tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34316882539165701672024-02-07T22:28:40.159-08:00UCD Archaeological Society Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15648902405878912680noreply@blogger.comBlogger173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-67506208632030168972016-10-30T16:58:00.000-07:002016-10-30T16:58:22.979-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYkmqdN-IlFQMTD7aosGldkCV9LszTUiA1QedER56e4Kn5ZS1IIy-ERzO7u3udIEOeQe23j0eDEdqcjxVeWoNHls7e47qm0hguWKLEe257rUqqgpnPmlQzMoOfcT7QxhfwsSHmGEiPms/s1600/14681111_10154515279715833_742903435986523317_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYkmqdN-IlFQMTD7aosGldkCV9LszTUiA1QedER56e4Kn5ZS1IIy-ERzO7u3udIEOeQe23j0eDEdqcjxVeWoNHls7e47qm0hguWKLEe257rUqqgpnPmlQzMoOfcT7QxhfwsSHmGEiPms/s400/14681111_10154515279715833_742903435986523317_o.jpg" width="400" /></a><u style="font-size: xx-large;">Excavation of a Nazi Camp on British Soil –</u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><u style="font-size: xx-large;">Dr Gillian Carr</u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Report by <br />Tom Meharg </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The UCD Archaeology society was delighted
to host Dr Gillian Carr as our guest lecturer on the 20<sup>th</sup> October.
Dr Carr is a Senior Lecturer and Academic Director in Archaeology at Cambridge
University working primarily in the field of conflict archaeology. Dr Carr’s
lecture focused on recent excavations of a Nazi Camp on the island of Jersey,
one of the few places of German occupation on British soil. Through
investigation of the Lager Wick camp and other remnants of the wartime past of
Jersey aspects of the islands history and the narrative of occupation were
scrutinised against the physical evidence. Insights to life of the inmates,
guards, and islanders, who interacted with the camp through occupation and
after the war, are made available in the archaeological record. Dr Carr’s
lecture presented the realities of the hidden history of Nazi occupied Jersey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The lecture initially outlined the
occupation from the Late June invasion of 1940 to the final withdrawal after
D-Day and Operation Overlord and in 1944. Slave labour camps throughout the
Channel Islands housed foreign labourers brought to the island to construct the
Atlantic Sea Wall. Looking at the archaeology of the islands from a landscape
perspective a huge industrial urban infrastructure is apparent. Quarries, stone
crushing buildings, railways, and bunkers scar the land. Dr Carr drew a
parallel between occupied Jersey and Norway, describing it as a ‘Landscape of
Evil’ a land of occupation and forced labour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The main focus of the lecture was ‘Lager
Wick’ a slave labour camp on Jersey. Understanding this site required a multidisciplinary
effort, a simple archaeological approach was not appropriate. The importance of
eye witness accounts was incredibly valuable for testimony of the purpose of
the camp and the experience of the labourers. Today the site is heavily
overgrown and geophysical surveying is impossible. A great source of
information were wartime aerial photographs, however problems of resolution,
shadow, and the temporary, shifting nature of the camp buildings means these
images were difficult to interpret. In addition to this the Germans had made a
conscious effort to obscure the actual camp, for example, one of the yards was
built in the shape of an ornamental garden to mislead wartime intelligence.
With some areas of interest identified, Dr Carr was ready to excavate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The lecture continued to present
information gained through excavation. In the 2014 season posts, gates, and
fences of the camp’s perimeters were uncovered. It looked as if a 7ft barbed
wire fence surrounded Lager Wick during the war although an eye witness claimed
a local farmer installed the excessive 7ft fence after the war. It became apparent through excavation that
many of the wooden buildings were on stilts and an attempt to raise the ground
level with beach sand was also evident. Finds of iron nails and concrete also
scattered the site. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In the 2015 and 2016 excavation seasons a
building initially interpreted as a latrine block contained combs, medicine
bottles and a tooth brush. It was suggested that this latrine was for higher
officers due to a French hotel ashtray discovered in the trench. Upon
revisiting the site in 2016 the story changed, finds suggested the latrine was
probably a potato store instead, cashes of seashells pointed towards a period
of starvation in camp. This highlights the difficulty of identifying a building
through material culture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Other areas excavated included the molten
glass and charcoal remains of a barrack lodge identified through augering. Also
found here were cufflinks, a schnapps glass, and a mug with the eagle and
swastika motif, suggesting this was the overseers lodging. Other finds on the
site associated with the camp included a padlock, a spade and a boot. However
Dr Carr explained the difficulty of identifying some items as ‘camp material
culture’ due to the fact that the area had been used as a communal dump in the
post war era. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The greatest outcome of these excavations
is a challenge to the silent history of occupation in Jersey and the Channel
Islands. The victory narrative overrides an interest in the actuality of
occupation life and many of the islanders are sceptical of the benefits of such
activities. To open a dialogue and research slave labour camps and the wartime
experience may help archaeologist identify other such sites in occupied Europe.
Although the material culture at Lager Wick mainly represents the occupying
force it is a side of history often supressed in the traditional narrative of
these islands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15648902405878912680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-90642059934738335692016-10-02T11:54:00.001-07:002016-10-02T11:54:39.602-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Irish Lithic Landscape Project: A raw material provenancing project integrating geochemical and petrographic analysis of material for prehistoric Ireland</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A report by Mary Cain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the 22nd of September, the UCD Archaeology Society welcomed its first guest speaker Dr. Killian Driscoll to present his current research he is conducting at UCD along with two of the college’s lecturers, Dr. Graeme Warren and Professor Gabriel Cooney. The aim of the research was to be able to analyse cretaceous flint from chalk deposits in Co. Antrim, and chert from Co. Sligo, taking geological samples from each site and analysing them alongside the archaeology from the area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Dr. Driscoll pointed out, throughout archaeology in Ireland and Northern Ireland, the attitude towards the use of flint and chert have had an influence in how the raw material contributes to our understanding of how past societies utilized their raw materials. The main attitude has been that flint is the prefered raw material while chert is of poorer quality. However, it is important to note that the main sources of flint on the island come from the North, specifically along the Antrim coast line, while chert is dominant across most of Ireland. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another reason in conducting this research has been to see how near or far chert and flint was procured as a raw material based on the archaeological evidence. It is important to see how material that is either procured locally or at a great distance makes its way into an archaeological excavation. To understand this, laboratory analysis was conducted on the chert and flint samples. The main methods of analysis were Macroscopic analysis, Geochemical analysis and Microscopic analysis.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In total, 400 hand samples were taken, with 170 from outcrop groups. The outcrops could range in type, some cliffs along the seaside or inland to small exposures easy to access. A series of analytical methods were carried out on each of the samples, ranging from non-destructive methods to destructive methods, such as petrography which requires thin sections of the sample to be examined. While the results are still being investigated, currently the LIR is currently being housed as a physical collection at University College Dublin with an online database for flake stone tool raw materials. The investigation is still ongoing and will continue through 2017.</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15648902405878912680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-46182228556163491022016-05-10T08:18:00.001-07:002016-05-10T08:18:51.810-07:00
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"Of Calendars and Kings: Gods, Temples and the Piciales and the Development of Archaii States in Hawaii"</h2>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seminar by Professor Clive Ruggles, University of Leicester</span></strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><u>Report By Claire Hyland</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The lecture given by Professor Clive Ruggles from the
University of Leicester was on the topics of astroarchaeology in the
prehistoric societies of Hawaii and Polynesia, the evolution of the Hawaiian
Archaii states and how the stars and the natural Hawaiian landscape have
influenced the orientation of various temples throughout Hawaii and Polynesia. </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Professor
Ruggles has spent the last ten years studying the ancient temples strewn
throughout Hawaii and attempting to decipher their enigmatic relationship to
the southern constellations. In addition to his main thesis on the Heiau
(religious temples) of Hawaii, professor Ruggles explained the history and
archaeology of the astronomy within the Hawaiian society and why the stars
played such a prominent role within the beliefs of the Hawaiian people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Professor
Ruggles began his lecture by detailing the evolution of Polynesia as a society
and culture. All the islands spoke different dialects of the same language and the
Polynesians began inhabiting the peninsula around the 2<sup>nd</sup> millennium
BC. From 1000 AD further colonisation and exploration occurred until the
arrival of Captain Cook in the 1700s. The discovery of new islands by the
ancient Polynesians may have been by fortuitous accident as they sailed the
ocean in wooden canoes and navigated uncertain waters by the stars, waves and
by keeping the shore within the line of sight. These voyages were replicated in
1967 with the maiden voyage of Hokule’a ship. The islands of Hawaii and
Polynesia boasted as wildlife pigs, fowl and feral dogs and grew as their
natural fauna breadfruit, taro, coconut and banana. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next,
