielings, such as Allt Fearna, birch twigs, placed there occasio n a l l y. T h e y
m a y h a v e h a d c orbelled stone roofs similar to are constructed of branches of tr e e s , c o v e r e d
b e e h i v e h u t s f o und on St Kilda and the Isle of with sods; the furniture is a b e d o f h e a t h ,
Lewis. placed on a bank of sod; two bla n k e t s a n d a
rug; some diary vessels; and ab o v e , c e r t a i n
S h i e l i n g s v a r i ed in plan and design, some pendant shelves, made of basket w o r k , t o h o l d
c o n s t r u c t e d e ntirely of turf, ot hers of the cheese, the produce of summ e r ” .
s t o n e o r a c o mbination of stone and turf. 
45 past horizons
Jamie H u m b l e, a t 6 ’ 4 ”, m o d e l l i n g t h e s l e e p i n g p o ssibilities at a circular cell st yle hut at Allt Fearna.

A l t h o u g h P e n n ant makes life at the shielings Sheep farming was introduced i n t h e m i d


s o u n d m i s e r a b l e, other accounts from t he 1880s18th century and made a dramat i c i m p a c t o n
r e c a ll h o w p l e a sant shieling life could be. It agricultural practices. Soon aft e r t h e 1 7 4 5
w a s c o n s i d e r e d by many to be a holiday from Jacobite Rebellion many parishes w e r e s e t t l e d
l i f e a t t h e m a i n settlement with only milking with graziers from the south a n d b l a c k -
a n d d a i r y p r o d u ction work to be done, and even faced Linton type sheep replace d t h e n a t i v e
i n t h e 1 7 t h c e n tury when cattle thieving was Highland sheep. The ancient Hi g h l a n d b l a c k
r i f e t h e s h i e l i n gs may have afforded a respite cattle, or kyloes, were also disp l a c e d b y t h e
f r o m c l a n r a i d i ng, concealing precious cattle blackface sheep and their numb e r s d r o p p e d
a n d p r o t e c t i n g the main source of we alth. dramatically. The sheep also d r o v e o u t r e d
deer and the vegetation of the sh e e p p a s t u r e s
T h e a n n u a l m o ve to the shieling took place changed from heather and rough g r a s s t o s h o r t ,
o n t w o p h a s e s : first the young men repaired fine green grass within about 30 y e a r s o f t h e i r
t h e s h i e l i n g h u ts, re-thatched roofs, prepared introduction.
h e a t h e r b e d s a n d gathered peat for fuel. A few
w e e k s l a t e r t h e women arrived with the milk The role of cattle in the lives of t h e s h i e l i n g
c o w s. T h e m e n usually stayed at the main inhabitants was crucial to surviva l , p r o v i d i n g
f a r m ( f e r m t o u n) settlement. Work centred both wealth from market trading a n d a n n u a l
o n da i r y i n g a n d making butter and cheese, fairs and, in times of famine, b l o o d - l e t t i n g .
a l t h o u g h i t i s possible some distilling also The efforts of the Agricultural I m p r o v e m e n t
t o o k p l a c e . S pinning and knitting were also Movement combined with th e i n d u s t r i a l
p r i m a r y a c t i v i t ies at the shielings, and some revolution and clearances altered t h e S c o t t i s h
t i m e w o u l d h a v e been spent collecting lichens, landscape enormously and led to t h e e v e n t u a l
r o o t s a n d p l a n t s for making dyes. demise of shielings. However, h u n d r e d s o f
years of occupation of these si t e s h a s l e f t
S e v e r a l f a c t o r s , beginning with agr icultural a potentially rich source of ar c h a e o l o g i c a l
i m p r o v e m e n t s i n the late 18th and early 19th evidence, and with further e x c a v a t i o n a
c e n t u r y, l e d t o the demise of the shieling valuable record of these forgott e n d w e l l i n g s
s y s t e m b u t t h e main reason was the massive can be more accurately reconstru c t e d , a d d i n g
e x p a n s i o n o f c o mmercial sheep farming in the to the existing data and bringi n g l i f e a n d
1 9 t h c e n t u r y. memory back to the shielings of A rg y l l s h i r e .

past horizons 46
r o f i l e
P Fiona Baker
FIONA BAKER graduated from the Universit y of D ur h a m i n 1 9 8 8
with a BA in archaeology. She then set off to excavate m a ny s i te s
across the UK , Europe and the M iddle East, and in 1 9 9 2 s e t u p
Firat Archaeological S er vices Ltd. to take advantage of a c h a n g e i n
planning laws and new roles for commercial wor k in a rc h a e o l o g y.
This helped establish a long-ter m career in field wor k a n d p rov i d e d
oppor tunities for travel and sunshine excavations in Eg y p t a n d
the M iddle East. Her time off is devoted to her dog, g a rd e n , a n d
amateur dramatics.

W h a t is your earliest archaeological mem o r y ? What is your current obsession?


T h e Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National P a r k i n I d o n ’t k n o w a b o u t a n o b s e s s i o n b u t m y r a n t o f
C o l o rado, when I was about six years old . the moment is the devaluing of the archaeological
p r o f e s s i o n w i t h c o n t r a c t o r s n o t c h a rg i n g e n o u g h
L a r a Croft or Gertrude Bell? for professional services. Those of us that
G e r t rude Bell. started in commercial archaeology when the
planning regulations were new spent years getting
D i d you come to archaeology or did arc h a e o l o g y archaeology taken seriously in the construction
c o m e to you? and development industries. That is now being
I t c a me to me I guess, a school trip to P o m p e i i u n d e r m i n e d b y c o n t r a c t o r s c h a rg i n g l e s s f o r a n
w h e n I was 14 made a big impression. A l t h o u g h I archaeologist than the digger driver gets paid.
w e n t to university to study anthropology f i r s t a n d When the recession is over the cheap rates policy
f o r e most, archaeology sucked me in. will come back to bite us. It may get folk work
just now but it is unsustainable.
Yo u r top three essential items for travel?
E a r l Grey tea Also the generally poor standard of archaeological
S w i s s Army knife field skills university graduates possess when they
A b i g scarf – head cover, shawl, towel, s h e e t … enter the profession.

