Thursday 19 February 2015

Bodywhys Cakesale 2015




No further explanation needed!

Get down there folks!


More about BodyWhys...(taken from their website)

Vision & Ethos

Bodywhys is the national voluntary organisation supporting people affected by eating disorders.

Vision

Our vision is that people affected by eating disorders will have their needs met through the provision of appropriate, integrated, quality services being delivered by a range of statutory, private and voluntary agencies.

Mission

Our mission is to ensure support, awareness and understanding of eating disorders amongst the wider community as well as advocating for the rights and healthcare needs of people affected by eating disorders.

Ethos

Bodywhys is commmitted to the belief that people with eating disorders can and do recover. As such, the organisation strives to empower people affected by eating disorders to access information, support and treatment.
Bodywhys also works with people affected by eating disorders to advocate for the provision of better treatment services for people with eating disorders in Ireland, using the international human right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health as its basis for action.
As part of its advocacy work, Bodywhys aims to further develop both existing and new partnerships and collaborative projects with relevant agencies, organisations and stakeholders.
Bodywhys continues to recognise and appreciate the central and fundamental role that volunteers play in the organisation. Every year, Bodywhys recruits and trains new volunteers to work across our support services.
Bodywhys is adamant that people with eating disorders should not be discriminated against or stigmatised. An eating disorder should not inhibit any individual's right of access to equal opportunities available to all members of society.

Monday 16 February 2015

Seminar report: "Rome's most northerly frontier: the Antonine Wall"


On Thursday 12th February 2015, the Archaeology Society welcomed Prof. Bill Hanson from the University of Glasgow for an insightful talk about the Antonine Wall, Rome’s most northerly frontier in Scotland. After explaining the political context that triggered the building of the wall, Prof. Hanson went on to present the wall’s layout and organisation, drawing comparisons with Hadrian’s Wall further south, and the vallum Traiani, a linear frontier fortification built on the Danube in the 2nd century AD. Prof. Hanson also considers the Roman notion of "frontier" and the way imperial rule extended beyond the physical linear barrier of the walls. Throughout his talk, Prof. Hanson used a variety of evidence ranging from epigraphy to excavations, numismatics and ancient sources, showing the archaeological wealth of this period of the past. 
Source: Scottish Archaeological Research Framework. More on the Antonine Wall here.

The Antonine Wall crosses Scotland at the level of the firth of Forth, it is some 37 miles long and takes its name from the emperor Antoninus Pius, who reigned from AD138 to AD 161. The construction of the wall started soon after his accession to the throne. At the time, Hadrian's wall (built during the reign of the previous emperor, Hadrian) was still being built. The wall was however abandoned and the frontier line moved further north, into modern-day Scotland. The reason for this choice needs to be considered within the wider imperial context of the time. In order to stay in power - and to stay alive! - Roman emperors needed the support of the army, something which required them to have some military experience. Upon accessing the throne, Antoninus Pius had none. His campaigns in Britain to "conquer" the lands north of Hadrian's Wall gave him an easy victory and the support from the troops. A series of coins was minted in AD 142-144, hailing the emperor as being "twice" Imperator. (Roman emperors received the title imperator upon accessing the throne, and then again for every major military victory). In addition to the British campaigns, Antoninus Pius also moved the German frontier by about 24km and built part of the Limes (the line of fortifications along the eastern frontier of the Empire). 
Source: Wikimedia
Whereas Hadrian's wall was eventually built in stone, the Antonine wall is a turf rampart, of which relatively little survives nowadays as a result of its being located in the most densely populated area of Scotland. It is erected on a cobble base with draining channels. We do not know how high it was initially, it survives best at Rough Castle with an elevation of 1.5m. The most prominent feature surviving to this day is the ditch in front of the wall, which is some 40ft wide and 15ft deep. Along the line of the wall, a number of forts were erected. Unlike at Hadrian's Wall, were the forts were initially built behind the wall (and then relocated on the wall), the forts on the Antonine Wall were primary and part of the overall construction plan. They were built ca. 8 miles apart. In addition to forts, some fortlets were also built, as the equivalent of the milecastles on Hadrian's wall. However, the full sequence of forts and fortlets is not known as they do not always survive, many of them being turf and timber structures. At Rough Castle, cippi survive in front of the wall: they are small pits, closely packed together, which contained bushes and acted as a sort of Roman "barbwire line" (as opposed to the lilia, which contained stakes or metallic spikes and were, as Prof. Hanson put it, more like the Roman equivalent of a "mine field").