Professor Ruggles discussed the five different islands of Hawaii (Kau’i, O’ahu,
Moloka’i, Mani and Hawaii) and their initial discovery and settlement by the
native Hawaiians. Around 1000AD, the islands are discovered and colonised. In
1200-1400AD, the fertile and accessible agricultural wetlands are cultivated
and in 1400-1600AD the distant and less bountiful agricultural dry-lands are
brought under human dominion as rising populations force more people to move to
previously inhabited areas. At the 1600AD mark, the development of the Hawaiian
kingdoms began in earnest. These were archaic and hereditary with no towns or
urban bases (Crops in Hawaii could not be stored or preserved; lessoning the
need for towns). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
the ethno-history and oral history of the Hawaiian kingdoms genealogy was of
the utmost importance to the ruling classes. It heightened their status, showed
them to be worthy kings and separated them from the common folk. Early Hawaiian
Authors such as John Papa l’i and David Malo stress the massive significance
and influence of genealogy within the Hawaiian elite class. The Kumulipo was a
highly detailed and revered star chart describing the ancestry of the ancient
Hawaiian kings, their importance to the universe and why they deserved to be
rulers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
astroarchaeology of Hawaii and Polynesia concerns the astronomy, navigation and
the influence of stars upon the material culture of each respective society. In
navigation, the positions of stars at night can help with traversing the wide
open sea and in learning the locations of islands. The rising and setting of
stars can be learned off in order to use them as a sort of star compass. The
coming of the missionaries to Hawaii in the 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup>
centuries resulted in the planets and many stars receiving new names albeit in
the Hawaiian language. Lubika is Jupitar, Wenuka is Venus, Hipa-kane is the
constellation Aries and Kr’aha is Ursa Major. In the Na i Noa Hoka, a catalogue
for Hawaii star names, it shows the original Hawaiian names for the stars along
with the ones the missionaries bestowed upon them at a later date. There are
two editions of this book; one printed in 1975 and 2015. It also gives a
star/genealogy chart tracing which kings and other elite classes are descended
from which stars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
astronomy, the heliacal rise sees the stars rising at dawn around May/June. At
the Acronychal rise the stars, after the earth’s rotation away from the sun,
start to rise at sunset in November and in Hawaii these are noted for marking
the New Year. In Hawaii, the Makaliki festival is held to celebrate the New
Year and the god of agriculture, Lono. On the Island of Tongo, there is a coral
tritithon called Ha’amonga a Maui which was built around 1200AD and has a solar
alignment. After reading ‘Stonehenge Decoded’ and realising that he had a
similar monument within his kingdom, the King of Tonga started a ritual
ceremony at the monument in 1967. Also on the island are several solar calendar
markers; most are located on the east side and are natural places for
observation. The lava columns at Kumukahi are known as the “sun pillars”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
Hawaii itself the landscape is dotted with the ruins of temples and ancient
shrines. The orientations for these structures are in a variety of directions
and seem to correlate with whatever god is being worshipped. Ancient Hawaiian
temples are called Heiau and are often made from stone, have a square shape
along with an inside altar and contain varied offerings such as coral or beach
worn pebbles. The ideal heiau has opposing female/male sides orientated along a
south/north basis. Many of the Hawaiian heiau are located in Kahikinui Kaupo;
overgrown agricultural dry lands divided into ten land sections (ahupaa’a) and have
been surveyed by UC Berkeley. There are over 60 recorded and preserved heiau
and the majority date to circa 1600AD. These temples usually have the altar
opposite the entrance and their orientation is influenced by whatever god is
being worshipped. Kane, as the god of the (east) rising sun, has temples with
an east orientation. Kanaloa, god of death and the sea, has temples facing
towards the ocean. Ku, god of war and the north, has north facing temples while
Lono, god of fertility and agriculture, has southerly temples. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On
Hawaii, there is an archaeological monument in Kahiki Nu-e known as Panana
which points to the south. It is a single wall with a notch in the centre. 20m
long and 1m wide, the wall is unconnected to any other monument.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Hawaiian, Pa means wall and nana means
sight. Panana is also the modern Hawaiian word for compass. Is this a memorial
wall? Was this a connection to the days of voyaging and navigating by the light
of the stars? We know that this monument was built around 1200AD, the time when
the big voyages came to an end. It most likely commemorates the end of an era
in Hawaii and is a symbol of nostalgia for a more adventurous sea-faring age.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-25269743467358170672016-04-03T07:36:00.000-07:002016-04-03T07:36:43.146-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Living with Monuments: landscape inhabitation and monument creation in the Avebury landscape"</h2>
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<b>Seminar by Dr Joshua Pollard, University of Southampton</b><b><br /></b></div>
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<u>Report by Claire Hyland</u></div>
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The lecture given by Dr. Joshua Pollard was on the topic of how landscapes and monuments interacted and functioned within human settlements and the role they played in human society from the Mesolithic to the Early Bronze Age in the Avebury landscape. The main area of interest in this lecture is the justly famous Avebury landscape which is famed for its plentiful and well-preserved monuments that range from the Mesolithic to the Early Bronze Age. Located in central southern England, Avebury has long been held as a sacred Neolithic site which periodically saw an influx of prehistoric migration to the area. Around the 3rd millennium BC the Neolithic inhabitants of Avebury put a massive amount of resources and labour into the time intensive construction of stone monuments. A site such as Avebury has rightly inspired heavy academic interest among archaeologists and other professions. </div>
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During its early Neolithic phase, Avebury boasted stone tombs, long mounds and enclosures. All of these structures were built around 4th millennium BC and are considered to be sacred Neolithic monuments. In a few cases not all of these structures had a distinct and unquestionable funerary purpose in the Neolithic era. In the Later Neolithic period, around the 3rd millennium BC, large stone monuments were constructed on the Avebury valley floor which runs alongside the river Kenneth. These stone features were excavated in detail by Alistair Whittle in the 1990s. Huge numbers were required to build these monuments – labour, resources and land clearance – and it has been shown that the local environment itself could not hope to support such colossal projects on its own terms. Outside resources and individuals were needed to erect these monuments. </div>
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Was Avebury a ritual site? How did the process of living in the landscape relate to its monumentalism? Avebury seems to portray the quintessential paradox of the Neolithic era in a manner par excellence. The solid, enduring structures of the Neolithic era are stone monuments to the dead while the houses and settlements are ephemeral and elusive; the architecture of the living is the hardest to trace and locate within Avebury. This eloquently illustrates the depth and devotion the people of the Neolithic harboured towards their dead ancestors and spirits. The ancestors required permanent and lasting stone tombs while those Neolithic people living in the present had to make do with perishable and short-lasting structures. </div>
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The settlement and routine of Avebury has been analysed through surface scatter remains by numerous archaeologists. Dennis & Whittle, in 1993, excavated the southern slopes of Windmill Hill while searching for such archaeological debris. By uncovering the scatter remains of Avebury, it has been hoped that this will invest the site with new interpretations of its history and the ritual meaning behind its monumentalism. Significant landscape modification has been uncovered in Avebury with large stones being ritualistically moved to different locations, utilised as landscape markers or sanctified as key elements of landscape veneration. </div>
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In Neolithic times, Avebury was subject to consistent and reoccurring migrations or habitations of human activity. Through the archaeological evidence, it has become clear that people periodically and purposefully returned to the same sites in Avebury throughout the centuries and generations. Were these merely sites of expendable and useful natural resources or were these sites of religious or ritual importance to a Neolithic audience? In contrast to the sites of immense natural or religious value, within Avebury itself, there are patches of land devoid of human activity. This begs the question why? Were they simply naturally barren, unproductive to live upon or considered to be cursed or forbidden by the Neolithic inhabitants in some manner? </div>
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For the Neolithic people, monuments were of profound social and ritual purpose. They housed and protected the ancestors, served as sites of sacred worship and bought communities together in their procurement of resources and the need for labour. Monuments were constantly interacted with in the Neolithic from their construction to their veneration. But what was their overall impact on the scale and location of human settlement? Did they encourage or discourage settlement near their boundaries? </div>
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The ‘rough leaze’ of Avebury predates the construction of the henge monument. The lithic scatter of the ‘rough leaze’ was created by natural means i.e. tree throws (when a tree and its roots are ripped out of the ground and wrench out natural materials from the soil). As tree throws create natural lithic scatter, these remains had been disregarded by archaeologists as not being man-made. Now it has been made abundantly clear that in the Neolithic such natural occurrences were heavily exploited as readymade forms of lithics and architecture. </div>