D o y ou have a fa vourite memory of a cou n t r y y o u Do you prefer the heat of the desert or the rain of
h a v e been to? Scotland?
O o h , difficult question as there are ma n y. T h e B o t h h a v e t h e i r m e r i t s b u t a f t e r b e i n g b l o w n o ff
f i r s t time I saw the Treasury at Petra I w a s m o v e d my feet in horizontal rain on Arran recently the
t o t ears; I watched the moon rise il l u m i n a t e current answer would be the heat of the desert.
i t s f açade one night which was magic a l . T h e
H y p o style Hall at Karnak left me dumbst r u c k ; t h e If you could return to a period in the past, where
D a r t River and Glenorchy, New Zealand, i s o n e o f and when would it be?
t h e most beautiful places on earth, and w a s h i n g a n The lifetime of Alexander the Great as a member
e l e p hant in Sri L anka was a privilege. of his inner circle.

D o y ou listen to music while you work ? I f s o , I f y o u w e r e i n t h e d e s e r t a n d h a d a ch o i c e b e t w e e n


w h a t is currently your music of choice? t e a o r c o ff e e w h a t w o u l d i t b e ?
I ’ m a Radio 4 gi rl, really, but somethin g m e l l o w Te a , d o u b l e d b o i l e d w i t h l a s h i n g s o f s u g a r a n d
l i k e Van Morrison if I’m at the comp u t e r a n d some mint or other desert herb as only the Bedouin
m a y b e Bob Marl ey if there is lots of sh o v e l l i n g can make it.
t o b e done.
If you were able to find anything in the world,
I f y o u had an unlimited budget, what w o u l d y o u what would it be?
d o w ith it? A painted cave.
Research and write, follow up various archaeological
i n t e r ests and help others do interesting p r o j e c t s . I f y o u w e r e n o t a n a r c h a e o l o g i s t , wh a t w o u l d y o u
be?
W h e re do you feel most at peace? A gardener or an actress, or maybe a three-day
I n a desert. e v e n t e r.

47 past horizons
Dig Diary - B y l a z o r a
I N N O V E M BER 2008 Past Horizons carried a story on the Bylazora exca v a t i o n s i n
t h e F o r m e r Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Since then, the t e a m h a s
r i g o r o u s l y r e corded their activities and opened their diaries to us to show the p r o g r e s s o f
t h e d i g . F o r those who missed the original story, to recap, in 1 9 7 6 P r o f e s s o r I v a n M i k u l č i ć ,
a f ter a survey of central FYROM (th e F o r m e r Yu g o s l a v i a n R e p u b l i c o f M a c e d o n i a ) , s u g g e s t e d
t h at a large plateau near the town of S v e t i N i k o l e m i g h t p r o v e t o b e a p r o m i s i n g s i t e t o h u n t f o r
B ylazora, the largest city of the ancie n t P a i o n i a n s . E x p l o r a t o r y s o u n d i n g s m a d e b e f o r e a n d a f t e r
F YROM independence in 1991 suppor t e d t h i s .

T hen, in 2008 Mr. Aleksandar Danev, d i r e c t o r o f t h e P e o p l e ’s M u s e u m o f S v e t i N i k o l e , c o n t a c t e d


T he Texas Foundation for Archaeolog i c a l a n d H i s t o r i c a l R e s e a r c h ( T FA H R ) . F a m i l i a r w i t h t h e i r
i n ternational field school work, he inv i t e d t h e g r o u p t o i n i t i a t e a n i n - d e p t h , l o n g - t e r m p r o j e c t t o
e xcavate the site.

Wh o w e r e t h e Paionians?
T he earliest mention of the Paionians i n a n c i e n t G r e e k l i t e r a t u r e i s i n H o m e r ’s I l i a d , i n w h i c h
t h ey appear as allies of the Trojans ag a i n s t t h e G r e e k s ( I l i a d I I : 8 4 8 s e q . ) . H e r e , H o me r m e n t i o n s
t h e Paionians as being from Amydon o n t h e “ b r o a d s t r e a m o f t h e A x i o s ” , f i g h t i n g w i t h c u r v e d
b ows and being led by a certain Pyrai c h m e s ( I l i a d X : 4 2 8 s e q . ) .

Ex t r a c t f r o m the 2009 TFAHR report:


“ It is hard digging on the acropolis o f a n a n c i e n t c i t y a n d n o t t o i m a g i n e t h a t t h e re i s a t e m p l e
s o mewhere nearby. The massive propy l o n c o m p l e x l e a d i n g i n t o t h e a c ro p o l i s f u e l l e d o u r h o p e s
t h at it might lead to a temple. The dis c o v e r y o f t h e p a v e d p e b b l e ro a d w a y l e a d i n g f u r t h e r u p h i l l
b eyond the propylon only postponed t h e s e h o p e s t o a n o t h e r s e a s o n . T h e d i s c o v e r y o f t r i g l y p h
a nd metope fragments added “more f u e l t o t h e f i re ” . M o re o v e r, a c ro s s t h e s i t e w e h a v e b e e n
f i nding numerous miniature vessels a n d s m a l l a n i m a l f i g u r i n e s . S u c h m i n i a t u re s a n d f i g u r i n e s
h ave traditionally been interpreted as e i t h e r g r a v e o f f e r i n g s ( u n l i k e l y h e re o n t h e a c ro p o l i s ) o r
c hildren’s toys (possibly) or votive gi f t s l e f t i n a s h r i n e o r t e m p l e ( i n t r i g u i n g ) . I n an y c a s e , w e
s h all continue to excavate in a meth o d i c a l f a s h i o n , d e t e r m i n e d t o d i s c o v e r t h e f i rs t P a i o n i a n
t e mple.” Eulah Matthews and Bill Ne i d i n g e r ( s i t e d i r e c t o r s ) http://w w w.tfahr.org