Cippi at Rough Castle
Other features of the wall are less well understood. For instance, a series of small enclosures exist, whose function we do not know and only one has been dug. Another enigmatic feature are the so-called "extensions",which occur in pair and are perhaps part of the signalling system of the frontier.  Like Hadrian's Wall, the Antonine Wall was not built according to one single plan: we see dramatic changes during the construction process.  For instance, extra forts were added, spaced by only 2 miles. At Croy Hill, a fort was added only 80m from a fortlet - primary, ie. built at the same time as the wall. Why build them so close together? We need to consider the wider socio-economic impact of the wall. Drawing a parallel with the Berlin Wall, Prof. Hanson explained how the construction of such a physical barrier would have disrupted the lives of native communities both in terms of social relationships and trading. A hostile reaction from the locals may have followed, thus triggering the reinforcement of the frontier with extra forts, and defence mechanisms like the cippi  mentioned above. A hint for this can be glimpsed through some of the depictions of the time. Unique in the Roman world are the so-called "distance slabs", recording which legions or units worked on the contruction of the Antonine wall, and which lengths of it they built.Some of these slabs are decorated by carved scenes, some representing captive "barbarians", a stock-motif of Roman imperial imagery (see for instance similar carvings from Gaul or Germany).

The wall in its wider context 


Finally, Prof. Hanson gave us some insight into the Roman view of their frontier. Beyond the Antonine wall, a series of outpost forts existed, as far north as Perth, where the fort of Bertha stood. The wall itself was not the frontier: imperial control expanded beyond it. There were however different levels of control and linear barriers such as the Antonine or Hadrian's wall were built to increase the level of control and the intensity of security. The vallum for instance, a large ditch behind (south of) Hadrian's wall, had not a defensive function but it was probably there to demarcate a military zone. The has been a long debate on whether or not Hadrian's wall was defendable: was there a walkway on the wall, like on a mediaeval castle? Maybe. But considering the length of the wall, the number of soldiers needed to defend it would have been too big. Furthermore, there was no need to defend the actual wall, when watch towers were built at very regular intervals, where legionaries could see possible assailants from afar. It seems that neither Hadrian's or the Antonine wall were meant to defend the Empire against major incursions. We do have evidence from Hadrian's wall of forts being destroyed by attacking forces from the north. The walls were however, efficient in repelling small-scale attacks. We do have an inscription from the eastern frontier, on the Danube, which records the building of the wall there in order to prevent small raids and thefts.

The Antonine wall does not seem to have been occupied after the 2nd century, with, among other sources of evidence, the latest date coin being from AD164-169. An inscription from Hadrian's wall records its refurbishment in AD 158. How this relates to the abandonment of the Antonine Wall is debated but in any case, what is sure is that the withdrawal from the Antonine wall was a deliberate one. It was dismantled and buried (this explains for instance, why the distance slabs are so well preserved). At Barhill, a well was found that was full of building material from the fort (including a column!). The exact reason behind the abandonment of the frontier is unknown. Some argue that it was a Brigantian revolt (the tribe living just south of the wall). What is interesting however, is that this abandonment coincides with the years surrounding the death of Antoninus Pius (AD 161): the wall had been his monument, it was no longer such a necessity once the emperor was dying. And so the troops were brought back to the first wall, Hadrian's wall.

The Society would like to thank Prof. Hanson for such an interesting seminar and wishes him the best of luck for his official retirement in September.

By Alexandra Guglielmi

Monday 9 February 2015

Seminar series report 2014/15: Clontarf, Orkney, and the age of piracy in the late Viking age





On the 5th of February 2015, the UCD Archaeology Society welcomed Dr. James Barrett, from the Institute of Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge.
His presentation was titled, ‘Clontarf, Orkney and the Power of Piracy in the Late Viking Age’.

Dr. Barrett began his presentation to us, by speaking of the first known record we have of the Earldom of Orkney, which was that of Earl Sigurd, evident in the Annals of Ulster.

He posed the questions around which his seminar would be based.
These questions were:
  • Was the Earldom of Orkney comparatively wealthy and powerful?
  • If so, how?
  • What implications do the answers have to wider economic patterns in the Irish and North Seas between 900 AD and 1200?