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The West Kenneth Avenue was first excavated by Keller in 1934 during which its first level of occupation was uncovered; indeed the site itself was an undiscovered Neolithic settlement. Keller, while dreadful at publishing reports, excelled at writing detailed archival archaeological accounts of the excavations. Rich lithic assemblages alongside dense concentrations of flint and Neolithic ceramics were exposed within the trenches. The bulk of the Neolithic settlement predates the construction of the Avenue by several centuries and shows the site was first a settlement then an area of ritual importance to the Neolithic area. </div>
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But was the West Kenneth Avenue a site of routine Neolithic habitation? Perhaps it would provide an opportunity to unearth rare middle Neolithic structures. During the 2013-15 excavations of the site it was discovered that the Neolithic remains consisted of pits and stake holes while in-situ scatter had been forced down through the soil by earthworm action. 20000 pieces of worked flint were uncovered (some densities were 80 per sq metre); dating to the Middle Neolithic 1200-900BC and not all originate from the Avebury area. Chisel arrowheads and discoidal scrapers were among the artefacts recovered. Exotic finds included a macehead fragment and Peterborough ware pottery (Mortlake & Fengate). This area was periodically visited by different groups as artefacts dating from the Mesolithic to the Later Neolithic have been uncovered through scatter and features. </div>
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In Trench 4, large amounts of chisel arrowheads were uncovered. The primary use of many of these arrowheads was as weapons (albeit not hugely effective ones; experiments suggest that they merely caused non-fatal cuts at distances exceeding 15 metres) and with some arrowheads having a secondary use as knives. These arrowheads were not useful for hunting and may have been utilised as weapons for interpersonal human conflict. Excavated alongside the arrowheads were Neolithic pits – small distinct features which were immediately filled with debris. Neolithic features often, perhaps deliberately cut through Mesolithic pits. These pits were reengaged within the Neolithic period. Clearly the Neolithic inhabitants were long aware of the site being previously used by a former era or people and wished to develop the site with their own needs in mind. </div>
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In trench 4, an Early Bronze Age feature was uncovered that cut through a threefold pit. This feature was a singular, isolated occurrence within the trench. It was 1.4 m deep and 60-70cm wide. A theory suggests that the pit was dug in order to commemorate a fallen tree of special significance in the Neolithic. Trees in an open field were unusual; perhaps the inhabitants did not want to forget the tree that once stood in the field and wished to ‘resurrect’ it in a manner of speaking. Trench 4 also contains the avenue bank, an artificial mound of turf and top-soil that may have stretched to the West Kenneth Bank. </div>
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In the end, the relationship between landscape and monuments is a fascinating and engaging topic especially during the prehistoric era. This is a subject that requires more archaeological and topographical research in order to better understand prehistoric society and how they interacted with the landscape the way they did. Landscape and monuments were inextricably entwined in the prehistoric era and further research is required to better comprehend how the two complemented and interacted with each other. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-59633376208455956652016-03-06T13:29:00.000-08:002016-03-06T13:29:40.750-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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“Dealing with Difference: Investigating Social Diversity in the Central European Neolithic”</h2>
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<b>Seminar by Dr Penny Bickle, University of York </b></div>
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<u>Report by Emily Mooney</u></div>
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Last Thursday evening, the Archaeology Society was delighted to welcome Dr. Penny Bickle from the University of York, who gave a lecture entitled “Dealing with Difference: Investigating Social Diversity in the Central European Neolithic”. The lecture commenced with Dr. Bickle mentioning two of the projects that she has been involved in, and stating how there has been a relative tendency towards hesitation when it comes to discussing social differences during the Neolithic.<br />
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She then moved her talk onto the discussion of the archaeology of the Central European Neolithic, with a focus on the Linear Band Keramic (LBK) culture. Most of the evidence for Central European Neolithic comes from the settlement of the LBK, which consisted of villages containing longhouses, with clusters of settlements alongside river valleys.<br />
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Dr. Bickle proceeded to then discuss the pottery evidence for the LBK and what it says about regional diversity and hierarchy within the culture, with prestige objects dominating. She used the very effective analogy of football teams when explaining pottery diversity within different LBK groups - everyone was playing by the same rules, but for different teams, but there is also the possibility that they could have even been playing different ball games altogether.<br />
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She then discussed the details of her first project, “The First Farmers in Central Europe: Diversity in LBK lifeways” (2013), which utilised the study of isotopes to determine diet, which revealed that hunter-gatherers and farmers had a widespread similarity in diet, and that the evidence exhibited the sharing of food between settlements, but the project was not able to determine any changes over time.<br />
The second project, “The Time of their Lives: Precise chronologies for the European Neolithic” (http://totl.eu/), currently ongoing and led by Dr Alasdair Whittle and Alex Bayliss, uses Baysian modelling techniques to address what the previous project could not, examining change over time across different cultural groups, but due to a limited stratigraphy resorted to the examination of the different ceramic phases of the LBK across Europe. <br />
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The results of both projects concluded that there were changes in social relations of Neolithic Europe between 5160 – 5115 BC, with periods of increased and stable settlements and then a collapse, the reason for which is unclear, with the society focusing on the contemporary social groups as opposed to previous generations being the focal point.<br />
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To conclude, Dr. Bickle’s work has shown that social relations and kinship played a central role in the LBK way of life, alongside a system of shared values, and those communities on the edges of the society exhibiting more variation. Overall it was a very engaging talk that was enjoyed by all who attended, and we look forward to hearing of Dr. Bickle’s fantastic work in the future.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-35608489947452380372016-02-28T06:12:00.000-08:002016-02-28T06:12:23.457-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
<br />"Discovering the Northern Picts: Survey and Excavation in Northern Scotland"</h2>
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<b>Seminar by Dr Gordon Noble, University of Aberdeen</b><br />
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<u>Report by Laura Cawley</u><br />
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This seminar focused on fortifying rulership in Northern Britain, in relation to the Picts. The period in question was the transition of the Iron Age to the Early Medieval period. This seminar was informed by Dr. Gordon Noble’s research in the Northern Picts Project. The focus of this project is Eastern and Northern Scotland and the Picts people, with a particular focus on Early Medieval Scotland (circa 400-900 AD).<br />
At this time in Scotland there was a great diversity of people. The Picts were distinguished by their carved stones and metalwork. Areas researched as part of the project include forts, burial practices, environment, and symbol stones, as well as possible domestic settlements. Cé is one of the areas included in the project.<br />
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The origins of the Picts have been a source of confusion for historians and archaeologists in the past. At this time the origins of new forms of social hierarchy and authority were widespread. As a result of this complexity, the project uses interdisciplinary means to aid in its research, and material culture is utilised to define new relations of power.<br />
The anthropogenic and archaeological signatures of kingship have left their mark on Scotland. Increased ritual power and the sacred role of the leader were shown through the power they exerted on nature. This led to sacred and exclusive objects and distinctive burials and monuments.<br />
Irish written evidence has been used to enhance the project. These documents provide evidence of kings as leaders in war, justice and religion. They were involved in clientship which was materialised through military service, hospitality and annual labour, for example constructing ramparts. Kingship was also seen as part of the world order, and making things run as they should.<br />
The historical sources used in this project include Ptolemy’s Geography, which uses 1st century AD information, and mentions many tribes. The Picts are mentioned from the 3rd century AD as a source of trouble for the Romans. This sudden mention of the Picts could be as a result of the consolidation of tribes to counteract the threat of the Romans. The mention of fewer tribes in later Roman sources could support this theory. Other sources include the kinglists of the 8th century AD, which note Pictish over-kingship by the 7th century AD. Later sources emphasise royal centres in the South.<br />
The archaeological record is now being used to trace the origins and development of the Picts. This record includes symbol stones, fortified sites, and cemeteries. The writing system identified on the symbol stones is believed to mark out powerful individuals. Metalworking symbols on the stones are seen to be symbols of power. The Late Bronze Age and Iron Age hillforts which reemerge in the Post-Roman period were central to the kingship of these powerful individuals, according to the sources.<br />
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The origin of these symbol stones is generally taken to be the Late Roman period- 8th/9th centuries AD, but there is no real consensus. They originate in Northern Pictland. These stones have been dated relative to Christian monuments.<br />
The symbol stones and fortified sites form the main sources for the project. One of the sites studied is Dunnicaer, which is a fortified site with carved stone monuments. Its promontory fort dates to the Pictish period. One of the structures there, Beannachar House, has Pictish stones in its association. These stones were found in 1832 by village youths but not studied until much later. The dates of the site are early- 3rd/4th century AD. Roman sources say that the Picts were sea raiders, which may mean that this site’s coastal location was a natural choice.<br />