T he team’s de termination paid off and a t e m p l e w a s e v e n t u a l l y d i s c o v e r e d a t t h e s i t e . R e a d t h e


T FAHR weekl y dig diary, kept by the s i t e d i r e c t o r s , f o r a n a c c o u n t o f t h e f i r s t f i v e w e e k s o f t h e
2 010 excavations...

B ackground photo: the TFAHR team in their first season (2008) at B ylazora

past horizons 48
Wee k 1 , J u n e 2 0 1 0 -
o p ening o l d trenches

W e ha ve comp leted ou r fir st week


of t he TFA HR exca vatio ns. Ou r
s t a rting tea m c onsi sts o f 13 memb ers of th e
i n t er nat ional field scho ol (f rom the U SA,
A u s t ralia, England , Irel and, and Po lan d ),
7 M ac ed onian-base d vo lunt eers from t he
Un i t ed S ta te s Peace Co rps, o ur coll eagu es
f r om t he Pe op le ’s M useu m of Svet i Nikole,
a n d 10 wo rk men f rom Svet i Ni ko le an d
Orienta
K n ezje . tion fo
of the r the n
e x c a va t ew mem
ion tea bers
m
A f t e r a b rief orient ation for the new team
m em be rs , and a clean- up o f the d am age
d o n e b y t he w in ter s now and rain, we beg an
e x c a va ting again in some of o ur old tren ch es
o n the ac rop olis . We deci ded t o dig deeper in
a f e w s pots bef ore we expa nded the e xca vation
h o r i zont ally across the a crop olis.

W e uncove red what app ears to b e a larg e


d r a i n running un dern eath the ru ins of
t h e build ings o f the la st phase o f life in
B y l a z ora . Th is in dicat es t hat there are
p r o b ab ly s ub sta nti al ea rlier buil din gs to
b e d i sc over ed be nea th. We als o un cov ered a
m a ss ive stone wall runn ing paral lel to th e
d e f ens ive w all of the acropoli s. Get tin g bac k int o the old
tre nch es

W e will expo se mo re of thi s wa ll in t he


u p c o ming w ee k s. This m ay mean th at th e
a c r opo lis w as f ortif ied and defen ded wi th
a c a se mate w al l (p arall el wa lls joined by We have beg un with our us u a l w e e k l y
i n t er mit tent sp ur w alls) . lect ures; th e stu dent s were gi v e n a n
A s he rd w as fou nd n ear t he ca sema te wall. introd uction to th e hi story of By l a z o ra
I t i s t he ba se of a n importe d Athenia n black an d th e excavati ons . In ad d i t i o n , o n e
g l a ze p iec e o f p ottery. There i s a g raffito of the s tud ents pres ented a w o r k s h o p
s c ra tche d into t he un ders ide o f the bas e. It on pottery profi le d rawi ng . A nd a n
a p p ears to be the sym bol of the Pho en ician experien ced volun teer g ave a n i n- th e -
g o d de ss Ast ar te , a goddess of, a mon gs t tren ch d emon s tration of how t o d r a w
o th e r th ings , fe rtili ty an d g ood f ortune. stratigraph ical s ec tion s.
I t i s an int rigu ing piece to find here in
a n c i ent Paionia . Th anks to so me very g en erous d o na ti o ns
that are s till com ing in , we w i l l b e a b l e
to hire ad d ition al local wo r k er s a n d
mach inery to open up a new s e c t i o n o f th e
acropolis adj acen t to the area w e a r e no w
excavatin g.

49 past horizons
We e kDear2 Friends and Supporters of TFAHR:
- a spectacular week
It has been a spectacular week in the

I
trenches. We are completing our picture of
t h a s theb emonumental
e n a spectacular
propylon of theweek in ofthe
acropolis
t r e n c hBylazora.
e s . W e are Partscompleting
of the propylon our picture
which we of
t h e m o n uhad m eonly
n t alhypothesized
propylonlast of year
the have now
acropolis of
B y l a z o r abeen
. P auncovered.
r t s of theItpropylon
seems that after Bylazora
which we had
had been abandoned, people
o n l y h y p o t h e s ised last year have now beencame to the
u n c o v e r edeserted site andthat
d . I t s eems quarried away
after many of thehad
Bylazora
larger stones of the propylon. This meant
b e e n a b a n d o n e d, people came to the deserted
that only the deepest foundations of the
s i t e a n d propylon
q u a r r ied
wereaway
left for many of the larger
us to discover.
s t o n e s o f t h e p r opylon. This meant that only
t h e d e e p e s t f o u ndations of the propy lon were
l e f t f o r u s t o d iscover.

W e a r e a l s o extending our excavation to


u n c o v e r m o r e of what now appears to be the
c a s e m a t e w a l l of the acropolis. As usual, the
f i r s t t h i n g s w e encounter in diggin g are
Cleaning the eastern wall of the
rectangular room of the propylon.

We are also extending our excavation to uncover more of what now appears to be the casemate wall of the
acropolis. As usual, the first things we encounter in digging are the ramshackle buildings of the last days of
Bylazora (our so-called Second Squatter Period). Beneath this stratum, we anticipate encountering a half-
meter layer of sterile soil, and then the remains of the casemate wall.

