Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Pa st Hor izons
O nline Journal
of volunteer
archaeology
and training
Fa b r ik a H ill
Pa p h o s Th e at re Excavations
Issue 12
May 2010
Editors:
Felicity Donohoe
Maggie Struckmeier
Layout:
Maggie Struckmeier
Graphics
David Connolly
Past Horizons
Traprain House
Luggate Burn
Haddington
East Lothian
EH41 4QA
Contributors:
David Cockman 28 Fabrika Hill
George Nash
Craig Barker Fabrika Hill is a natural outcrop representing the n o r t h - e a s t e r n
Mary Peterana
corner of the ancient city of Nea Paphos, Cyprus. Th e A u s t r a l i a n
Anies Hassan
Annie Evans excavations on the south of Fabrika have reveale d a t h e a t r e
Diego Meozzi construct ed around 300 BC and used as a venue for p e r f o r m a n c e
and entertainment until the late fourth century AD.
Images
Adam Stanford
David Martin
Bob Miller
Steven House
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.
14 Tomba della Scacchiera
All content is copyright and no Diego Meozzi of Stonepages describes how a visit to a S a r d i n i a n
reproduction of text or images is
allowed without prior permission
farmhous e led to an astonishing revelation by the o w n e r. A l a t e
from the author. Neolithic painted tomb had recently been discovere d n e a r b y b u t
instead of telling the world, the archaeologists who fo u n d i t c h o s e
Past Horizons 2010
instead to quietly seal it up.
past horizons 2
Contents
52 Videography in Archaeology 8 Quest for the Truth
Anies Hassan discusses the merits of using The story of how an English local archaeological society
videography to promote the public face of challenged convention and set out to discover the true route of
archaeology. a Roman road.
R e g u l a rs
5 Editorial 36 Discover
Know Your Neighbourhood. The V é z è r e valley.
6 News 47 Viewpoint
News stories from around the world. David Connolly on making archaeological
connections.
25 Profile
George Nash. 48 Dig In
adam@aerial-cam.co.uk
past horizons 4
K now Yo u r N e i g h b o u r h o o d ...
editorial
Recently I had the opportunity to accompany a group of
visual artists and writers on a journey around our local
area. The idea behind the trip, entitled ‘Taking a Line’,
was to provide inspiration about the archaeology, history,
geology and wildlife that surrounds us. In response to
this multi-faceted journey the artists and writers will
create a piece of work that reflects their experiences of
the day.
O n c e t h e r e i t b ecame apparent there were many other sites that only showed up
w h e n w a l k i n g across the landscape itself. The more the eye became accustomed
t o t h i s m o o r t e rrain, the more vestiges of old turf enclosures and walls became
v i s i b l e . H e r e I was only 20 minutes from where I lived and I was finding new
a n d u n r e c o r d e d sites.
editor@pasthorizons.com
5 past horizons
Discover y of a Pre h i s to r i c B u r i a l S i te on S k ye
news
past horizons 6
T h e r i n g a l s o e ncircled the largest of the seven
c i s t s . C o v e r e d by a two-tonne capstone, cist
3 c o n t a i n e d d e graded inhumed remains laid
o n a c o b b l e d f l oor. Its alignment, like that of
c i s t 7 , w a s d i ff erent to the other five cists and
m a y s u g g e s t a n earlier burial date.
Remain s o f r i n g m o nu m e n t e n c i rc l i n g c i s t 3
7 past horizons
Q u est for the Tru t h
A R oman R oad Discovered
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.
past horizons 8
S
i n c e i t s f o r m a t i o n i n 1 9 5 6 , the amateur archaeologists of the Huddersfield
a n d D i st r i c t A r c h a e o l o g i c al Society (HDAS) in the of north England have
d e v o t e d s o m e o f t h e i r e fforts to piecing together evidence of a nearby
Rom a n R o a d – e v i d e n c e t h a t c hallenged the accuracy of current understanding
of th e l o c a t i o n o f t h e r o u t e .
9 past horizons
Outlane A640
Slack Fort
M62
A58
2
A6
0 Slaithwaite
A64
ey
March Vall Supposed route
Hill ln e of the Roman Road
Co
Marsden Meltham
Pule Demonstrated route
Hill of the Roman Road
Castleshaw Worlow Roman
Fort military station
I n t h e t h r e e d e c ades after the Roman invasion the top to the west of Huddersfi e l d a n d t h e n
o f B r i t a i n i n AD 43 the Roman military onwards via Leeds to York (Eb o r a c u m ) . A t
m a c h i n e m o v e d north and westwards bringing roughly 10-mile intervals small f o r t s w o u l d
t h e w h o l e o f E ngland and Wales under Roman have been placed along the roa d t o p r o t e c t
c o n t r o l . I n t h e 80s AD, under the governorship traffic.
o f A g r i c o l a , t he army crossed the border
i n t o S c o t l a n d and waged an aggressive, but The route of the road between Ch e s t e r a n d t h e
u l t i m a t e l y u n s uccessful, campaign to subdue Roman fort at Castleshaw in Sa d d l e w o r t h i s
the tribes there. not in dispute (near Delph its ag g e r c a n s t i l l
be seen). However, the course o f t h e r o a d ,
A s t h e a r m y m oved northwards it constructed where it leaves Castleshaw and c l i m b s 1 2
a n e t w o r k o f r o ads, not for the benefit of the kilometres over the hostile and b o g g y t e r r a i n
n a t i v e B r i t i s h but to enable rapid m ovement of the Pennines towards the Ro m a n f o r t a t
o f t r o o p s b e t w een military forts. With such Slack, is more controversial, esp e c i a l l y a f t e r
a h i g h - q u a l i t y road system relatively small 18th century antiquaries began to t a k e a l i v e l y
n u m b e r s o f t r o ops were able to control large interest in our Roman legacy.
a r e a s o f t h e c o untry.
The picture was further com p l i c a t e d b y
O n e s i g n i f i c a n t road, thought to have been the later construction of pack h o r s e w a y s
b u i l t d u r i n g t h e 70s AD, linked the legionary linking Yorkshire and Lancashi r e o v e r t h e
f o r t r e s s a t C h e s ter, home of Legio II Adiutrix, same ground. This difficult lan d s c a p e w i t h
w i t h t h e f o r t r e ss at York, home of Legio IX its often-unpleasant weather has p r e s e n t e d a
H i s p a n a . T h i s road crossed north Cheshire, challenge to road builders over th e c e n t u r i e s ,
a l o n g t h e l i n e o f the present A56, to Ma nchester and even the building of the M6 2 m o t o r w a y
( M a m u c i u m ) . It then climbed up into the faced several problems.