Rhynie is another fortified site studied for the project. The name means a place associated with a great king. It was a high status fortified site dating to the 5th/6th century AD, and was contemporary with the stones found there. This famous group of Pictish stones are more polished and elaborate than those found at Dunnicaer. They are an earlier type, as there is no Christian symbolism on them as on other stones. Symbols on these stones include fish, the Pictish beast, and the famous Rhynie Man. This was an important find as human representation in Pictish stones is rare. One of these stones was also left in its original location, which is rare with such stones. This provides a rare study opportunity. Ditches and a palisade were found nearby.<br />
Imports were found at the site, including a Late Roman amphora from the Mediterranean and dating to the 6th century AD. These are rare in this area; they are found in South-West England at high status sites. Only two other sites in Scotland boast such a find, and both have royal associations. Glass from Western France which formed a beaker for wine was also found, and this is also a rare find in Eastern Scotland. High status metalworks such as bronze pins, brooch moulds, and exceptional iron tongs, which are also represented on the stones, were also found at the site.<br />
The site has been dated from 450-550 AD, and is seen as a landscape of power. This was an Iron Age fort which was reused in the Early Medieval period. A high status cemetery and square barrows dating from 450-550 AD were also found. A stone socket for a standing stone was discovered at the entranceway of the fort, near Rhynie Man, with a deliberate deposit of a cattle jaw bone placed at the bottom.<br />
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This is a secular site but there are cult and ceremonial associations. Axe carrier symbols were found which have animal heads and elaborate teeth, similar to Rhynie Man, and could be interpreted as shamanic figures. There were similar axes to those represented found at the burial of Sutton Hoo, and Lagore crannóg in Meath. These were royal sites which also had animal remains, which were sacrificial at the burial and mostly cattle in huge quantities at Lagore. This shows how kings may have been implicated in the religious practices of their people.<br />
Burghead was also studied, and is the largest Pictish fort. It is a promontory fort with monumental walls and depictions of bulls which may relate to animal sacrifice. Early Christian sculpture has been found, as the site was used to almost 1000 AD, when Christianity was spreading. Little excavation has been done, and the site was damaged with the building of a town on top of it. Test excavation revealed intact Early Medieval deposits and a cattle bone midden. Radiocarbon dates of the rampart place it in the 5th/6th century AD, the post hole to the 6th century AD, and the midden to the 9th/10th century AD.<br />
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Almost all of the forts studied date to the 5th century AD, showing them to be Post-Roman phenomena. Some sites, such as Rhynie, became disused during the 6th century, while the larger forts, such as Burghead, continued to be used for longer periods. This may mirror the rise of the overking in the sources; less centres of power as power becomes more centralised to certain areas.<br />
In conclusion, warfare was materialised through enclosures which were important to the Northern identity in the 3rd/4th century, but this may have been geographically restricted. There may also have been use of sacred and restricted script to denote emerging elites in the same period. Bands of clientship allowed forts to be built in the late Roman and Iron Age periods, but these were consolidated from the 5th century AD and in a Post-Roman context. In the 5th/6th century an element of the divine and sacred was introduced in relation to rulership.<br />
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If you would like more information on this project, it can be found through the Tarbat Discovery Centre’s website, and the Northern Picts Facebook group.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-41608431725566085392016-02-08T02:45:00.000-08:002016-02-08T02:45:33.073-08:00
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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"Violence Among Hunter-Gatherers"</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Seminar by Dr Rick Schulting, University of Oxford</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Report by Nicola Riordan</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dr Rick Schulting from the University of Oxford came over on
the 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> of February to give us a very interesting seminar. The
seminar began with telling us that there is a debate among archaeologists as to
the origin of warfare. Were hunter-gatherers engaged with warfare? Is there any
evidence of even earlier warfare? When we think about hunter-gatherers, we
generally think of much simpler, egalitarian, peaceful groups of people who
shared the land as a community. There is evidence of high homicide rates among
hunter-gatherers all over the world, but this does not represent warfare, or at
least, nothing we can identify as ‘warfare’, in which we envision warriors with
armour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, looking at hunter-gatherers from a different
perspective, we can look at the northeast coast of North America, where there
were chiefs in charge of groups, slaves who were either captured and brought to
the group to serve or born as a slave from other slaves. An example of this was
a painting from 1847 of the Songhees war party returning home, holding severed
heads as trophies. Several books have been written about violence and warfare
among hunter-gatherers, not exactly questioning it, but more compiling
information on the evidence for murder, massacres and warfare among these
groups. These books include ‘Violence and Warfare Among Hunter-Gatherers’ by
Allen, M and Jones T, as well as ‘Warless Societies and the Origin of War’ by
Kelly, R. A quote from literature which stands out is ‘thank prehistoric
conflict for collaboration, intelligence in humans’. It is a quote like this
which makes us realise that once individual groups begin to define themselves
and gain a unique identity and understanding of who they are, is when the
prospect of warfare begins. Within primitive warfare, size matters – a bigger
group of people seem a lot more intimidating than a smaller group. According to
a paper published in Science in 2009 by Bowles, S, 14% of adult deaths among
hunter-gatherer groups in archaeological and ethnological regions were due to
warfare in areas such as Europe, Asia and North America.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, at one site mentioned; Téviec, it is unclear if the
violence recorded was due to 3warfare or homicide within the group. At this
time in this location, there were no chiefdoms or states, so if someone wronged
you, you would have been free to kill them. Also, in this paper there was a lot
of data missing, there are at least 30 other sites in Europe which show no
signs of warfare, so it seems as though the information was chosen to back up
warfare, while all of the evidence showing a lack of warfare was simply
ignored. In sites such as Gøngehusvej 7 in Denmark, where a woman with a
depression in her skull which showed signs of healing was found, there were no
examples of unhealed cranium injuries. Another site in Tilbury, Essex from
6065-5910 BC there were many examples of healed injuries, but no evidence from
either site for massacres or battle or warfare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This brought us on to the concept that within
hunter-gatherer societies, it is much more likely that there was ritualised
conflict not meant to be lethal, such as stick fights which the elders would
organise to diffuse conflict between groups in the younger generations. This is
backed up by the lack of evidence for perimortem damages within these groups. A
few weeks ago, the cover of Nature featured a ‘massacre’ at Lake Turkana. This
‘massacre’ featured individuals with healed injuries, some individuals with
their hand bound suggesting some sort of execution, and some perimortem
injuries including one individual with an obsidian blade still lodged in the
skull. There were 20 individuals spread out over 300 meters, and have a large
date range of 10500-9000 BC, suggesting that this was not a massacre, but drawn
out over a longer time period.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two sites which Dr Schulting has worked on are Ofnet in
Bavaria and Cis-Baikall in Siberia. In Ofnet, two skull nests were excavated by
Schmidt in 1909, and when radiocarbon dating came into use, they were dated to
the 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> millennium BC, making them Mesolithic, which had previously
been debated. There were 28 skulls in the large nest and 6 in the small nest,
with a range from infants to adults and males to females. There were a lot of
cranium injuries present with about 75% of them having severe cranium injuries.
There are two theories that are debated with this site – is this evidence of a
massacre or were the skulls placed here over time? The radiocarbon dates
received from the nests allow both theories to be possible – they could have
all been deposited at the same time or over a timeframe of 600 years. Some
skulls show signs of overkill, and have injuries to the back of the head in an
execution style. All of the skulls still have their mandibles, and the first 3,
4, 5 vertebrae have cut marks; evidence that the heads were cut off before
decomposition occurred.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few of the skulls in the nests have been dated to about
6400 BC, with only one outlier in the large nest. The dates in the large nest
suggest that it was either a single event or took place over 200 years. Also,
the two nests appear to be of different ages. At least 30 more skulls have been
dated, and this should get the date range down to about 30 years, though with
the conditions of the skulls and the different ages of the two nests, the best
date range scientifically achievable at the moment is more like 90 years, which
is still definitely shorter than previously thought. Are these nests evidence
of warfare among hunter-gatherers? In a more primitive society, if someone did
you wrong you would kill the person you are angry at. However, once you start
to target that person’s group and not them specifically for revenge, that is a
feud or warfare between two groups of people. The killing of children shows
this – it is unlikely that a young child killed someone or were the subject of
sexual jealousy, so the fact that there are children’s skulls in the nest
suggests that they were not targeted because they had done wrong, but because
they were associated with the person who did, though this is very debatable.