In another area of Sector 3, we have dismantled some of the walls of the Second Squatter Period to reveal
earlier habitation levels. We have uncovered floors, drainsUand
n c ostorage vessels, but we have not yet
ve
determined the precise date of these structures. the w ring a
all sto ra
build of a
ing Secon ge jar
n wal l of the d Squ be
Cle ani ng the eas ter atter neath
ar roo m of the pro pyl on Perio
rec tan gul d

Finally, TFAHR and the People’s M u s e u m o f


t h e r a m s h a c k l e buildings of the last days Sveti Nikole have some great ne w s t o s h a r e .
o f B y l a z o r a ( o ur so-called Second Squatter In preparation for the application f o r a l i c e n s e
P e r i o d ) . B e n e a th this stratum, we anticipate and state funding for the 2011 e x c a v a t i o n
e n c o u n t e r i n g a half metre layer of sterile season, we have put down some e x p l o r a t o r y
s o i l , a n d t h e n the remains of the casemate probes atop the acropolis. One of t h e s e p r o b e s
wall. has revealed some very intriguin g f i n d i n g s :
several carved stones which ar e t y p i c a l o f
Clearing a roof
In another area of Sector 3, we have dismantled templetile fall of the Second Squatter Period all
architecture (left).
over the Me d i t e r r a n e a n
Uncovering a storage jar beneath the wall of
s o m e o f t h e w alls of the Second Squatter area. Pending permission a Second Squatter Period building (right).
to e x t e n d o u r
P e r i o d t o r e v e a l earlier habitation levels. We excavation area to include thes e p r o b e s , w e
h a v e u n c o v e r e d floors, drains and storage hope to dig in the area around t h e s e s t o n e s
v e s s e l s , b u t w e have not yet determ ined the to determine the location of the t e m p l e f r o m
p r e c i s e d a t e o f these structures. which these stones came.

past horizons 50
W e e k 3- a Hellenistic temple of the Doric order

A f t e r t w o weeks of oppressive heat in


S v e t i N i kole, the weather in the past
w e e k g a v e w a y to a cold front which brought
collection. When the weather fina l l y c l e a r e d ,
we were able to get back out to th e s i t e . A s w e
mentioned in last week’s update , p r o b e s a t o p
r a i n a n d a b i t ing wind. So much rain fell the acropolis revealed several ca r v e d s t o n e s
t h a t o u r d i g site was rendered too muddy which are typical of temple arc h i t e c t u r e a l l
t o w o r k . B u t t he TFAHR international field over the Mediterranean area.
s c h o o l t o o k a d v antage of the day off for other
l e a r n i n g a c t i v ities. We are pleased to report that T F A H R a n d
the People’s Museum of Sveti N i k o l e w e r e
I n v i t e d b y t he director of the People’s granted permission to dig thi s s e a s o n i n
M u s e u m o f S veti Nikole, one of the field this new area, Sector 6. We have o p e n e d n e w
s c h o o l v o l u n t eers who is experienced in squares in order to determine wh a t b u i l d i n g
c o l l e c t i o n s m a nagement in a museum in these carved stones came from. T h i s w e e k ’ s
S y d n e y , A u s tralia, guided a g roup of excavations have uncovered more o f t h e c a r v e d
o t h e r f i e l d s c h ool students in the basics of stones. So far we have triglyph a n d m e t o p e
d e s i g n f o r a n archaeological exhibition and blocks, cornice pieces, column d r u m s a n d a
b a s i c c o l l e c t i o ns management. The museum column “base” - in short, all the e l e m e n t s a r e
k i n d l y o f f e r e d hands-on experience to the present of a traditional temple o f t h e D o r i c
s t u d e n t s i n w o rking with the archaeological order.

Cornice Doric c apital

Anta

Column drums
Column base
Cornice

Triglyph and metop e


O u r p r e l i m i n a ry research suggests that, stylistically, this building is Hellen i s t i c , r a t h e r
t h a n C l a s s i c a l . From what we have so far discovered, we can fairly well reco n s t r u c t t h e
e l e v a t i o n o f t h e temple. Our next task is to find the platform of the temple (st y l o b a t e a n d
s t e r eo b a t e c o u r ses), which will give us the length and width of the temple.

51 past horizons
Week 4 - excavating the temple

W e c o n t i n ued working in Sector 6 on


t h e r e m ains of the Doric temple we
d i s c o v e r e d t w o weeks ago. We are beginning
t o p i e c e t o g e t her not only the style and
d i m e n s i o n s o f the temple, but al so some
o f t h e d e t a i l s of the history of the temple.
A s w e m e n t i o n ed in last week’s up date, we
c a n t e n t a t i v e l y date the temple on stylistic
g r o u n d s t o t h e Hellenistic era. When this P o s s ib l e
foundat
io n o f a
t e m p l e w a s b u i l t, a tremendously thick layer colonna
de
o f g r e e n c l a y was laid down on this part of
t h e a c r o p o l i s as a levelling course for the
c o n s t r u c t i o n o f the temple.
We found mixed amongst the d e b r i s o f t h e
T h e s t e r e o b a t e (levelling) courses of stone ruins of the temple a number of h u m a n a n d
w e r e l a i d a t o p the clay, and then the temple animal remains, as well as a s i g n i f i c a n t
p r o p e r w a s c onstructed. The tem ple was amount of datable burnt pottery .
p r o b a b l y d e s t r oyed in the early 2nd century
B C w h e n B y l a z ora itself was sacked and then We have started moving some o f o u r c r e w
d e s e r t e d . T h e r uins of the temple must have back to Sector 3 where we excava t e d i n 2 0 0 8
r e m a i n e d u n d i sturbed for quite some time and 2009. One of the discov e r i e s i n t h e
b e f o r e l a t e r g e nerations (the Romans?) came last weeks of the 2009 season w a s a l a r g e
b y a n d q u a r r i ed the stones of the temple to ramshackle building built by s q u a t t e r s i n
b u r n d o w n f o r lime mortar. We will have a the last days of the life of B y l a z o r a . W e
m o r e c o m p l e t e discussion of the evidence for have begun dismantling that b u i l d i n g a n d
t h e h i s t o r y o f the temple, including its fate have so far uncovered evidence of a t l e a s t t w o
i n t h e l i m e k i l ns, in our 2010 report. earlier phases of habitation. In t h e u p c o m i n g
weeks we will continue diggin g d e e p e r i n
this area, as well as opening n e w t r e n c h e s
alongside the acropolis wall.