P e n n i n e h i l l s t owards Saddleworth, crossed
past horizons 10
A c c o r d i n g t o early 20th century Roman Today Google Earth clearly sho w s t h e r o a d
r o a d e x p e r t I v an Margary, the road climbs crossing on Mr. Dransfield’s lan d b u t i n t h e
n o r t h w a r d s f r o m Castleshaw towards March 1970s such a valuable tool for b o t h a m a t e u r
H i l l , w h e r e i t t hen follows the course of the and professional archaeologists c o u l d o n l y
p r e s e n t A 6 4 0 Oldham-Huddersfield road to a be dreamt of, and finding other p i e c e s o f t h e
p o i n t c l o s e t o t he fort at Slack, near Outlane.
jigsaw took several painstaking y e a r s . Wo r k
T h i s c l a i m w a s supported by the map-makers concentrated on linking up this s e g m e n t o f
o f t h e O r d n a nce Survey but lacked hard Roman road, found in isolation , w i t h o t h e r
a r c h a e o l o g i c a l evidence. sections to establish beyond reas o n a b l e d o u b t
that the correct Roman route from C a s t l e s h a w
H o w e v e r, i n 1 9 73 George Dransfield, a farmer to Slack had indeed been discove r e d .
a t M o o r s i d e E dge, Slaithwaite, overlooking
t h e C o l n e Va l l ey, drew the attention of the A large piece of the jigsaw is s t i l l m i s s i n g
H D A S t o a m y sterious raised featur e in one around the Pennine mill town o f M a r s d e n ,
o f h i s f i e l d s w hich did not seem to relate to but is very possible that extensiv e i n d u s t r i a l
t h e p r e s e n t - d a y road or farm track system. development in the town durin g t h e 1 9 t h
E x a m i n a t i o n o f the feature revealed stones century has permanently destroye d t h e R o m a n
a t a d e p t h o f a bout 25 centimetres and about levels.
s i x m e t r e s a c r o ss, and Mr. Dransfield agreed
t o s u s p e n d a n y work in the field to allow a By 2008 the HDAS had enough c o n f i d e n c e
t h o r o u g h a r c h aeological exploration by the in their evidence to go public an d c h a l l e n g e
HDAS. Margary’s views, and a book wa s p u b l i s h e d
bringing together the results of d e c a d e s o f
Wo r k w a s c a r r ied out mainly at weekends dedicated and often difficult arch a e o l o g y. T h e
a n d a t r e n c h c u t across the feature eventually Romans Came This Way has att r a c t e d m a n y
p r o d u c e d i n d i s putable evidence that indeed plaudits for the professional way i n w h i c h t h e
t h e R o m a n s h a d passed this way. The first HDAS has conducted its researc h , n o t l e a s t
p i e c e o f a c o m plex jigsaw puzzle had fallen from Professor Mick Aston of Tim e Te a m w h o
i n t o p l a c e a n d disputed the route offered by praised their efforts in the introd u c t i o n t o t h e
M a rg a r y ’s r e s e arch. book, describing them as a “ded i c a t e d g r o u p
M a k e - u p o f a R o m a n ro a d
Surveyor using
a groma
11 past horizons
a most atmospheric place to vis i t . Ti m e h a s
been less kind to Slack and the f o r t i s n o w
completely lost under the clubho u s e a n d c a r
park of the Outlane Golf Club. E x c a v a t i o n i n
the 19th and early 20th century s h o w e d t h a t
Slack also had a large annexe wit h a p o s s i b l e /
probable vicus settlement. Much o f t h i s w a s
also lost under the construction o f t h e M 6 2 ,
but one small corner of the anne x e s u r v i v e s
undamaged and it is here that th e H D A S h a s
been busy for several seasons.
past horizons 12
P r i n t t h e d i s c o unt voucher: http://houses.shakespeare.org.uk/37412568
Click Here
13 past horizons
Tomba della
Dis cove r y o f a l ate Neolithic tomb on S ardinia
by Diego M eozzi of Stonepages
I mages: Antonello Porcu
The ma i n c h a m b e r o f t h e t o m b
past horizons 14
a S cacchiera
S ard i n i a i s a n I t a l i a n i s l a n d k n o wn mainly among archaeologists for its nuraghes
– anc i e n t t o w e r s s o m e w h a t r e m i niscent of Scottish brochs, but far more numerous
and q u i t e e l a b o r a t e . O n t h e i s l a nd you will find a great number of ot her ancient
won d e r s , f r o m t h e s o - c a l l e d ‘ g i ants’ tombs’ to the rock-cut tombs locally known
as ‘d o m u s d e j a n a s ’ ( h o u s e s o f the fairies).
15 past horizons
Lef t: chequer pattern ceiling in side vault
B elow : side chamb er with red o chre spiral s
past horizons 16
F o r e v e r y o n e i n terested in ancient monuments long side of the main chamber, a n d w i t h t h e
S a r d i n i a i s t r u l y an amazing place, but some 1.70 metre tall roof carved as tho u g h m a d e o f
o f t he m o s t s t r i king examples may lie hidden wood planks, painted in dark blu e a n d w h i t e .
f o r ce n t u r i e s a fter being discovered and then But the most striking visual ele m e n t o f t h e
e x c a v a t e d b y the archaeologists. During a tomb is the series of great red sp i r a l s p a i n t e d
r e c e n t a r c h a e o logical tour of the island, we on a side cell, a total of seven s p i r a l s , m a n y
s t o p p e d f o r t h e night at Sas Abbilas farm of them interconnected one to eac h o t h e r. T h e
h o u s e , l o c a t e d in a secluded little valley near quality of that ancient painting is b r e a t h t a k i n g ,
B o n o r v a ( S a s s a ri), not too far from the well- and on the roof of a side vault t h e r e i s a l s o
k n o w n p r e h i s t o ric necropolis of Sant’Andrea a geometric pattern very rarely f o u n d i n a
P r i u . M r A n t o nello Porcu, the farm house Sardinian tomb: a black and whi t e c h e q u e r e d
o w n e r, s h o w e d us a series of striking images motif – something probably uniq u e o n a s i t e
h e h a d t a k e n w i t h his camera last year, showing apparently dating back to late N e o l i t h i c a n d
7 0 c e n t i m e t r e - wide red ochre spirals painted related to the so-called Ozieri c u l t u r e ( f r o m
o n t he w a l l s o f a side cell of a prehistoric tomb 3800 BCE to 2900 BCE).
t h a t h a d b e e n e xcavated in 2009. Then he told
u s t h e s t o r y o f this ‘tomba della scacchiera’ Curious about the archaeologis t s ’ s e c r e c y,
– t h e c h e q u e r e d tomb. Mr Porcu informed the mayor o f B o n o r v a ,
Mimmino Deriu, of the striking d i s c o v e r y a n d
H i s l a n d l i e s next to a place called Tenuta to his suprise, the mayor reveale d h e h a d n o t
M a r i a n i , w h e r e a prehistoric necrop olis was received any news about the to m b f r o m t h e
d i s c o v e r e d i n 2002. By 2007, the Bonorva archaeologist, or from official rep r e s e n t a t i v e s
m u n i c i p a l i t y r eceived funding to make a of the Soprintendenza.
s u r v e y o f t h e a r chaeological sites in t hat area.
T h e l o c a l c o o p erative society commissioned After about four months of exca v a t i o n s , t h e
t o p e r f o r m t h a t survey worked on the site Soprintendenza placed a massiv e b l o c k o f
t o g e t h e r w i t h a rchaeologist Francesco Sartor, rock in front of the only entrance o f t h e t o m b ,
a p p o i n t e d b y t h e Soprintendenza archeologica filling everything with concrete a n d c o v e r i n g
f o r N u o r o a n d Sassari (the local branch of the whole area with a thick la y e r o f s o i l ,
t h e I t a l i a n M i n istry for Heritage). After the sealing the tomb once again, a p p a r e n t l y t o
f i r s t p h a s e o f survey, a further survey and protect the tomb against looters. T h e t o m b a n d
e x c a v a t i o n c a mpaign began the following its amazing paintings disappeared o n c e a g a i n ,
y e a r, w i t h M r Sartor once again in charge. sharing the fate of other tombs i n t h e a r e a ,
A f ew w e e k s after the start of the search, such as Sa Pala Larga where an i m p r e s s i v e
t h e a r c h a e o l o g ist claimed he had yet to find bull head is carved above a seri e s o f s p i r a l s
a n y t h i n g , b u t Mr Porcu had noticed fo r several that form a sort of ‘tree of life’.