There are a couple of other sites where something similar has been observed
like in Ofnet. In Mannlefelsa, there is a male skull with similar perimortem
injuries, with cut marks present also. In Hohlenstein-Stadel there were three
individuals found; a man, woman and child, all killed. The child’s skull showed
it would have been about 6 years old, but it was larger than it should have
been for a 6 year old, suggesting hydrocephaly. This condition would have
affected the behaviour of the child, and once genetic testing has been done on
these three skulls, it could be possible that the child was killed because of
this condition, and its mother and father were also killed by association. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cis-Baikal is another site which Dr Schulting has worked on.
There are about 1000 well preserved hunter-gatherers around the lake here from
the early Neolithic to Bronze Age. There is no evidence of farming in this
region even in the Bronze Age, and it is thought that the Bronze objects were
brought here through trade or other means rather than being produced and
manufactured in the area, though this is not clear. One unusual aspect of this
site is that the mortuary complex for the middle Neolithic is missing. This is
a complete mystery, as there is some evidence of settlement for this time
period nearby, but no burial evidence until the late Neolithic. One cemetery
called Shamanka II around Lake Baikal contains both single and multiple burials,
with microliths as grave offerings, and some skulls showing perimortem damages.
Thanks to a large amount of funding, every individual around the lake has been
dated. So how did the Bronze Age hunter-gatherers know to bury their dead at
this site? Too much time had gone by for oral folk tradition to have provided
the information, so either coastal erosion around the site had exposed some
Neolithic graves, or just decided that because of the striking view it was a
good place for burials.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are two clusters of these burials – north and south.
The south cluster contains four young adult males, while the north is much more
varied with males, females and children. The south cluster all show signs of
perimortem injuries, with projectile points or outlines of projectile points
found with the skeletons. One of the skeletons in the north clusters is a young
adult and contains 22+ arrowheads in the grave. These are unlikely to be grave
goods as they are all pointing in different directions, so it is more likely to
be evidence of overkill. One skull shows two sharp force traumas to the
mandible, though no axes have been found in the area, so perhaps the perpetrators
came from the outside and massacred these people in an act of war. These two
clusters may have slightly different dates, with a range of 100-200 years – so perhaps
this is evidence of two separate massacres? Statistically they could both be
from the same group, though the fresh water reservoir effect must be taken into
account, as these people would have eaten the fish from the lake which may skew
the dates slightly. For a hunter-gatherer society, the amount of deaths present
here are extremely high, and the closest ‘normal’ Bronze Age cemetery is about
100 km away, with no big Bronze Age settlement found nearby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The resources at the lake may have been enough motive for
the massacre(s) at Cis-Baikal, but what was the motive for the massacre(s) at
Ofnet? The nests in Ofnet were in a forest, where the resources would have been
the same and enough for kilometres around. This means that the massacres may
have been more complex than simply killing for resources, it may have been
different generations getting revenge, or jealousies which spiralled out of
control, or even a matter of prestige between different groups; the bigger a
group the more powerful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-52308610533252514442016-01-25T10:42:00.001-08:002016-01-25T10:42:43.484-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjV4V-IM7bj8brjhFK7pWeOryTgVjtM8e9xb3Fa-ktqHkwTLXof_BKCA6LKoVH0dmdtfeleHkp2_r362AJsjud46S4ZUNAVe7tdGZGqci8zyzBGxHZCBHxU6mjZd3CTiuqtsS9PxjGdugn/s1600/b0a72d9f-3d1a-4091-bf61-d7d080d5f4c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjV4V-IM7bj8brjhFK7pWeOryTgVjtM8e9xb3Fa-ktqHkwTLXof_BKCA6LKoVH0dmdtfeleHkp2_r362AJsjud46S4ZUNAVe7tdGZGqci8zyzBGxHZCBHxU6mjZd3CTiuqtsS9PxjGdugn/s640/b0a72d9f-3d1a-4091-bf61-d7d080d5f4c1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h2>
"The Feast of Stonehenge and Beyond: Investigating Mobility in Late Neolithic Britain"</h2>
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<br />
<b>Seminar by Dr Richard Madgwick, Cardiff University </b><br />
<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Report by Ruaidhrí O Maolagáin</u><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Feasting of Stonehenge and Beyond<br />
The late Neolithic in Britain and Ireland was a period from around 3000-2200 BC. This time is seen as a transitional period due to the new scale of labour mobilisation which lead to the building of Irish passage tombs such as Knowth and Dowth, and Maeshowe in Britain. After the construction of the passage tombs came the building of circles and henge enclosures and in England there is a concentration of stone circles in Wessex. There are many circular enclosures across the landscape and most have a timber enclosure accompanied by a megalithic component which generally consists of a stone circle. It is not clear as to the specific function of such monuments and there is much debate on the topic. Some ideas suggest that they may have served as power centres of chiefdoms, as places for alliance formation and feasting or as part of a ceremonial landscape. The different monuments within a single site could each have had a separate significance such as one representing life and another death. It does seem clear that these sites were centres for people coming together even though the specific reason is unknown.<br />
At these type of sites lots of domestic animal remains turn up such as cows, pigs and sheep. At Durrington Walls such assemblages were found. However, 90% of this faunal assemblages consisted of pig remains. Lots of grooved ware pottery was also discovered and this represents the sharing of ideas and identity between Ireland and Britain at this time and little contact with Europe. Pottery fragments have the ability to retain the fats of the food which was processed in them in their fabric. Analysis of these fats can give information on the type of food which they contained. At ceremonial sites 40% of the vessels found had residue from pig processing but West Kennet palisade enclosure had 67%. At Durrington Walls there was only 27% of the pots having pig remains even though pigs made up 90% of the faunal assemblage. This difference leads to the question of how these pigs were being processed. TEM analysis was further used on the pig remains to give more information on the cooking practices. This method is not frequently used in studies. Some fibres showed evidence of heating, and this was probably from cooking directly over a fire. If the bone fibres showed no evidence of heating this was viewed as evidence for direct filleting of the meat off the bone. The results from this appear to coincide with the lipid analysis; some meat was cooked while some was filleted.<br />
<br />
At Durrington Walls house structures were found containing hearths. These houses were lightly built, so evidence for them could be hard to find and easily be destroyed by ploughing. These houses seem to have been only occupied for a period of about 40 year and it is unclear if this occupation was seasonal or constant. To give a clearer insight into the occupation pattern the teeth of pigs from the site were examined. Cement in pigs’ teeth develops in bands of light and dark material, and counting these bands can give the age of the animal. The outermost band represents the season in which the animal was killed. From this studies seem to show a winter occupation at the sight, but for this method to be reliable the animals would need to have had a similar diet and a tight birth range.<br />
The animals at these sites were not all locally bred. Some of the cattle from Durrington Walls were not from the area. At Stonehenge some local materials were used in its construction but the inner circle stones originated in the Preseli hills in Wales which is a long distance away. This opens the question of where the people who were visiting the sites were coming from. Isotope analysis was carried out on some animal remains from the site in an attempt to determine the location in which they were bred. One element used in this method is strontium. Different areas have different strontium values, and animals that live in a particular area will have the corresponding strontium value in their bones and teeth. Bones cannot be used in this sort of analysis as they are too porous and when buried they will take up the strontium value of the soil that they are contained in. teeth are less porous and preserve the life value better. In Durrington Walls cattle teeth were examined for their strontium values, and the results showed that only a small number of the cattle were local and some of these animals must have come from the northern England or Scotland. However, cattle remains only make up about 8% of the assemblage from this site.<br />
<br />