This coming week will see t h e T F A H R


international field school at i t s g r e a t e s t
number, with new people arr i v i n g f r o m
Spain, Germany and the USA.

sku lls in th e
Un cov eri ng hu ma n neat
h
n be
deb ris of th e tem ple o f ha
bit atio
nce
vide yer
ng e
n c o veri clay la
U n
gree
the

past horizons 52
Week 5 - more intriguing discoveries

These deep stereobate courses, wh i c h t h e l i m e


burners did not take the trouble t o e x c a v a t e ,
are providing us with enough inf o r m a t i o n t o
estimate the size of the temple. I n a d d i t i o n ,
In Sector 6, where we discovered t h e r e m a i n s
of the temple, we have continued u n c o v e r i n g
more of the stereobate (levelling c o u r s e s o f
the foundation) of the temple. W i t h e a c h d a y
more evidence suggests that our t e m p l e m e t
its end in a lime kiln.

in Friday’s excavations we unco v e r e d a v e r y


large wall which appears to ru n a d j a c e n t
e
to the temple and possibly co n n e c t s w i t h
u c tu r
me r a te st r the defensive wall of the acropo l i s . W e h o p e
d c o n g lo
A c la y a n
in next week’s excavations to m a k e t h i s
connection.

W e h a v e passed the halfway point in


t h e 2 0 1 0 excavation season, and we
c o n t i n u e t o m a ke intriguing discoveries. In
S e c t o r 3 w e c o n tinued dismantling the large
r a m s h a c k l e s t ructure built by squatters in
t h e l a s t d a y s of Bylazora. Beneath some of
t h e w a l l s o f t h at building, a number of large
p i t h o i ( s t o r a g e vessels) came to light directly
b e n e a t h t h e l a t er walls. In one room of that
b u i l d i n g w e e x c avated beneath the floor levels
o f t h e H e l l e n i stic and Classical eras, and
f o u n d a s t r a n ge structure built entirely of Draw ing a plan of the anom alou s
c l a y a n d c o n g l omerate rock. Unfortunately, stru ctur e in Sect or 3
t h e fe w p o t s h erds found provide no precise
d a t i n g f o r t h i s building.

A l s o i n t h e S e ctor 3 excavations we exposed Spear point found in Sector 3 e x c a v a t i o n s .


t h e f u l l l e n g t h of an anomalous s tructure Some of the field school studen t s h a v e n o w
t h a t w e f i r s t b e gan to uncover last week. The completed their time with us and a r e o n t h e i r
f i e l d s c h o o l v o l unteers have expertly mapped way home. They have expressed th e i r g r a t i t u d e
e v e r y s i n g l e s t one and tile of this structure; to TFAHR and the donors for m a k i n g t h i s
y e s t e r d a y w e b egan excavating trial trenches experience possible for them.
o n e i t h e r s i d e of this structure. We hope by
t h e n e x t u p d a t e to be able to explain what We are looking forward to three
t h i s s t r u c t u r e is.
more exciting weeks at Bylazora.

53 past horizons
D ig In
A selectio n of archaeolo g i c a l
p r ojects around the worl d

Cyp ru s Pa p h o s Th e at re Arc h aeological Projec t


Work in 2010 will concentrate in the area of a Roman road to the south of the theatre.
Successful applicants will work all aspects from excavation and site recording to basic
finds processing. The theatre was constructed around 300BC and used for performance and
entertainment for over six centuries until its final destruction by earthquake around 365AD.
There is also considerable Late Roman and Mediaeval period activity on the site.

Dates : 2 October-7 November 2010 (express ions of interest also sought for 2011 season)
Costs: Students-$1300AUD, volunteers-$3000 AUD (does not include airfare)
Contact: craig.barker@sydney.edu.au
Web: http://www.paphostheatre.co m

Eng l a n d R o m a n Tow n o f D u rolevum


Excavation of a Roman cemetery to reveal a possible 1st century Roman invasion marching
camp at Syndale Park, Faversham. Recent geophysical survey and excavation in the summer of
2009 has identified Roman burials and 1st century Roman double ditches alongside the Roman
Watling Street. Beginners are welcome to the training course on the Monday 23rd to Friday
27th August, with the option to continue for further days.

Dates: 14 August-24 September 2010


Costs: See website for details
Contact: info@kafs.co.u k
Web: http://www.kafs.co.u k

Bul g a r i a Tu n d z h a R e gi o n a l Archaeological Projec t


The project is looking for a committed group of people to continue a regional archaeological
survey of the Tundzha river valley. Team members participate in a variety of tasks including
field walking, paper and digital documentation, artefact collection and pro cessing, remote
sensing and ground truthing, environmental sampling and trial excavation. The team normally
comprises 15-25 researchers, students and volunteers.