c o n s e c u t i v e d a ys that the excavators returning
f r o m t h e h i l l w ere covered in rock powder. He In an interview for Stonepages w e b s i t e , M r
t h e n a s k e d t h e m in Sardinian (a langu age very Deriu said that “In spite of the c h r o n i c l a c k
d i ff er e n t f r o m I talian): “Did the sow give birthof funding, I strongly believe i n t h e h u g e
t o t h e p i g l e t s ?” The excavators answered, importance of the archaeologic a l h e r i t a g e
“ Ye s , a n d y o u should see how many and how of the Tenuta Mariani area. I’m w o r k i n g t o
b e a u t i f u l t h e y are!” That was the proof that further improve it, thanks to th e r e - o p e n i n g
s o m e t h i n g a m a zing had been found up in the of the local archaeological mus e u m l o c a t e d
h i l l s i n t h e Te n uta Mariani. on a former monastery, and throu g h t h e r e c e n t
agreement with the Forestry Se r v i c e s o t o
A f e w d a y s l a ter Mr Porcu and his brother preserve and enhance – also w i t h t o u r i s t i c
d e c i d e d t o i n v estigate and discovere d, under aims – the Tenuta Mariani, wher e t h e s e a l e d
a g r o u n d s h e e t placed there by the excavators, necropolis lies.”
a n e n t r a n c e p a ssage with a rock-cut façade
l e a d i n g i n t o a h uge tomb with three side cells. Stonepages also called Mrs Lu i s a n n a U s a i ,
T h e t o m b w a s decorated with bright red ochre archaeologist of the Soprinten d e n z a p e r i
d r a wi n g s , w i t h huge bull heads carved on the Beni Archeologici for Sassari a n d N u o r o
17 past horizons
p r ovinces, and in charge of the Bonorva area.
We wanted to know if there were any plans
t o remove the seal to the tomb and to open
i t to the public, along with the other sites
o f the necropolis. She said, “I don’t want to
s p read any word about it. The main aim of the
S oprintendenza is to protect those sites. The
p aintings are faint, so the tomb will remain
s e aled. We are the ones who decide which are
t h e best channels to inform people about this
k i nd of discovery.”
Letters to:
Dott. Bruno Massabò - Sopri ntendenza per i Beni
Archeologici per le province di Sassari e Nuoro,
Piazza Sant’Agostino,
2 - 07100 Sassari,
Italia.
Email: bmassabo@arti.benicu lturali.it
past horizons 18
la rg e red o chre spira l s
19 past horizons
Welsh Prehistor ic
Tex t by G e orge Na sh
I m a g es by Ada m Sta nford
It is estimated t h a t o v e r 8 0 0 0 s i t e s e x i s t i n u p l o a d e d o n t o t h e i n t e r n e t . Based on
England and S c o t l a n d , o c c u p y i n g m a i n l y t h e t h o u s a n d s o f h i t s o n t h i s site, it was
the upland a r e a s o f C o u n t y D u r h a m , c l e a r t h a t e x p e r t s a s w e l l a s the general
Cumbria, Der b y s h i r e , N o r t h u m b e r l a n d , p u b l i c w e r e i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e se enigmatic
Staffordshire a n d Yo r k s h i r e , a n d t h e prehistoric carved symbols. The pilot
Central southe r n a n d w e s t e r n c o u n t i e s p r o j e c t w a s l a t e r e x t e n d e d to County
of Scotland. N e a r l y a l l o f t h e s e s i t e s Durham.
are statutory- p r o t e c t e d , d e s i g n a t e d a s
Scheduled Mon u m e n t s . P i o n e e r i n g w o r k T h e r e a r e m a n y s t y l i s t i c similarities
in northern B r i t a i n i n i t i a l l y b y A . W. B . b e t w e e n t h e r o c k - a r t a s s e mblages of
Morris and late r b y S t a n B e c k e n s al l l e d t o Wa l e s a n d N o r t h e r n B r i t a i n, much of
English Herita g e ’s R o c k - a r t p i l o t p r o j e c t i t d a t i n g t o t h e N e o l i t h i c and Bronze
which was set- u p i n 1 9 9 8 . A g e a n d c o m p r i s i n g m a i n ly multiple
c a r v e d a b s t r a c t m o t i f s s u c h a s concentric
As a result of th i s a l l - e n c o m p a s s i n g r e p o r t , c i r c l e s , c u p m a r k s , c u p - a n d - r i ngs, spirals
an online, inte r a c t i v e r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t w a s a n d z i g z a g l i n e s . I n b o t h a r e as there are
set up by the U n i v e r s i t y o f N e w c a s t l e i n e x a m p l e s o f r o c k - a r t , m a i n l y cupmarks,
2004 which f i e l d - w a l k e d , r e c o r d e d a n d t h a t o c c u r o n r o c k - o u t c r o p p i ngs close to
detailed 1200 s i t e s i n N o r t h u m b e r l a n d . m o n u m e n t s . T h e m a i n d i ff e r e nces between
The results fr o m t h i s p r o j e c t w e r e l a t e r t h e t w o l i e i n p r o v e n a n c e a n d context.
A bove: t ra cin g th e p e c k e d d e s i g n of t h e E s g ob s to n e o n to clea r film .
R i ght : t he com pl ex de c o r at i o n of s t o ne 2 2 w it h i n th e c h am b er o f Ba rclo d iad y G awres, Ang lese y.
past horizons 20
R o c k-ar t Tradition
21 past horizons
A l t h o u g h t h e r e are limited number of rock-art earlier fieldwork, the majority of t h e r o c k - a r t
s i t e s i n Wa l e s , many are listed on the regional sites appear to be located within a 1 5 - 2 0 m i l e
H i s t o r i c E n v i r o nment Records (HERs ) and the corridor of the coast. This distrib u t i o n p a t t e r n
C A R N ( C o r e Archaeological Record iNdex ) was also recorded in South Wal e s , a g a i n o n
d a t a b a s e m a n a ged by the Royal Commission or close to Neolithic burial-ritua l m o n u m e n t s
o n t h e A n c i e n t and Historical Monuments of that lie close to the sea.
Wa l es , a s w e l l as a site index held by CADW,
t h e n a t i o n a l h e ritage organisation for Wales. The initial reconnaissance tea m i n N o r t h
H o w e v e r, t h e r e has been no move to replicate Wales yielded a number of s i g n i f i c a n t
t h e s u c c e s s o f the English Heritage rock-art discoveries and as a result the te a m f o u n d e d
p i l o t p r o j e c t h e re. Despite the present lack of the Anglesey Rock-art Project ( A R A P ) i n
r e g i o n a l g o v e r nment enthusiasm, there have 2005. The recording techniques e m p l o y e d a t
b e e n a n u m b e r of important studies which have each site included tried-and-tes t e d m e t h o d s
i d e n t i f i e d a n d dated a regional style. John such as high-resolution digital p h o t o g r a p h y
S h a r k e y, a u t h o r and researcher into Celtic working alongside controlled ligh t i n g , u s u a l l y
a n c i e n t h i s t o r y, has produced an informative photographed during darkness. I n a d d i t i o n ,
g a z e t t e e r s u p p orted by cartograph ic grid- conventional tracing with mark e r- p e n o n t o
r e f e re n c i n g a n d extensive discussion on the acetate sheets was also used. T h i s m u l t i -
m o r e o b v i o u s s ites.* method approach ensured the high e s t p o s s i b l e
recording standards and allow e d d e t a i l e d
P r i o r t o 2 0 0 5 , the number of sites recorded cross-referencing for the final pl a n / i m a g e .
n u m b e r e d a r o u nd 45. At this time, a team
d i r e c t e d b y myself and Adam Stanford ARAP, funded by a number of s o u r c e s , h a s
( A r c h a e o l o g y Safaris) conducted a series of over the past five years made some s p e c t a c u l a r
f i e l d s u r v e y s around a number of Neolithic discoveries, two of which are lo c a t e d i n a n d
b u r i a l - r i t u a l m onuments in Anglesey, the Llyn around the Late Neolithic passag e g r a v e s o f
P e n i n s u l a a n d the coastal landscape around Barclodiad y Gawres and Bryn C e l l i D d u .