The Earldom of Orkney included north mainland Scotland and Shetland.  He gave a brief example of wealth and power from Orkney by speaking about the Burry Hoard from c977-1010. At the time there was no actual coinage in Orkney, so it is widely believed that silver arm rings which were discovered, were used as the main standard unit of exchange.

The rest of his seminar was focused around these points and ideas with particular reference to the two main sites in which he had a part in excavating. These were Quoygrew and The Brough of Deerness. Quoygrew was an Island of Westray while The Brough of Deerness was a tidal island and a Chieftain stronghold.

He spoke of the economic boom, which took place at Quoygrew in the 11th and 12th Century. This boom was a feature of all parts of their economy, including agricultural, pastural and marine. There was large scale evidence of fish bones, mostly cod, dating back to the 11th and 12th century. There is evidence of an increase in dairying from this time, with a focus on the culling of neonatal calves. This is evident from the discovery of the bones of new born calves dating back to a period between the 10th and 12th centuries. There is also evidence at Quoygrew of the production and exportation of butter. Butter is believed to have served many purposes at the time, including for fat and for industrial purposes such as a lubricant for wheels.

There is also evidence at this site of imported material culture, most of which has come from Norway. This is evident in the discoveries of steatite vessels, hones and combs. This develops the idea that trade links had been established between the Northern Worlds. Dr. Barrett discovered that the inhabitants of Quoygrew at the time tended to use vessels instead of ceramics.

When speaking on piracy associated with Orkney, he presented us with several examples of where this piracy took place. These examples were:
  • 1014 Battle of Clontarf, Ireland
  • 1058 Magnus Haraldsson’s invasion of England
  • 1066 Harald Hardradis’ England invasion
  • 1138 Battle of Standard, Yorkshire
  • 1171 Askell Mac Turcaill’s attempt to retake Dublin
  • 1194 Battle of Florvag, near Bergen

He spoke of evidence where pirates associated with Orkney decided to leave and seek employment in Norway in an attempt at rebellion. This led to the Earl going to Norway the following year to submit to the kings’ rule, in an attempt to maintain his position. Following this submission Shetland was taken away from the Earls rule, royal officials were put in several estates of the Earldom.

When speaking of the Brough of Deerness, he gave a brief description of its characteristics and layout. It was a tidal island with 30 buildings. One of these buildings was a chapel. The layout suggests that it was processional in its plan, with two front buildings and a long walkway towards the rest of the settlement. This layout is believed to be one of the reasons why history has interpreted the Brough of Deerness as a monastic site. This interpretation also comes from the discovery of both a church and beehive like huts in the same settlement. The houses in the settlement were three aisled houses and pit houses, well structured with four posts. The settlement itself was a defensive one, set up facing eastwards so as they could spot all approaching threats.

Dr. Barrett spoke of the Brough of Deerness possessing evidence of several different examples of material culture, all imported, from Norway, the Baltic and Irish Seas and from Anglo Saxon settlements. A major problem with these discoveries is that it is very hard to date them, as the settlement was built on top of a promontory fort. This has resulted in findings from both settlements making it difficult to differentiate between the two.


One example Dr. Barrett used to show the trade between the Northern Isles and the Irish Isles was in the 10th century where Irish pins on Norwegian graves were replaced by local copies. In the 11th and 12 centuries however we see a change in trade patterns between these two Isles. Irish trade oriented to Chester, Bristol and France, while Norwegian trade became local and to both Scottish and English Ports.

By Paul Kingston

Seminar series 2014/2015: "Rome's most northerly frontier: the Antonine Wall"


You can view the full list of seminars for this semester here.


The next seminar will be:

Thursday 12th February 2015
Newman building, Room A109
5.30pm

Prof. Bill Hanson
University of Glasgow

"Rome's most northerly frontier: the Antonine Wall"

Society trip to Uisneach and Tlachtga


Sunday 1 February 2015

Seminar series 2014/15: Clontarf, Orkney, and the Age of Piracy in the late Viking Age





The next seminar will be:

Dr. James Barrett, 
University of Cambridge
"Clontarf, Orkney and the Age of Piracy in the Late Viking age"

Thursday 5th February 2015
Newman building, Room A109
5.30pm