Dates: 2 October-15 November 2010


Costs: Approximately £250 per week for shared room and full board
Contact: adelas@umich.ed u
Web: http://www.citiesindust.org/index.htm l

Eng l a n d Wa l b e r to n R o m a n Vi lla Excavation


This is the fifth season of excavations of a large 3rd century Roman villa and will concentrate
on the bath house furnace , and the possible late iron age/early roman ditches surrounding the
villa itself. Previous excavations firmly established the floor plan of a five-room corridor
villa. Wall foundations to a depth of 83cm were recorded but there appear to be no surviving
floor levels.

Dates: 21 August-4 September 2010


Costs: Attendance is free, but for insurance purposes you must join the Society. Annual membership is £15
Contact: contact@worthingarch.co.uk
Web: http://www.worthingarch.co.u k

past horizons 54
Uni te d St ate s G a r f i e l d Fa r m
Excavation of the original log house site at this 1840s historically intact former Illinois
prairie farmstead and teamster inn, which is being restored as an 1840s working farm
museum. This newly-established five year archaeology investigation will allow volunteers
to help excavate, screen, wash and catalogue artefacts in the vicinity of the original 1836
Culverson family log house, the first settling family of Garfield Farm.

Dates: 22 September-3 October 2010


Costs: contact dig organisers
Contact: info@garfieldfarm.org
Web: http://www.garfieldfarm.org

Israe l Th e N e w Ti b e r i a s E xc avation Projec t


A building, originally declared a covered market, has recently been restudied and shown
to be a congregational mosque dating from the Early Islamic period. The main aim of
the present project is twofold: to define the phases and architectural development of the
hypostyle building by exploring its unexcavated eastern portion, and to establish its urban
context.

Dates : 3-29 October 2010


Cost: $400-$500 per week
Contact: tiberiasexcavation@yahoo.com
Web: http://archaeology.huji.ac.il/Tiberias/Default.aspx

St. Vi n ce nt a n d t h e G re n a d i nes Public Archaeology Program


Preliminary survey of the site has revealed numerous postholes, some of which appear to
be in a linear pattern, as well as two burials, one of which appears to be a human in flexed
position. Artefacts identified on the surface include ceramics, stone tools, beads and food
remains, indicating that occupation spans from the Saladoid period to Colonial and present
times – a span of 2000 years. Excavations will commence in 2011.

Dates: 9 January-5 February 2011


Costs: $1795 CAD per week and includes accommodation and meals. Airfare not included.
Contact: info@svgdigs.co m
Web: http://www.svgdigs.co m

I ta l y I n f ra - s i te a n d M a gn e t i c Sur vey in the Carapelle R iver Valley


Three areas of the valley were subjected to systematic archaeological survey between 2006
and 2007, revealing the remains of Neolithic villages, Daunian settlements, Roman villas
and farms, and mediaev al houses. The 2010 project will consist of infra-site analysis and
magnetic survey on some sampled archaeological sites revealed by previous field walking
and aerial-photographs.

Dates: 25 October-27 November 2010


Costs: No fee but participants will be charg ed €40 per day for food and board
Contact: r.goffredo@unifg.it
Web: http://www. archeologia.unifg.it

To view lots more projec ts go to: htt p : / / w w w. p a s t h o r i zo n s. co m / Wo rl d Pro j e c t s

P L E A S E N O T E: The dates for the 2011 projects will start being posted by the en d o f 2 0 1 0 a t
t h e ea r l i e s t . I f there are any projects that interest you for 2011 get in touch with t h e r e l e v a n t
f i e l d d i r e c t o r e xpressing your interest as early as possible.