H a r l e c h , N o r t h Wales. Based on this and At Barclodiad y Gawres megali t h i c a r t w a s
found within the chamber area t h a t i n c l u d e d
additional cupmarks, geometric m o t i f s a n d
spirals on several upright stones. T h e s e m o t i f s
being so finely pecked, escape d d i s c o v e r y
when the site was excavated dur i n g t h e e a r l y
1950s by Glyn Daniel and Terre n c e P o w e l l .
Originally recorded by Forde-Jo h n s o n f r o m
Liverpool Museum who accom p a n i e d t h e
Daniel and Powell excavation i n 1 9 5 2 , t h e
art from these and four other s t o n e s f a c e d
inwards into the central gallery a r e a o f t h e
chamber. The excavation reveale d t h a t w i t h i n
the central part of the chamber w a s a h e a r t h .
The light from this and torches w o u l d h a v e
been the only sources of illumin a t i o n d u r i n g
this period when the remains of th e d e a d w e r e
being interred. Rock-art here an d e l s e w h e r e
within the Neolithic world would h a v e p l a y e d
a significant role between the a r t i s t , t h e
funeral entourage and the dead.
past horizons 22
U p u n t i l 2 0 0 5 i t was considered that this and a heritage. Away from rock-art for t h e m o m e n t ,
s m a l l s p i r a l c a rving within the chamber were the sizable portable art assem b l a g e t h a t
t h e o n l y r o c k - a rt present However, rock-art in includes decorated and pierced s h e l l , i v o r y
Key Sources
Beckensall, S., British Prehistoric Rock-art, The History Press (2nd Edition), (2002).
Darvill, T. & Wainwright, G., ‘A cup-marked stone from Dan-y-garn, Mynachlog-Ddu, Pembrokeshire, and the
prehistoric rock ar t from Wales’, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 69 (2003), pp. 253-64.
Lynch, F., Prehistoric Anglesey: the Archaeology of the Island to the Roman Conquest , Anglesey Antiquarian
Society (1970).
Mazel, A, Nash, G.H. & Waddington, C. (eds.), Art as Metaphor: The Prehistoric Rock-art of Britain, Oxford:
Archaeopress (200 7).
Nash, G.H., Brook , C., George, A., Hudson, D., McQueen, E., Parker, C., Stanford, A., Smith, A., Swann, J. &
Waite, L., ‘Notes on newly discovered rock art on and around Neolithic burial chambers in Wales’, Archaeology
in Wales (2005), Vol. 45, pp. 11-16.
Nash, G.H. & Stanford, A., ‘New megalithic art within the Neolithic passage grave of Barclodiad y Gawes,
Anglesey, North Wales’, Rock Art Research (2007), Vol. 24. No. 2, pp. 257-260.
Nash, G.H. & Stanford, A., ‘New megalithic art at the Neolithic chambered monument of Dy ffryn Ardudwy,
north Wales’, Rock Art Research (2009), Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 101-5.
* Sharkey, J., The Meeting of the Tracks: Rock Art in Ancient Wales. Llanrwst: Gwasg Carreg Gwalch (2004).
Shee Twohig. E., The Megalithic Art of Western Europe, Oxford: Clarendon Press (1981).
past horizons 24
Profile G eorge Nash
Dr. George N a s h G e o rg e h a s b e e n a p r o f e s s i o n a l a r c h a e o l o g i s t f o r 2 0
years and ha s u n d e r t a k e n e x t e n s i v e f i e l d w o r k o n p r e h i s t o r i c r o c k - a r t a n d
mobiliary ar t i n D e n m a r k , I n d o n e s i a , N o r w a y S p a i n a n d S w e d e n . H e h a s
directed exc a v a t i o n s a t t h e L a H o u g u e B i e p a s s a g e g r a v e o n J e r s e y, o n e o f
Europe’s larg e s t N e o l i t h i c m o n u m e n t s , a n d a t We s t m i n s t e r H a l l , L o n d o n .
He has also w r i t t e n a n d p r e s e n t e d s e v e r a l p r o g r a m m e s o n E u r o p e a n r o c k -
art and cont e m p o r a r y g r a ff i t i f o r B B C R a d i o 4 .
25 past horizons
A DIG G E R ’S L I F E
Surf i n g f o r b a r r o w d i t c h e s o n waves
of w e t c l a y, f i s h i n g f o r R o m e i n urban
pudd l e s , c h e w i n g t h e m e t a p h y sical in
the m o n u m e n t a l , c r a w l i n g d e e p below
grou n d i n s e a r c h o f l i g h t , n e g otiating
with t h e d e a d o r j u g g l i n g with
afte r l i v e s . . . S i C l e g g e t t ( a . k . a Troll)
is a f i e l d a rc h a e o l o g i s t a n d l o ves it.
Tumbling w i t h Al i ce
Quite how I go t h e r e i s a n o t h e r s t o r y. I s p e n t a l m o s t h a l f m y l i f e g r o w i ng up on the
rocky island o f C y p r u s w h e r e I i n v e s t e d m o s t o f t h e d a y s a l l o t t e d t o m e c hasing goats
in the scorche d w i l d e r n e s s a n d a t t e m p t i n g t o b r e a t h e u n d e r w a t e r. B u r n t to a crisp,
salty, carefree , k e b a b - i n f u s e d a n d s m e l l i n g o f g o a t , m y f o r m a t i v e y e a r s w ere a blur of
infinite blue sk i e s , a z u r e s e a s a n d j a s m i n e a n d c i t r u s b r e e z e s .
N o w onder then, that I really had no inte r e s t i n a n I n J u l y o f t h i s y e a r I w i l l b e c e l e b r a t i n g 11 y e a r s
e d u c ation. School ended at midday when t h e s u n as a full-time professional field archaeologist, and
w a s at its fiercest so the homework cam e a p o o r through the next few editions of Past Horizons I
s e c o nd to a teenage utopia of a Lord of t h e F l i e s would love to share some of the amazing moments
l i f e s tyle and the lure of powerful motorc y c l e s o n I have been lucky enough to experience during
e n d l ess un-policed roads. almost 70 field projects across the UK, in Cyprus
and the Republic of Ireland.
E p i p hany and irony...together in perfect ha r m o n y. . .
b l a h blah blah. My failure to hand in on e s i n g l e An anthropologist once said that field archaeologists
p i e c e of history homework for an entire y e a r c a m e a r e s i m i l a r t o s c e n e - o f - c r i m e o ff i c e r s . T h e
b a c k to haunt me. The end-of-term vis i t t o t h e d i ff e r e n c e , o f c o u r s e , i s t h a t o u r ‘ c r i m e s c e n e s ’
a m a z ing site of Neolithic Khirokitia m a d e t h i s have been left out in the rain, buried under tons of
f e r a l beach bum actually wish for the f i r s t t i m e muck or built upon over thousands of years. For
t h a t he had done some school work. T h e 7 0 0 0 me, archaeology is all about human behavioural
B C s ite consisting of successive village s n e s t l e d d y n a m i c s a n d e x c a v a t i o n o ff e r s a d e l i c i o u s f o u r-
i n t h e foothills of the mountains had c a p t u r e d dimensional conundrum, ripe for the unpicking
m y i magination. That epiphany had b e e n t h e thereof. The mission of a field archaeologist is, by
u n l i k ely nursery of an unwitting arch a e o l o g i s t default, to forensically deconstruct sequences of
w h o , ironically to this day, maintains m a n y o f e v e n t s , c h a n g e s a n d p h a s e s t h r o u g h ti m e a n d s p a c e .
h i s childhood activities but with n o t i c e a b l y This systematic, scientific recovery and recording
f e w e r goats and infinitely more inhibi t i v e r i s k of raw data becomes the engine that drives critical
a s s e ssments. a n a l y s i s a n d , u l t i m a t e l y, t h e n a r r a t i v e t h r o u g h
The Ne o l i t h i c s e t t l e m e n t o f K h i ro k i t i a i s s i t ua te d on the slop e of a hill in the valley of the Maroni R iver towards the southern
coast o f Cy p r u s, a b o u t s i x k i l o m e t re s f ro m t h e s e a.
past horizons 26
w h i c h we characterise our collective past , p r e s e n t sacred spaces? Or hold the vessel through which
a n d f uture. they fed, nurtured and raised their children?