Pigs make up the majority of the assemblages at these type of sites so would be more reliable for studying. A number of different sites were chosen to see if any non-local pigs were present. Non-local were found at every site meaning that the teeth had not taken up the local strontium value, and therefore were uncontaminated. If every pig appeared to be local it could be assumed that the samples were contaminated. A multi isotope analysis was carried out on 132 pig remains, both mandibles and teeth, from Mount Pleasant, Durrington walls, Marden and West Kennet palisade enclosure. The isotopes used in the study were, Carbon 13, Strontium 87/86, Oxygen 18, Sulphur 34 and Nitrogen 15. The aims of this study was to find out if the pigs were supplied from a certain area, how they were raised and on what type of diet. The presence of C13 would indicate a marine food supply for the animals, whereas N15 would mean they were fed on meat. The study found a wide spread of carbon values suggesting that the pigs were not fed on a specific subscribed diet and that they fed from different environments. The food that was eaten was mostly plants and there was no marine input found. The samples from Mount Pleasant showed the widest range of pig distribution. At Durrington Walls some of the pigs appear to have been raised on forest fodder. This probably occurred because the large scale feasting on pigs required them to be raised on all available land types to meet the demand. Sulphur isotope levels above 14ppm indicate that an animal was raised close to the coast. At Durrington Walls 25% of the animals were raised at the coast even though the site is roughly 56km from the sea. The other sites also showed a high percentage of costal animals. Durrington Walls had the largest amount of local pigs, with Mount Pleasant also appearing to have had a local stock. Out of the 132 pigs sampled only 10 of them are local to the area in which they were found. The local range was defined by the biosphere data of the area. Cluster analysis showed that the pigs came from 27 different regions but this is probably an underestimation. Two of the pigs might have come from the South West of Ireland. It is difficult to match the isotope readings to specific areas and the resolution of it is relatively low.<br />
<br />
Pigs were very popular feasting animals and this could be for a number of different reasons. Pork meat preserves well and it is quick and easy to obtain the meat. A large number of pigs can also be killed at once, as pigs have large litters the numbers can quickly be replenished and so only a few need to be kept. Pigs may have been regarded as high status animals since they do not produce any secondary products such as milk or wool. It appears that the pigs were brought alive to the sites and then killed there. At some of the sites the pigs have pieces of flint in them that suggest that the pigs were shot with an arrow to be killed. This method of killing may have some ritual significance that is unknown.<br />
<br />
The pigs at these sites were brought long distances from all across the British Islands. The animals used in the feasting were raised on a wide variety of different landscapes and diets meaning that no particular method of raising was required. Isotope analysis gives some indication to the regions that the animals originated from but the resolution is quite low and the method still has a long way to go. At all the sites there is the deliberate practice of bringing your own pig to the place instead of buying one when you arrive, but the significance of this is yet unknown.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-66016892818868768092015-11-23T10:42:00.000-08:002015-11-23T10:42:48.598-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"Cyborg Smiths: Bone, Stone, Metal and Memory in Early Medieval Britain"</i></h2>
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<h3>
Inaugural Seminar by Professor Howard Williams, University of Chester</h3>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<u>Report by Emily Mooney</u></div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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The Archaeology Society was delighted to receive Professor Howard Williams of the University of Chester to present the topic of smithing in early medieval Britain for the annual Inaugural Seminar, which took place on Thursday, the 5th November 2015. Professor Williams' work focusing on death, memory and materiality in early medieval Europe has made a significant and influential impact in his field. The material for his lecture on the night was sourced from his own current and ongoing research into the concept of the early medieval smith and the character's associations with places by means of connecting facts with stories.</div>
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<div>
In his talk he discussed the dynamic interplay between the elements of the smithing process and how it could be construed as an elite way of life. Within his research he has singled out four key areas of focus - word smiths and artisans; carving smiths; bone, stone and landscape; and holy smiths. In the first area he discussed the subject of the mythical smith Weland and his supposed depiction on the Volund Stones and also on Frank's casket, in which he seems an anti-hero, depicted as a man of power and violence through the act of smithing. The second area of study Professor Williams presented to the audience is the idea of how Weland is again depicted on carvings as a cyborg figure, a manipulator of bodies and materials to suit his purposes. The next are of focus was on the connections between bone, stone and the landscape - the archaeology of smithing within the landscape, with emphasis on the monument known as Weland's Smithy located on the Lancashire Ridgeway, moving away from the archaeologies of metalworking and elite metal objects. He also discussed the corporeality of skeletal remains fond at Weland's smithy - could they be the remains of Weland himself, or they were the bones of his victims or they were even Weland's treasure constructed himself. The setting in which Weland's smithy is to be found is indicative of ceremonial activities that took place there. The final area of discussion for the lecture was on the topic of holy smithing sites and how they were infused into a Christian monastic landscape. </div>
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<div>
The lecture was concluded with the question of the role the smith played in the imagination and the mythical landscape and the nature of the role and power of the smith among elite society. Overall the society's inaugural lecture for 2015/2016 was a great success and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who attended on the night. Best wishes to Professor Williams and no doubt the school will welcome him back before too long.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-77980873405259140872015-11-22T12:31:00.000-08:002015-11-22T12:31:37.025-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"'Eavedrip' Graves and the Treatment of Infant Burials in Early Christian England" </i></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Seminar by Dr Elizabeth Craig-Atkins</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u>Report by Claire Hyland</u></div>
<br />
The lecture given by Dr. Elizabeth Craig-Atkins from the University of Sheffield was on the topic of infant burial customs in Early Christian England and how the Eave-Drip graves of infants may have been considered a form of posthumous baptism in a world of high infant mortality. Throughout Early Christian England, centered on the 7th-12th centuries, infant burials were often found clustered around the walls of churches. It has been suggested that by placing the infant burials near to the eaves of churches, it was hoped that the rain water that flowed down the roof would be sanctified by its contact with the church and would drench the infant burials in posthumous baptism, thereby ensuring a guaranteed place in heaven for the very young who perished early in life. Such burials usually revolve around infants under 1 year and who were stillborn or died soon after birth.<br />
Throughout the lecture, Dr. Craig-Atkins stressed the importance of viewing the Eave-Drip in its proper historical context in order to fully understand how and why such burial sites were utilised especially for infants. She stated that studies of childhood in archaeology have the potential to focus on explorations of the life course of an early medieval child and its significance. Despite the evidence that very young children were treated differently in funerary customs, the topic has not received enough archaeological attention. In the early medieval period, infants were often buried in unusual locations and burial forms. The Dorchester Roman town house (4th-5th A.D.) is such an example. In osteological data, assessment of age at death is very accurate (the exception being stillborns or those who died shortly after birth) although telling the gender of an infant is incredibly difficult to determine without the use of DNA. Such assertions are based on dental data, epiphyseal fusion and bone length.<br />
<br />
In Raunds Furnell’s hypothesis on the treatment of infant burials in early medieval England, he discovered that children under two years were often buried close to the church and that such a practise originated in the 11th century. He referred to such burials as ‘Eave-Drip Graves’ and noted that the infant burials were clustered around 1.5m within the church walls and that most were under a year old with Hereford, Pontefract and Spofforth being examples. However, the theory of eave-drip burials has received criticism. Recovery bias such as the failure to properly identify juvenile bones and a lack of a satisfactory explanation behind spatial patterning has been cited as to elucidate non-ritual explanations for the phenomenon of eave-drip burials. Taphonomy, which states that infants are often buried in smaller, shallower graves than adults and that selective preservation will often leave only certain remains behind, is suggested as an alternative to eave-drip graves. However these factors, as Dr. Craig-Atkins notes, only take into consideration preservation which does not create eaves-drips patterns. Demographic factors, such as peaks in infant mortality and there being few examples of multiple eaves-drip burials, may explain their quantity but not their unusual location in the early medieval churchyards.<br />
<br />
Eaves-drip burials are seen as a further reinforcement of the baptism ritual and to ensure that the unlucky infants receive a place in heaven. Although early Christian writers are extremely poor at documenting funerary rites and the relevance of baptism was questioned at times, baptism was important enough for the county of Wessex in 640 A.D to pass a law insisting that all infants over 30 days be baptised. Regarding infant burials there seems to be a broad cultural distinction between infants and older children especially in regards to speech and independence. Rites of passage associated with children seem to have been the advent of speech, limited independence and the cessation of breastfeeding all of which occur around the age of two. Were children who passed the age of two therefore considered to be more valuable in terms of how they were buried? Is there a connection between the onset of speech in children and the alteration in funerary patterns? Were eave-drip burials reflections of an early Christian community attempting to echo negative connotations on the deaths of very young children? All in all, the subject of infant burials in early medieval England is fascinating, engaging and justly deserves more research and analysis with regard to its archaeological value.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-27489052617009460642015-11-01T13:27:00.000-08:002015-11-01T13:27:25.735-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