55 past horizons
Recipes for Archaeologists
VA R I E T Y A N D T H E S P I C E O F L I F E
THE FOOD that I p r o d u c e o n a d i g teams, re-assembled and re-bound in
varies according to t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s m a n y f a r- f l u n g p l a c e s o v e r t h e y e a r s .
and the needs of the t e a m . Some of the pages from this book can
be seen on my website, and some of the
Annie Evans It might be comfort foo d f r o m t h e c o u n t r y recipes which have featured right here
The Dig Cook where the participant s c o m e f r o m , q u i t e in Past Horizons can be downloaded as
often using recipes fro m s o m e o f t h e t e a m P D F f r o m w w w. d i g c o o k . c o m.
members. Or I might c h o o s e q u a s i - l o c a l
cuisine that becomes m o r e a u t h e n t i c a s One of the challenges of my work is
I gradually familiarise m y s e l f w i t h l o c a l in finding the right ingredients, not
ingredients and metho d s o f p r e p a r a t i o n . o n l y i n a n u n f a m i l i a r v il l a g e s h o p o r
Living in Australia, I’ v e l e a r n e d t o c o o k supermarket but with the handicap of
a wide variety of dis h e s b e c a u s e w e ’ r e a l a n g u a g e d i ff e r e n c e . T h i s i s n o t a
a nation of immigran t s . O u r r e s t a u r a n t s problem to me as I dislike the idea of
and home kitchens o ff e r a n e n o r m o u s a homogenized world where everything
diversity of food fr o m m a n y c u l t u r e s is the same. I believe that the fact that
with supplies of ingre d i e n t s t o m a t c h . certain ingredients are not available in a
p l a c e i s a r e m i n d e r o f c u l t u r a l d i ff e r e n c e
For variety and to giv e e v e r y o n e a b o o s t and is something to be celebrated.
I cook Asian dishes s u c h a s T h a i a n d
Indian curries, and s o m e I n d o n e s i a n But the cook is sometimes dealing with
noodle dishes which p r o v i d e p l e n t y o f a group of people who have certain
interest and exciteme n t t o t h e d i g m e n u . expectations, and he or she has to be able
The balance of my m e n u r e p e r t o i r e t o w o r k a r o u n d t h e p r a c t i ca l i t i e s o f s u c h
includes dishes that h a v e p r o v e d v e r y i s s u e s . H o w e v e r, w h e n y o u ’ r e o u t i n t h e
popular over the year s . country in a location far from home it
m a y b e d i ff i c u l t t o o b t a i n s u p p l i e s t o
These come from th e o l d h a n d - m a d e cook ethnic food from elsewhere in the
recipe book I compi l e d t h e f i r s t t i m e world, and this is where some culinary
I cooked for a dig b a c k i n 1 9 9 8 . A t l a t e r a l t h i n k i n g b e c o m e s n e c e s s a r y.
that time, I left m a n y b l a n k p a g e s
for additional recipe s . I s t i l l u s e t h a t T h e r e h a v e b e e n t i m e s wh e n I ’ v e u s e d
battered, splattered a n d f o o d - e n c r u s t e d spaghetti as noodles in Asian dishes
tome which is now f u l l t o o v e r f l o w i n g a n d n o o n e h a s b e e n a n y t h e w i s e r. I
with recipes from eve r y w h e r e I ’ v e b e e n m a k e a g o o d s u b s t i t u t e f or k e c a p m a n i s
since my first project i n C y p r u s w h e n I (Indonesian sweet soy) by simmering
cooked for a team fr o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y one cup of soy sauce and 2/3 cup brown
of Glasgow. Some of t h e s e a r e o r i g i n a l s u g a r o v e r a l o w h e a t u n ti l i t ’s s l i g h t l y
recipes that I would n e v e r a t t e m p t t o t h i c k a n d s y r u p y.
make for a large gro u p i n a p r i m i t i v e
kitchen with inadequ a t e f a c i l i t i e s ; a f t e r
I also travel with foil sac h e t s o f T h a i
all, there’s dinner p a r t y c o o k i n g a n d
curry pastes and the fo l l o w i n g i s a
then there’s dig coo k i n g , a n d t h e t w o
recipe for making cocon u t m i l k f r o m
are very different thin g s . desiccated coconut, wh i c h i s a l s o a
handy ingredient to hav e i f a n y o n e
I wouldn’t dream of g o i n g o n a d i g
on the team is lactose in t o l e r a n t .
without my recipe b o o k . I t h a s b e e n
photocopied by me m b e r s o f v a r i o u s

The Dig Cook’s website


http://www.digcook.com © Annie E v a n s 2 0 1 0
past horizons 56
Coco n u t M i l k
2 1 ⁄ 2 cups water
2 c u ps desiccated coconut
P i n c h of salt

P l a c e water and coconut in a


s a u c epan, heat gently until almost
b o i l i ng then allow to cool to
l u k e warm. Blend half the mixture,
a n d then blend the second half.
Strain through muslin then
s q u e eze the muslin bag to extract
t h e maximum milk. Do not discard
t h e coconut. Repeat the process
w i t h a further 2 1⁄2 cups water.
C o m bine with the first infusion
a n d add a small pinch of salt.
M a k es 2 1⁄2 cups.

I a l s o like to serve chutney with curries b u t i t i s s o m e t i m e s v e r y h a r d t o f i n d . T h i s c h u t n e y r e c i p e i s


e a s y and the ingredients are usually read i l y a v a i l a b l e .

Apr i co t c h u t n e y
2 5 0 grams dried apricots
2 c u ps boiling water
2 0 0 grams sultan as or raisins
1 1 ⁄ 2 cups brown sugar
1 c u p vinegar
1 ⁄ 2 t easpoon ground cloves or 6 whole cl o v e s
2 t e a spoons mustard seeds or one teaspoo n m u s t a r d p o w d e r
2 t e a spoons ground ginger (optional)

C o v e r apricots with boiling water and a l l o w t o s t a n d a n d s o f t e n f o r t w o h o u r s . A d d r e m a i n i n g


i n g r e dients and stir over a low heat until s u g a r d i s s o l v e s . B r i n g t o t h e b o i l . R e d u c e h ea t a n d s i m m e r
u n c o vered for one hour or until the mixtu r e i s t h i c k . Wa t c h c a r e f u l l y f o r t h e l a s t 1 5 m i n u t e s . P o u r i n t o
s t e r i lized jars and seal. Makes one litre.

T h e following tandoori spice mix makes a q u i c k a n d e a s y p a s t e t o w h i c h y o u a d d y o g h u r t a n d m a r i n a t e


s m a l l pieces of chicken. After two hou r s m a r i n a t i o n c o o k u n d e r o r o n a g r i l l . S e r v e w i t h t o a s t e d
f l a k e d almonds, rice, pappadums and apr i c o t c h u t n e y. A d d a s p r i n k l e o f c h o p p e d c o r i a n d e r. D e l i c i o u s !
D e p e nding on where I’m going I may put a f e w p a c k s o f p a p p a d u m s i n t o m y l u g g a g e t o h a v e w i t h t h i s
c u r r y.

Tand o o r i p a s te
1 t a b lespoon pap rika
1 t a b lespoon ground coriander seed
1 t a b lespoon ground cumin seed
3 t e a spoons ground ginger
1 t e a spoon turmeric
1 ⁄ 2 t easpoon ground chili powder
1 t a b lespoon veg etable oil

M i x all of the above ingredients into a p a s t e . T h i s i s v e r y g o o d s t u ff !

57 past horizons
U B
Birmingham provides the ideal footing for
anyone wanting to begin a career in
archaeology or the heritage environment.
Along with diverse skills and opportunities
provided, I also got to experience city life
in Britain’s second city. Thanks to the
course, I have been employed in
archaeology since I graduated in 2007.