Recently I worked in the fading years of the late
T h e misleading and unfortunate percep t i o n t h a t Stone Age and into the Bronze Age. I spent my
a r c h a eology is all about the acquisition o f s h i n y d a y s t r y i n g t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e i r c o n ce p t s o f d e a t h ,
t h i n g s, or the “oldest ever”, or the “bi g g e s t o r burial, afterlives and their allocation of meaning
r i c h e st ever” for me dilutes a beautiful e n d e a v o u r within the landscape. In coming weeks I will
a n d , frankly, mis ses the entire point. b e z a p p i n g f o r w a r d s i n t o t h e M e di a e v a l p e r i o d
and getting to grips with their concepts of land
For a seemingly advanced and ultra-modern society, m a n a g e m e n t a n d s e t t l e m e n t s t r a t e g i e s . S o , t h a t ’s
w e a re still hostages to the most funda m e n t a l l y m y l i t t l e u n i v e r s e . N o b a t t l e w i t h t h e Ti m e L o r d s
p r i m itive of behaviours. Chimps vying to o c c u p y o r s a v i n g E a r t h f r o m t h e B o rg ; j u s t m y o w n t i m e
t h e highest branch in the canopy are n o l e s s machine and my own rabbit hole.
p r i m itive and no less sophisticated th a n t h o s e
o f u s desperate to play the game of oste n t a t i o u s I n m y n e x t o ff e r i n g f o r P a s t H o r i z o n s I w i l l o p e n
d i s p l ay and conspicuous consumption t h r o u g h with the world of afterlives, the visibility of
f o l l o wing the B org-like conformity of f a s h i o n children and young adults in the Bronze Age, and
o r t h e smoke-screens of luxury cars. It i s s a d l y a healthy dose of meaning.
t h r o ugh such conditioned eyes that arc h a e o l o g y
i s o f ten viewed.
S o N e o. . . yo u t a ke t h e
F o r a child, a trip to a museum can be a k i n t o re d p i l l a n d yo u g o b a c k
e n t e r ing Narnia where unimaginable t r e a s u r e s to wa tc h i n g Ti m e Te a m
p o u n ce from every glass display case. ‘ J u s t s o ’ a n d n o t h i n g c h a n g e s.
s t o r i es relating to kings, great warriors a n d t h e i r Yo u t a ke t h e b l u e p i l l
s h i n y things bombard their senses until in e v i t a b l e a n d I s h ow yo u j u s t h ow
b o r e dom takes over and the tantrums only s u b s i d e d e e p t h e ra b b i t h o l e
w h e n hard cash changes hands in the gift s h o p . A n d g o e s. . .
y e t , behind the scenes in the echoing laby r i n t h i n e
c o r r i dors of the museum, there lies sle e p i n g a n
i n c r e dible cornu copia of meaning; sto r e h o u s e s
b u r s t ing at the seams with fragmentary e c h o e s
o f p e ople’s lives. A simple and unassumi n g p i e c e
o f p ot or a humble prehistoric flint plac e d i n t h e
h a n d s of a child will open the rabbit h o l e a n d
a c c o mpanied by narrative, these una s s u m i n g
e c h o es will entice the child to follow A l i c e a n d
t u m b le into a wonderland of possibilitie s w h e r e
s t r a n ge but oddly familiar worlds banish ‘ j u s t s o ’
s t o r i es forever.
27 past horizons
Fabr i k a H i l l
Excavating a Hellenistic-Roman Theatre
B y Cra i g B a r ker
past horizons 28
29 past horizons
A rc h ite c t u ral plan of th e Pa ph os th e a tre sh ow i n g par ts of the s ite exp os ed by the Un ivers it y of Sydney team
31 past horizons
e m b a n k m e n t s for level seating. So while
t h e c e n t r a l s e c tion of the theatre’s seating is
c a r v e d d i r e c t l y from bedrock and coated with
f i n e p l a s t e r, t h e seats to the east and west
w e r e l a i d o v e r embankments of soil.
The t wo s u r v i v i n g s e c t i o n s o f t h e A n to n i n e p e r i o d marble inscription honouring A ntoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius for the mid-seco
thresh o l d b l o c k f ro m t h e we s te r n p a ro d o s o n to ? the orchestra in the final phase of the theatre.
past horizons 32
con tinued up until the seven th ce n t u r y. F i n d s
of the f if th c entur y, includi ng pa in t e d Co p t ic
wa res , indica te the ac tivities of t h e w o rk e rs
mo ving the stone s. Ther e is th e n a p e r i o d
of abs ence o f any evidence of a ct iv i t y a t t h e
s ite unt il the r evival o f eco nomi c p r o s p e r it y
in Paph os at the time of the Cr u sa d e s fr o m
the 12t h cen tury onwards . A c o m p le x o f
bui ldings and cou rtyar ds was ere c te d o v e r th e
ar ea of the fo rmer orche str a and s t a g e b u i ld i n g
and ind ustr ial activity in the fo r m o f g l a s s-
wo rking , met al-workin g and the m a n u f a c t u r e
of glaze d sg raffit o potter y is ap p a r e n t o n o r
nea r the site. Ongoing occupatio n a n d sm a l l-
s cale in dust ry is evid ent thr ou g h o u t p o s t-
me diaeval pe riods too.
on d centur y AD re s to ra t i o n o f t h e t h e a t re. Th e l a rg e p i e ce was found by the Australian team in 2002 lying face - down and reused as a
33 past horizons
Excava t i n g t h e o rc h e s t ra i n 2 0 0 6
past horizons 34
Whatever its precise purpose in a n t i q u i t y, t h e
long structure was eventually use d a s a d u m p
for architectural features from t h e t h e a t r e
as it was robbed of its stone-w o r k a f t e r i t s
destruction. Capitals, column f r a g m e n t s ,
niches, cornices and other a r c h i t e c t u r a l
elements were recovered by the e x c a v a t o r s ,
giving a much clearer indica t i o n o f t h e
physical appearance of the stage b u i l d i n g t h a n
the remains found at the theatre i t s e l f .
Th e U n i ve r s i t y o f Syd n e y h a ve b e e n wo r k i n g a t
Fa b r i ka H i l l u n d e r t h e a u s p i ce s o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t
o f A n t i q u i t i e s o f t h e R e p u b l i c o f Cy p r u s, s i n ce
a w a t e r f a c i l i t y. The western trench revealed 1995. Th e p roj e c t wo r k s u n d e r t h e d i re c t i o n
a g e n t l e s l o p i ng pathway leading from the o f E m e r i t u s Pro f e s s o r J . R . G re e n , D r S m a d a r
r o a d u p t o a n e ntrance in the eastern parodos, G a b r i e l i a n d D r C ra i g B a r ke r o f t h e U n i ve r s i t y o f
p r o v i d i n g a m a jor southern entrance into the Syd n e y, w i t h re ce n t s u p p o r t f ro m t h e Au s t ra l i a n
t h e a t r e . A l t h ough badly damaged, enough A rc h a e o l o g i ca l I n s t i t u te a t At h e n s. I n t h e f i f te e n
t r a c es r e m a i n t o suggest that a mosaic floor ye a r s o f e xca va t i o n s s t u d e n t s f ro m Au s t ra l i a a n d
c o v e r e d m o s t o f the entranceway. Ex cavation o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e wo r l d, a n d hu n d re d s m o re n o n -
t o t h e e a s t o f t he structure was halted due to t ra i n e d vo l u n te e r s h a ve p a r t i c i p a te d i n t h e p roj e c t
wo r k i n g a s e xca va to r s, s i te re co rd e r s, a s s i s t a n t s to
r a i n i n t h e 2 0 0 9 season but work will continue
s p e c i a l i s t s a n d a my r i a d o f o t h e r t a s k s.
i n t h e a r e a i n t he future.