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<h2>
UCD Archaeology Society International Trip Information</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Prague 10th – 15th January</h4>
Research done to accommodate a group of 28 people for 6 day/5 night period<br />
For further information or to book a place contact<br />
archaeology.soc@gmail.com<br />
<br />
<br />
€20 deposit is required when booking a place.<br />
<h4>
<br />Flights:</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
*Flights to be booked and paid for by each individual person*<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Dublin to Prague: FR7326</li>
<li>Departing Dublin at 13:40 - Arriving in Prague at 17:05</li>
<li>Prague to Dublin: FR7327</li>
<li>Departing Prague at 17:30 - Arriving in Dublin at 19:10</li>
<li>Cost without check in baggage: €67.98</li>
<li>*Flight prices will vary slightly depending on when they are booked. The</li>
<li>sooner they are booked, the cheaper they will be*</li>
<li>Source of information: ryanair.com</li>
<li>Also the option of flying with Aer Lingus for €98 at roughly the same time.</li>
<li>Check Aer Lingus for details.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>
<br /></h3>
<h4>
Public Transport:</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>No Metro to/from the airport, service only by bus.</li>
<li>Metro runs on 3 different lines (map below) from 4:45</li>
<li>am to 12:00am at 1 -3 minute intervals. </li>
</ul>
<h3>
Useful Metro Vocab:</h3>
<ul>
<li>eskalátor - escalator</li>
<li>linka (A, B, C) - line (A, B, C)</li>
<li>metro - subway</li>
<li>estup - transfer</li>
<li>stanice metra - subway station</li>
<li>trasa - route</li>
<li>vstup - entrance</li>
<li>výstup - exit</li>
</ul>
<br />Cost: Single 30 minute journey ticket: 24 CZK/ €0.90 – cost of public transport will be covered in the tourist card.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MJIBzWYeaqpInqXWvhjvKkAQZ3TxLBSHRtSFqTOP19UrXT9noxZvZJ-yAEmm-JRpTDEYwsBPrp8Iacp0VPgbsQwjOucltuct7LNPz5oXZCaKNZ1PZPQELCnYo5Sep78gub7XgH0pVzJc/s1600/metro.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MJIBzWYeaqpInqXWvhjvKkAQZ3TxLBSHRtSFqTOP19UrXT9noxZvZJ-yAEmm-JRpTDEYwsBPrp8Iacp0VPgbsQwjOucltuct7LNPz5oXZCaKNZ1PZPQELCnYo5Sep78gub7XgH0pVzJc/s640/metro.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<h4>
Accommodation: Fusion Hotel:</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Located:</h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li>50m to the Wenceslaw Square</li>
<li>50m from Můstek metro, line A,B,</li>
<li>30m to the nearest tram stop</li>
<li>850m to the Old Town Square</li>
<li>450m to the Main Railway Station</li>
<li>10km to the airport.</li>
<li>From the airport:</li>
<li>The bus costs cca 60 CZK and it takes</li>
<li>total cca 30-40 min to get to the hotel.</li>
<li>Bus AE to main station</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Facilities:</h3>
<ul>
<li>4 person Flexi Room ensuite (7 rooms) –</li>
<li>Single Beds</li>
<li>Breakfast included.</li>
<li>Private bar and club</li>
<li>Restaurant</li>
<li>Ensuite bedrooms</li>
<li>Free wifi</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><u>Cost: €125 per person for the 5 night stay</u></b><br />
<b><u>100% of the payment to be paid 3 weeks before arrival</u></b><br />
For more information: http://fusionhotels.com/<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Prague Tourist Card:</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>A sightseeing pass</li>
<li>Visit a number of sites including: Prague Castle, world-class Jewish Museum, Old Townhall and Petřín Tower etc</li>
<li>Entry to 50 different attractions free of charge</li>
<li>Discounts to 30+ more attractions, restaurants, pubs, etc.</li>
<li>In addition gives you unlimited access to the City Public Transport</li>
<li>Saves up to €60 per person</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>
Cost for 4 day card:</h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li>€47 student up to the age of 26</li>
<li>€65 adult</li>
<li>Can be purchased at the airport</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Other:</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Weather: expected to be between 1 and minus 1 degrees on average so please do bring warm clothes and waterproof walking shoes as snow is expected</li>
<li>Money: Czech Republic don't use Euro but use Krona. Exchange rate is roughly €1 = 330 czk</li>
<li>Can be exchanged over there at a special rate with the tourist card, however I would recommend exchanging money before we depart.</li>
<li>If you plan to use your bank cards, check that there's no bank charges.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Provisional Agenda</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b><u>Day 1: 10th January 2016: Arrival day</u></b><br />
.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>13:40: Depart Dublin Terminal 1</li>
<li>17:05: Arrive in Prague Airport</li>
<li>17:20: Gather group in arrivals and head to hotel</li>
<li>Check into hotel and allocate rooms.</li>
<li>Evening Free</li>
</ol>
<br />
<b><u>Day 2: 11th January 2016.</u></b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>10:00: Meeting in Hotel Lobby</li>
<li>10:45: Historical Prague Bus Tour</li>
<li>2 hour bus tour taking in the sites of Old and New Town Prague. Picks up and drops of in Old Town Square.</li>
<li>12:45: Break for Lunch</li>
<li>14:00: Prague Castle Tour B: Circuit B includes Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, The Golden Lane, The Powder Tower, St. Vitus Cathedral, St. Wenceslas Cathedral. Closes at 16:00 during the Winter</li>
<li>16:00: Return to Hotel</li>
<li>Evening Free</li>
</ol>
<br />
<b><u>Day 3: 12th January 2016.</u></b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>9:00: Meeting in Hotel Lobby</li>
<li>9:30: Old Tower Hall and Tower, Astronomical Clock and Tower</li>
<li>11:30: Jewish Museum and Synagogue</li>
<li>12:30: Break for Lunch</li>
<li>13:00: Kinsky Palace and St. Agnes Convent</li>
<li>15:00: Panoramic boat cruise </li>
<li>Evening Free.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<u><b>Day 4: 13th January 2016.</b></u><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>10:00: Meeting in Hotel Lobby</li>
<li>10:30: National Museum and Prague City Museum</li>
<li>13:00: Break for Lunch</li>
<li>14:00: Troja Chateau and Veletrzni Palace</li>
<li>16:00: Head back to Hotel</li>
<li>Evening Free</li>
</ol>
<br />
<b><u>Day 5: 14th January 2016.</u></b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Day Trip to Tábor</li>
<li>Times to be confirmed</li>
</ol>
<br />
<u><b>Day 6: 15th January 2016: Departure Day</b></u><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>10:30: Check out of hotel</li>
<li>Afternoon free</li>
<li>14:00: Regroup at hotel and head to airport</li>
<li>17:30: Fly out of Prague Airport</li>
<li>19:10: Arrive in Dublin T1</li>
<li>And then you’re free.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<h4>
Breakdown of costs per person (before subsidized):</h4>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Flights (to be booked individually: €68</li>
<li>Hotel for 5 nights: €125</li>
<li>Prague tourist card: €47</li>
<li>Total: €240</li>
<li>I’ve applied for a grant and hope knock this down to €160 - 180 all inclusive.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Please keep an eye on the emails for updates. Any questions please do<br />
contact archaeology.soc@gmail.com or catriona.baldwin@ucdconnect.ie<br />
Any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. I’d be happy to help.<br />
All the best,<br />
<u><b><i>Catríona.</i></b></u><br />
<u><b><i>(Auditor).</i></b></u>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-34637122391654765002015-10-27T14:07:00.001-07:002015-10-27T14:08:19.658-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
<i><br /></i></h2>
<h2>
<i><br /></i></h2>
<h2>
<i>"The Amesbury archer- Migration and Knowledge in the Copper Age"</i></h2>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<h3>
Seminar by Dr Andrew Fitzpatrick</h3>
<br />
<u>Report by Emily Glynn-Farrell</u><br />
<br />
<br />
On the 15th of October 2015 the society Welcomed Dr. Andrew Fitzpatrick of the University of Leicester for a seminar on 'The Amesbury Archer-Migration and Knowledge in the Copper Age'. This seminar discussed the discovery of the Amesbury archer near Stonehenge in Wessex, the movement of Bell-beaker people throughout Europe and the characteristics of their material culture.<br />
Dr. Fitzpatrick began by giving us an introduction to the copper age in Europe. This is the beginning of Metallurgy using mostly copper and pure gold. This is the period of the Bell-beaker people. The bell-beaker culture originated in Europe in around 4500 years ago. It was a short-lived cultural phenomenon, only lasting a couple of hundred years, and most of our evidence for Bell-beaker people comes from burials. These burials mostly consisted of males and we have very little evidence of bell-beaker settlements.<br />
<br />
The name 'Bell-Beaker' related to the form of pottery typical of the culture. These pots are often found in a burial context alongside other materials such as amber, jet beads and button, arrowheads and gold objects. The gold is quite significant because it is in bell beaker graves that we find the first appearances of gold ornamentation. Diadems and other temple-located head ornaments were most common and most likely displayed the status of the individual.<br />
Bell-Beaker people were widely distributed in Europe. In areas around Iberia, the earliest evidence for Bell-beaker activity is around 2600-2200 BC. In Britain, it's around 2375 BC that the culture emerges. Though there is some local variation, bell-beaker culture is classified by a number of standard finds. This gives the culture a homogeneity accross Europe and demonstrated contact despite long distances.<br />
<br />