Emma Sautejeau, MA Practical Archaeology

The Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity offer a range of postgraduate and


professional training courses aimed to provide you with the skills you need to
work in the heritage environment today. From project management techniques
in archaeology to the visualisation of past environments, we aim to give you
practical experience in the diverse range of techniques and approaches
available to heritage practitioners.

All of the courses we offer can be tailored to your individual


interests and needs, and can be delivered full-time or part-time
degrees.

Campus-based programmes
MA/PG Diploma in Practical Archaeology
MA/PG Diploma in Landscape Archaeology, GIS & Virtual
Environments
MSc in Environmental Archaeology & Palaeoenvironments
MA in Conflict Archaeology
M Phil (B) in Archaeological Practice

Distance Education programmes


MA/PG Diploma in Practical Archaeology (DE)
MA/PG Diploma in Landscape Archaeology,
GIS & Virtual Environments (DE)

To find out more, go to


http://www.iaa.bham.ac.uk/Postgraduate/
or email us at archpgrad@lists.bham.ac.uk Emma holding a medieval leather
shoe recovered from excavations in
Birmingham

past horizons 58
Viewpoin t
The b e n e f i ts o f tea c h i n g cul tural her i t age
T H E FEAR of cuts and cutbacks has now b e c o m e appreciation of where they are and who they are;
a r e a lity for many of us in the heritage i n d u s t r y, t h e y d i s c u s s t h i s w i t h f r i e n d s a n d f a m i l y, p a s s i n g
from possible closure of ‘non-pr o f i t a b l e ’ on new knowledge and sharing the excitement.
m u s e ums, to the pruning of essential serv i c e s t h a t This can be about working out the location of
d o n ot include archaeology within its rin g - f e n c e d v i e w p o i n t s i n a n o v e rg r o w n 1 8 t h c e n t u r y g a r d e n
p r o t ection. So, is this a sad reality that w e m u s t or finding a WWII metalled road. Archaeology is
a c c e pt with a shrug and a weak smile whic h a d m i t s not just about hacking through jungles to find lost
t h a t maybe archaeology is not very impor t a n t a f t e r civilisations; discovery can happen anywhere and
a l l ? It is fair to say that given a choice b e t w e e n at any time, especially if you have been taught the
b i n collection, street repairs, and fun d i n g f o r appropriate skills.
s c h o ols and hospitals, versus handing o u t m o n e y
t o a r chaeology and other cultural platfo r m s , t h e The principal is one of holistic understanding of
n e e d s for basic services will always w i n o u t . community where interpersonal skills, outdoor
H o w ever, there may be valuable points w e h a v e fitness, careful thought and study combine with
f a i l e d to consider in the cost-cutting fre n z y. t h e m a i n i n g r e d i e n t w h i c h i s e n j oy m e n t . G r o u p
bonding comes with finding a common purpose
R e a d ing about the Project Archaeology v e n t u r e and realistic goals give everyone a sense of
( p a g e 8) I am inclined to think there a r e o t h e r achievement. This is a basic necessity for the
p o t e ntial losses which are easy to lose s i g h t o f h e a l t h y s o c i e t y t h a t w e a l l s t r i v e f o r. Yo u n g a n d
w h e n budgets are being drawn up. When c u t s a r e o l d , r i c h o r p o o r, i t r e a l l y d o e s n o t m a t t e r w h e n
m a d e , (and it is when rather than if), the l o n g - t e r m y o u a r e a l l i n i t t o g e t h e r, a n d t h i s i s w h e r e t h e
l o s s e s to heritage must be taken into consi d e r a t i o n ; need for decent facilities and good educators
a f t e r all, talented individuals, museums , a n d t h e comes in. Lose them and you lose a foundation
p a s t identity of a community cannot be p u t i n t o s t o n e . Te a c h i n g a n d c u l t u r a l e x p e r i e n c e s a r e n o t
s t o r a ge while money is being saved. O n c e l o s t w i n d o w d r e s s i n g f o r a n a ff l u e n t p u b l i c : t h e y h a v e
t h e s e are generally lost for good, and wha t w e o n c e been, and will continue to be, important to our
c o n s idered to be luxuries, or interesting p l a c e s o r wellbeing.
h o b b ies, turn out to be far more deep-ro o t e d t h a n
w e h ad ever have imagined. So what can we do to protect our cultural heritage?
In a way we are both powerless and powerful.
O v e r the last year I have been fortunate e n o u g h t o F i n a n c i a l c u t s w i l l t a k e p l a c e . H o w e v e r, w h e n
t e a c h evening cl asses in archaeology, w h i c h h a s it comes to losing something that has been well-
a l l o wed me a whole new perspective on th e n o t i o n established in the hearts and minds of a nation
o f p ublic archaeology. None of my clas s h a s a n y (such as Project Archaeology), it becomes harder
i n t e n tion of taking up archaeology as a ca r e e r, b u t to make these cuts. When there is a grass roots
b y t heir own ad mission it has made th e m v i e w support from a majority of people who have
t h e world in a different way. It has giv e n t h e m benefited from heritage education then they will
t h e s kills to analyse the environment w e l i v e i n , fight to keep rather than cut. After all, the value of
g i v i n g confidence in real life situations, a n d e v e n heritage cannot always be measured in economic
m a k i ng sense of Pythagoras (how else do y o u g e t a t e r m s a n d w h e n t h e f i n a n c ia l c r i s i s i s o v e r i t s n o t
r i g h t angle on a t rench!). They have deve l o p e d a n s o m et h i n g t h a t w e c a n j u s t p u r c h a s e b a c k .

D avid Connolly is the direc tor of British A rchaeolo gical J obs and Resources (B AJR)
Web: http://w w w.bajr.org

59 past horizons
WHS
W O R K H A R D O R S TA RV E

F i n d i t H e re

past horizons 60

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