G et I nvolve d
The Universit y of Sydney ’s archaeological mission to Paphos has positions
available for the 2010 season for both students (cur rent or ver y recent graduates of
archaeology) and for contr ibuting volunteers (interested members of the public),
and is tak ing general expressions of interest for its 2011 season. Cur rent wor k will
take place on the R oman road to the south of the theatre as well as assisting the
specialists with final repor t preparation for the first volume of publication.
Costs:
Students: $1300AUD plus air fare (dig house accommodation, food on wor k days,
training and guided tours of near by sites).
Volunteers: $3000AUD plus air fare (hotel accommodation, food on wor k days,
training and guided tours).
Dates
Student team: 2 O c tober-7 November 2010
Volunteer team: 9 O c tober-7 November 2010
35 past horizons
By Steve B u r m a n
The Vézère Valley is a dramatic and beautiful area in southwest France
containing 147 known prehistoric sites and 25 decorated caves dating
from the Palaeolithic. When early modern humans inhabited these caves
35,000 years ago they were following herds of bison, horse and other
large game animals, and in an explosion of creativity, they painted and
carved their masterpieces inside the caves and rock-shelters that exist
within the massive limestone cliffs.
The Vé zè re r i ve r a s i t p a s s e s t h e M a d e l e i n e c l i f f s
past horizons 36
D i sc ov er
the Vé zè re Va l l e y
37 past horizons
mind-boggling complexity. Only s i x v i s i t o r s
at a time are allowed here, but th i s e n a b l e s a
more personal interaction with th e a r t .
past horizons 38
d w e ll i n g s ) a n d finger fluting in the soft
c l a y.
y
alle
V
re
é zè
V
Paris
Le Moustier
Roque St Christophe
FRANCE
Limoges
La Madeleine
Bordeaux
Marseille
39 past horizons
Blo ck H w i t h t h e H u n g a te ro a d to t h e l e f t a l o n g which sto o d a sequence of buildings ranging from Vik ing struc tures to 19th centur y
Photo g ra p h s : Yo r k A rc h a e o l o g i ca l Tr u s t
past horizons 40
H ung ate
the s tor y so f ar...
T
he largest excavation ever to
take place in the City of York,
northeast England, has now
passed its half way point.
te n ements.
Mediaeval pilgrim flask .
41 past horizons
A rchae o l o g y L i ve ! 2 0 0 9
past horizons 42
Roman Fortress
York
Riv
er Ous
e
HUNGATE
+
St. John’s in
site of
the King’s
the Marsh
Fishpool
Foss
YORK River
Coppergate
Castle
& Moat
past horizons 44
p r a c t i c a l f i e l d archaeology elements and end
o f c o u r s e a s s e ssment resources for the Open
U n i v e r s i t y s h o rt course, Archaeology: The
S c i e n c e o f I n v e stigation.
G et I nvolve d
The 2 0 1 0 Arc h a e o l o g y L i ve ! t ra i n i n g d i g w i l l co n ce nt rate o n
inve s t i g at i n g R o m a n , Vi k i n g a n d m e d i a e va l a rc h a e o l o g y at
the e a s te r n ex te nt o f t h e s i te. I t i s a h a n d s - o n f i e l d - b a s e d
progra m m e w h e re p e o p l e l e a r n by exc avat i n g a n d re co rd i n g
aide d by p ro fe s s i o n a l s i te s t a f f.
Date s : 2 8 J u n e - 1 7 S e p te m b e r
Cost : 1 we e k - £ 1 9 0 ( £ 2 7 5 w i t h a cco m m o d at i o n , 2 we e k s -
£330 ( £ 5 0 0 w i t h a cco m m o d at i o n ) .
45 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.
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
past horizons 46
Viewpoin t
Get C onnected
T h e r e is a well-known adage that says, “ I t i s n o t I spent much of the early part of my career
w h a t you know, but who you know, that c o u n t s ” . w o r k i n g a b r o a d i n p l a c e s s u c h a s Tu r k e y, t h e
O f c ourse, it could be argued that both pa r t s o f t h e E m i r a t e s , J o r d a n a n d Tu r k m e n i s t a n . I t w a s h a r d t o
s a y i n g are complimentary and of equal im p o r t a n c e : get my foot in the door at first, but this is where
k n o wledge linked with connections c o m p l e t e connections became important. I had to pay to go
t h e circle. Knowledge is built up over t i m e a n d on the first few digs but as my competence level
t h e r e is no substitute for experience, bu t i f y o u r o s e a n d I g o t t o k n o w m o r e a r c h a eo l o g i s t s I w a s
a r e n ot well connected within the archa e o l o g i c a l i n v i t e d t o j o i n t h e t e a m a s a m e m b e r o f s t a ff . F r o m
c o m munity your opportunities may be lim i t e d . t h e r e I h e a r d a b o u t o t h e r e x c a v a t i o n s n e e d i n g s t a ff
a n d w a s a b l e t o m o v e a r o u n d . I t ’s a g r e a t w a y o f
C o n nections can be made in many wa y s u s i n g seeing the world, gaining experience and building
t h e traditional methods such as a t t e n d i n g u p a n e t w o r k o f c o n t a c t s a n d , i m p o r t a n t l y, m a n y
c o n f erences, writing articles and p r e s e n t i n g friends.
p a p e rs. Conferences are an excellent w a y o f
m e e t ing fellow archaeologists but not if y o u s i t i n T h e s e d a y s , s o c i a l n e t w o r k i n g o ff e r s n u m e r o u s
t h e c orner afraid to reach out. If you are a b i t s h y, new ways of making connections and Facebook,
f i n d someone that you know will introd u c e y o u for example is a great way to meet people, look out
t o o t hers and before long you will have m e t a n d for projects or view current job announcements.
t a l k e d to a surprising amount of people. A c h a n c e A chance comment, photograph or video on a
c o n v ersation may set you up for your fir s t j o b o r F a c e b o o k p a g e c o u l d s e t y o u o ff o n a p a t h o f
e v e n secure a coveted place on the exca v a t i o n o f inquiry that can lead to increased opportunities.
y o u r dreams. Set up your own special interest group and if
people like what they see you may find yourself
G e t t i ng your degree or PhD in archaeol o g y d o e s with hundreds – even thousands – of fans that you
n o t necessarily mean that you will step s t r a i g h t can keep in touch with and exchange ideas, whilst
i n t o a job; you simply won’t have achieve d e n o u g h also giving you a profile.
p r a c t ical experience by this point. H o w e v e r,
s e e k i ng out summer placements with com m e r c i a l Although the way in which we communicate
c o m panies can compensate for this, an d a l l o w s i s u n d e rg o i n g m a n y c h a n g e s t h e n e e d t o m a k e
p o t e ntial employ ers to get to know you a n d w h a t connections never diminishes. Some of us are
y o u may be capable of. These opportun i t i e s a r e d e t e r m i n e d t o s i t o n t h e s i d e l i n e s b e c a u s e w e d o n ’t
h a r d to come by and may not even be a v a i l a b l e like change, but whether young or old we should
i n y o ur area. However, you could join y o u r l o c a l try to embrace these new opportunities that
a r c h aeology soci ety, and some field sch o o l s m a y technology has given us. BAJR and Past Horizons
b e h appy to have you on board providing y o u w i t h b o t h h a v e F a c e b o o k p a g e s s o i f y o u h a v e n ’t g o t
s o m e much-needed hands-on experience a n d , o f round to it, join in, sign up and in no time you too
c o u r se, archaeology contacts and friends. I n i t i a l l y could be connected.
y o u might think that none of this will h a v e t h e D avid Connolly is the direc tor of British A rchaeolo gical
d e s i r ed effect but it takes time and com m i t m e n t , J obs and Resources (B AJR)
a n d with any luck, will eventually bear f r u i t . Web: http://w w w.bajr.org
BA JR: ht t p : / / w w w. f a ce b o o k . co m / B A J R p a ge
Past H o r i zo ns : ht t p : / / w w w. f a ce b o o k . co m / a rc h s tore
47 past horizons
D ig In
A selectio n of archaeolo g i c a l
p r ojects around the worl d
Dates: 2 - 6 a n d 9 - 1 3 A u g u s t 2 0 1 0
Costs: £ 1 5 0 p e r w e e k o r £ 2 7 0 f o r t h e f o r t n i g h t ( this is a non-residential course)
Contac t : s a m . d r i s c o l l @ a b s o l u t e a rc h a e o l o g y. c o .uk
Web: h t t p : / /w w w. a b s o l u t e a rc h a e o l o g y. c o . uk
Dates: 2 9 J u n e - 8 A u g u s t 2 0 1 0
Costs: C o s t s : F r o m a p p r o x i m a t e l y £ 8 2 5 - £ 1 5 0 5 (2 - 4 weeks)
Conta c t : d a n @ a r k e o d o k . c o m
Web: h t t p : / /w w w. a r k e o d o k . c o m / i n d e x 1 . h t m l
Dates: 4 - 1 0 A u g u s t 2 0 1 0
Costs: $ 1 4 0 0
Conta c t : b t r a n c h @ e a r t h l i n k . n e t
Web: h t t p : / / w w w. b l a c k t a i l r a n c h . c o m/
Per u Ba l co n d e l D i a b l o
An archaeological study of the Inca population from the River Chacn basin where there
are elite administrative centres. These centres (huacas) were part of the system of ‘ceques’
and reached out from the Qoricancha (or centre of the world) on imaginary lines to the
whole valley. Systematic excavations will take place within these ceques to try to define the
features, and a survey will be carried out in the surrounding area.
Dates: J u l y - A u g u s t 2 0 1 0
Costs: E n q u i r e s t o p r o j e c t d i r e c t o r s K a r e n D u r a nd and Luis Fernando Bejar
Conta c t : a rq l g a d u ra n d @ h o t m a i l . c o m o r l b e j a rl@pucp.edu.p e
past horizons 48
I rel a n d Ca h e rco n n e l l Arc h a e ological Field S chool
Caherconnell stone ringfort lies at the heart of the Burren region in County Clare. It has
undergone excavation over the past three years, with discoveries dating from the Stone Age up
to the modern era. These have included a late Neolithic/early Bronze Age house, 15th century
human remains, a 10th century drystone enclosure and assorted artefacts including thousands
of lithics and decorated Prehistoric pottery.
Dates: 1 6 - 2 7 A u g u s t 2 0 1 0
Costs: €1 7 0 0 f o r 2 w e e k s
Conta c t : i n f o @ c a h e rc o n n e l l . c om
Web: h t t p : / / w w w. c a h e rc o n n e l l . c om
Dates: 2 0 - 3 0 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 0
Cost: S e e w e b s i t e f o r v a r i o u s c o s t o p t i o n s
Contac t : c l a i re . s m i t h @ f l i n d e r s . e d u . au
Web: h t t p : / / w w w. f l i n d e r s . e d u . a u / e h l t / a rc h a e o l ogy/fieldwork/field-schools/indigenous-field-school/indigenous-field-
school _ h o m e . c fm
I tal y Vu l t u r Pro j e c t
An archaeological investigation of the Vultur zone of northern Basilicata involving both
excavation and survey. The project is funded by the Comune of Rionero and the Comunità
Montana del Vulture over five years, and involves a team of archaeologists from Canada,
Israel, Australia and Norway. The project will focus upon the Lucanian Frontier as a sphere
of pre-Roman cultural interaction and Late Roman stability.
Dates: 1 9 J u l y - 3 0 A u g u s t 2 0 1 0
Costs: € 10 0 0
Conta c t : f l e t c h e r @ v u l t u r p ro j e c t . c om
Web: h t t p : / / w w w. v u l t u r p ro j e c t . c o m /
Dates: 2 4 O c t o b e r- 7 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0
Costs: £ 2 4 5 0 ( i n c l u d e s f l i g h t s , a c c o m m o d a t i o n and food)
Conta c t : s u s a n @ g w a g . o r g
Web: h t t p : / / w w w. j o r d a n 1 9 1 4 - 1 8 a rc h a e o l o g y. o rg/
Ala s k a B ro k e n M a m m o t h
The Broken Mammoth site is one of the oldest archaeological sites in Beringia and North
America, and contains stone, bone and mammoth ivory tools, and well-preserved faunal
remains. Excavation at the site will focus on recovery of stone tools and faunal remains
from late Pleistocene/early Holocene levels as well as testing the Younger Dryas sediments
for possible evidence of an asteroid impact affecting human settlement.
Dates: 1 4 J u n e - 1 7 J u l y 2 0 1 0
Cost: $ 1 2 9 5 p l u s 4 - c re d i t t u i t i o n f e e
Contac t : D r. D a v i d Ye s n e r a f d r y @ u a a . a l a s k a . e d u
Web: h t t p : / / a n t h ro . u a a . a l a s k a . e d u
12 cups water
7 5 0 g r a m s r e d lentils
H a l f a h e a d o f celery and some leaves,
o r a b u l b o f f e nnel and some leaves
r o u gh l y c h o p p ed
1 k g c h o p p e d c arrots
2 m e d i u m o n i o ns peeled and roughly
chopped
4 c l o v e s g a r l i c , peeled
1 h e a p e d t e a s p oon curry powder
1 2 t e a s p o o n s v egetable stock powder
C o o k a l l t o g e t her on a low heat for two hours, checking to make sure it’s not cat c h i n g o n t h e
b o t t o m . S t a b m ix it with a stick blender leaving chunks of vegetables. Adjust se a s o n i n g , a d d
f r e s h l y - g r o u n d pepper and add more water if it’s too thick. Makes about five to s i x l i t r e s .
CHIC K E N S O U P W I T H L E M O N A ND EGG
4 c u p s c h i c k e n stock (powdered chic ken stock and water) or use the stock recipe b e l o w
1 / 3 c u p l o n g g rain rice soaked and rinsed
4 t a b l e s p o o n s l emon juice
3 egg yolks
2 t a b l e s p o o n s finely-chopped fresh parsley and chives
S e a s a l t a n d f r eshly-ground black pepper.
Chick e n Sto c k
1.4 kg chicken
8 cups water
2 b l a c k p e p p e r corns
1 c h o p p e d c a r r ot
1 c h o p p e d b r o wn onion
1 s t a l k c e l e r y, chopped
½ cup parsley
C o m b i n e a l l i n gredients for stock in a large pot and simmer, covered, for two ho u r s . R e m o v e
c h i c k e n a n d s t rain stock. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Skim fat from cold s t o c k .
S oup M e t h o d
B r i n g s t o c k t o the boil, add rice, tur n down heat and simmer until rice is tende r, s t i r r i n g t o
p r e v e n t s t i c k i n g. Just before serving, whisk eggs and lemon juice in a bowl un t i l t h i c k a n d
f r o t h y. G r a d u a lly whisk in two cups of the hot stock to the egg/lemon mix th e n a d d e g g /
l e m o n / h o t s t o c k mix to the stock on the stove. Whisk over heat till warmed thro u g h . D o n o t
b o i l . Ta s t e a n d then season with salt and pepper.
51 past horizons
Videography
Filmin g o n t h e Th a m e s Fo re s h o re
past horizons 52
i n Arch a e ol o g y
B y Anies Hassan
T
he phenomena of moving images began
with the Lumiere brothers over one hundred
years ago, and since then technology has
advanced far beyond those days of faltering black
and white ima ges to bring us portable, digital
video cameras in the present age. Not only
can we make our own movies, the technology
is affordable and simple to use, too, thanks
to the ubiquitous camera mobile phone with
video capabilities. This has seen an explosion
of amateur videos on the internet with content
ranging from talking cats to insightful political
discussion.
53 past horizons
O U TR E A C H The archaeological project team a t B a m b u rg h
T V ’s a r c h a e o l ogical documentaries have Castle has also experimented with videography,
p o p u l a r i s e d t h e past for many years, from the providing students with tuitio n i n b a s i c
d r y, y e t i n f o r m ative, Chronicle of the 1970s, camera and editing techniques. T h e s t u d e n t s
t o t h e Ti m e Te a m’s wonky camera an gles and have then made short films and v i d e o d i a r i e s
s e n s e o f u rg e n cy. The value of the television about the ongoing excavations.
d o c u m e n t a r y r emains strong, but how often
a r e a r c h a e o l o g i cal discoveries anything more Videography can also be used to g r e a t e ff e c t i n
t h a n a l o c a l n e ws item, if that? education programmes at school s a n d w i t h i n
higher education. Technical vid e o s c r e a t e d
T h e a ff o r d a b i l ity of camera equipment and for students or volunteers, such a s t h o s e m a d e
t h e e a s e o f a ccess to the internet allows for the Thames Discovery Prog r a m m e , c a n
a r c h a e o l o g i s t s to tell their side of the story explain complex techniques and c o n c e p t s i n a
w i t h o u t r e s t r i c tions imposed by television user-friendly manner at very low c o s t .
executives or commercial sponsors.
F u r t h e r m o r e , t he internet can broadcast these ARCHIVE
f i n d s t o a w o r l dwide audience. A number of academic project s h a v e u s e d
film for archival purposes for som e t i m e n o w,
I b e c a m e i n volved in the videography and could certainly be used mo r e o f t e n t o
p r o c e s s w i t h i n archaeology through the enrich the traditional archaeolog i c a l a r c h i v e .
a w a rd - w i n n i n g public outreach project at The site of Catalhoyuk in cen t r a l Tu r k e y,
a c o m m e r c i a l archaeological site in East for example, has produced arch i v a l v i d e o s
L o n d o n c a l l e d Prescot Street. Before working since the mid-nineties, which w e r e a d d e d
a s a s u p e r v i s o r at this excavation I had never as supplementary DVDs to th e p u b l i s h e d
e v e n h e l d a v i deo camera, so I had to learn monographs. With the birth of m i n i d i g i t a l
fast. T h e c o mbination of the incredibly video cameras like the creative v a d o a n d f l i p ,
i n t e r e s t i n g a r c haeology and the company’s recording certain aspects of the a r c h a e o l o g y
c o m m i t m e n t t o public engagement inspired with video could become stand a r d p r a c t i c e
m e t o c r e a t e a series of short films about the within commercial archaeology a s w e l l . N o t
s i t e . E a c h f i l m had a theme with th e aim of every post hole needs discussion o n v i d e o , o f
i n f o r m i n g t h e a udience about various aspects course, but more significant featu r e s c o u l d b e
o f t he a r c h a e o l ogical process. These themes reviewed on camera, or a summar y o f t h e s i t e
c o v e r e d e x c a v a tion techniques, environmental discussed. This may be especia l l y r e l e v a n t
s a m p l i n g , f i n d s recording, GIS and so on. All with large features, like ring ditc h e s , t h a t a r e
t h e f i l m s a r e a vailable to view on the Prescot difficult to capture with a stills c a m e r a .
S t r e e t s i te .
The use of time-lapse photog r a p h y c o u l d
T h e s e v i d e o s were produced in tandem with offer up some valuable rewards, t o o . I n o n e
a d a i l y o n l i n e journal/blogs written by every experiment I filmed myself an d t h e a r e a
m e m b e r o f t h e site staff, and a comprehensive supervisor excavating a mud-b r i c k w a l l a t
p h o t o d i a r y o f the site and finds as they were Catalhoyuk using a digital stills c a m e r a w i t h
u n c o v e r e d . T h e team produced accompanying a time-lapse function. After editin g i t t o g e t h e r
a r t i c l e s c o v e r i ng the historical background the result was rather amateuri s h b u t m o s t
o f t h e s i t e a nd made the archaeological people who watched it felt they h a d l e a r n e d
d a t a ( c o n t e x t s records, plans, maps and something about the excavation p r o c e s s .
p h o t o g r a p h s ) a vailable to any web browser
v i a t h e i r i n - h ouse designed database ARK This is an archive resource that c o u l d b e u s e d
( A r c h a e o l o g i c a l Recording Kit). The use of on more complex, sensitive sites, a s a r e c o r d o f
v i d e o g r a p h y w as one amongst many forms the excavation process and would b e a v a l u a b l e
o f o u t r e a c h u s ed by L – P : Archaeology at tool for future generations to und e r s t a n d h o w
P r e s c o t S t r e e t b ut it added that extra dimension sites were excavated using tec h n i q u e s t h a t
t o t h e a u d i e n c e ’s experience of a commercial may, by then, be old-fashioned and o u t o f d a t e .
excavation. It is also a historical record o f t h e p e o p l e
past horizons 54
i n v o l v e d i n t h e project and their individual The creation of short videos is i n r e a c h o f
c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o the archaeological process almost everyone, hence the globa l d o m i n a t i o n
– a n d c a n r e v e a l the real, back-breaking work of Youtube. Even for those with l i t t l e o r n o
o f e x c a v a t i o n t o the uninitiated. experience the technology of v i d e o g r a p h y
can be used with relative ease b y i n t e r e s t e d
PROMOTION archaeologists, whether they work in
F i l m c a n b e a very effective medium for the the commercial, community o r a c a d e m i c
p r o m o t i o n o f a project or archaeological unit, fields, especially if they seek a d v i c e f r o m
s e r v i c e s o ff e r e d, expert advice available and knowledgeable users before i n v e s t i n g i n
s o f o r t h . P o t e ntial clients, particularly those equipment.
w i t h o u t p r e v i ous interest or involvement
i n t h e a r c h a e o logical world, find the video Videography is not the only s o l u t i o n t o
f o r m a t a c c e s s i ble and easy to comprehend. encourage wider public eng a g e m e n t i n
archaeology, but it can certain l y a c t a s a
W h e n e m b e d d e d in a company’s website, sent valuable addition to the widen i n g t o o l b o x
a s a Tw e e t , a Facebook update on a group available to the 21st century ar c h a e o l o g i s t .
p a g e , o r a s a p ost on a blog, a short video of Whatever the outcome, this is a n e x c i t i n g
a r o u n d f i v e m i nutes can be used to attract an opportunity for archaeologists t o e m b r a c e a
a u d i e n c e a n d quickly provide them with the new technology and enrich the ar c h a e o l o g i c a l
r e l e v a n t i n f o r m ation. process and experience.
A n ie s H a s s a n has recently set up a vi deo company called Tollan Films. For more i n f o r m a t i o n
v i s i t t h e w e b s ite: http://www.tollanfilms.com
Ship’s timbers and how to record them - Thames Discover y Programme episode 4, by Anies Hassan
www.pasthorizons.com/magazine
OR
Here: http://vimeo.com/6231355
55 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 56