The graves of bell-beaker people often show regional variation, evident in both grave goods and in the type of grave itself. In Eastern Europe and the UK, single inhumation burials are most common. In Iberia, parts of France and Ireland, collective burials were favoured.<br />
The Amesbury Archer himself was found in Wessex near to some of the most important Neolithic monuments in England. Excavation of the archer came after an accidental discovery of material during the excavation of a Roman cemetery. The first finds to hint that a grave different to Roman burials might be located in the area was a gold ornament which Dr. Fitzpatrick recognised usually came in pairs.<br />
<br />
In total almost 100 objects were found on and around the body. The Amesbury archer was placed in a semi-foetal position on his left hand side. He was about 30-45 years old at the age of death and most likely an individual of high status. Isotopic analysis has revealed that the archer grew up in a colder place than Britain but excluding Scandinavia, as the beaker culture was no earlier than Britain in that area. Dr. Fitzpatrick believes that the man was originally a native of an Alpine region before Journeying to Britain.<br />
<br />
There is a debate as to how Bell-beaker individuals came into England. Some scholars theorise that people would have journeyed up the Rhine and across the Channel. Dr. Fitzpatrick is sceptical of this narrative. He suggested that the line of contact went through the south and west. I.E. through France and Spain.<br />
<br />
The burial of the Amesbury Archer was rich with goods. Some of the finds were 3 copper daggers, several gold objects, and stones relating to metalworking among other objects. This is the most elaborate bell-beaker grave in Europe to date. Dr. Fitzpatrick's research of other bell-beaker graves brought up comparable finds in Germany. In Germany, the idea of such a richness of objects associated with a high status burial also seems likely. This model correlates with the Amesbury Archer's grave.<br />
<br />
A year later, another series of graves were found nearby. These were known as the Boscome Bowmen. The burials were of at least 7 individuals, mostly male and with unsexed children and no certain females. The remains were disrupted by road works and electricity cables which meant that whilst a pelvis and leg bones were found in a certain individual grave, the other bones were in a jumbled mess.<br />
<br />
The skulls of the bowmen show a possible familial connection. At the very least, we can deduce that they were closely related. In terms of grave goods, these burials were not as wealthy as the Amesbury archer. There were 3 individuals that were eligible for isotopic analysis. The results show that these individuals led a nomadic life and moved from place to place over 10 years. Definitively, these people were not from Wessex. Possibly they originated in Wales, Brittany, Germany, France or Iberia but unfortunately, unlike the Amesbury Archer, it was difficult to speculate.<br />
Dr. Fitzpatrick concluded by attempting to place these burials within a bigger picture. The burials suggest that bell-beaker peoples migrated rather than the idea transferring. The graves also fit into a wider, pan-European copper age tradition. Whilst we can see a clear difference in material culture with the coming of these people, we struggle to see in the record other changes such as settlements and temples.<br />
<br />
Dr. Fitzpatrick stressed that bell-beaker cultures could not have thrived as they did without interacting peacefully with local cultures. They probably wouldn't have had the access to metals and other materials without help and guidance from indigenous communities. So any ideas of bell-beaker isolation are unreliable except in terms of the culture of the people themselves.<br />
Questions of how people travelled at this time are still unanswered and may never be answered. Could they have known were they were going? Did families travel in groups? Did they intend to return? It is difficult to speculate. What we do know is that there does not seem to be one single homeland for the bell-beaker people.<br />
<br />
In conclusion, Dr. Fitzpatrick demonstrated that the discovery of the Amesbury Archer has a much wider significance than just relating to Stonehenge, England and Britain. Whilst we still don't know how he reacted with indigenous communities or how he came to Wessex, what we do know can shed a light on bell-beaker people and their spread in Europe and inform us further of the culture's rich material heritage.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-44760336768286808272015-10-27T13:04:00.000-07:002015-10-27T13:04:29.619-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
<br /></h2>
<h2>
<i>"Plants and people in Mesolithic and Neolithic Scotland"</i></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Seminar by Dr Rosie Bishop, Durham University </h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u>Report by Laura Cawley</u></div>
<br />
This seminar focused on continuity and change in the study of plants and people in Mesolithic and Neolithic Scotland, using archaeobotanical synthesis as a source. Plants are an important source of information in the archaeological record, and can inform us on areas such as past subsistence, for example. Plant remains are the most direct source of information for human plant use, and can show local and regional variation of plant use.<br />
There are a variety of reasons which led to Scotland being chosen for this research. It is the furthest North-Western point in Europe. It was the last area in this region to develop agriculturally. It has a variety of environments, from lowlands and highlands to islands. These are very diverse and challenging environments for the transition to agriculture, and led to variability in agriculture.<br />
The traditional view of these periods is that a hunter-gatherer society was typical of the Mesolithic, which spans from circa 8600-4000 cal. BC, while a farming society was typical of the Neolithic, which spans from 4000-2500 cal. BC. It is taken that the transition between these two periods was an abrupt period of change during the early Neolithic.<br />
<br />
This view is increasingly challenged due to evidence of Mesolithic fire ecology, pruning and the management of crops and plants to benefit society. This was done for reasons such as attracting wildlife and to encourage beneficial plants to grow. The management of hazel and oak for food and fuel may have been unintentional or may have been intentional coppicing. The large instance of hazelnut shells at what were most likely seasonal camps may also indicate some large food stores.<br />
Isotopic evidence shows rapid economic change at the start of the Neolithic. At the end of the Mesolithic a marine diet dominated, while at the Neolithic this changed to a terrestrially-based diet. This shows the huge impact farming had on Neolithic society.<br />
<br />
Stevens and Fuller believe there was a late Neolithic decline, in which cereal agriculture declined rapidly, and was replaced with pastoralism. They argue that this is due to climatic deterioration. However, there is evidence of an increase in cereal agriculture in the islands surrounding Scotland. It is unlikely that this would happen if it was not also occurring on the mainland.<br />
There was a late Neolithic shift in agriculture, as wheat farming became less common and was replaced by increased barley farming. This was most likely due to the wetter climate which was better suited to barley production. This change was also evident in southern Scandinavia and England. Other crops were also abandoned in favour of those better suited to the wetter climate, which indicates that this change was climatically driven. However, there are also theories that this was due to a lack of access to certain types of cereals.<br />
<br />
In conclusion, there is evidence of the routine and systematic exploitation of plants in the Mesolithic, which is specially shown through hazelnut remains. Cereals were important in the Neolithic, although wild plants were still used. The presence of hazelnut at most sites indicates that plants were routinely and systematically exploited in the Mesolithic. Hazelnut shells may show evidence of large instances of seasonal storage. Sophisticated plant management strategies such as coppicing may have been used. The management of plants played an important role in Mesolithic and Neolithic societies, although more so in the Neolithic, while the reverse is true for the use of wild plants.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-51696039442536226862015-10-05T11:10:00.000-07:002015-10-05T11:10:33.786-07:00<br />
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<h2>
<br /></h2>
<h2>
<i>“Dublin – Dead Centre of the Viking West?”</i></h2>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<h3>
Second Seminar by Dr Stephen Harrison from University of Glasgow, given on 1st October 2015</h3>
<div>
<u><br /></u></div>
<div>
<u>Report by Catríona Baldwin</u></div>
<br />
<br />
Was Medieval Dublin the conscience core of the Viking world? This was the question posed to us by Dr. Stephen Harrison on Thursday evening. Following the highly anticipated publication of his project “The Viking Graves Project”, after some fifteen years in the working, Dr. Harrison held the attention of a teeming crowd as he passionately spoke about his project. While informing us of the details of the project, Dr. Harrison also accentuated the variety of hidden issues and problems with the collection and scrutinizing of the materials available for use. Although problems with the antiquarian tradition of recording and preservation data was not unique to Ireland, the Royal Irish Academy’s methods of the documentation of Viking Graves left a lot to be desired. Records of the Viking Grave objects were not only limited but were frequently contradictory, with references being mixed up or not registered at all. For example, a sword unearthed in College Green was given four separate registration numbers. In order to overcome these issues, acquisition groups, based on location and dates, were established and in time were further filtered down to distinguish artefacts from each other within these assemblages. By doing this, it was then applicable to work out the minimum amount of Viking Graves in Ireland, an objective that had never been achievable prior to the project.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The outcome of these acquisition groups was astonishing. From 63 acquisition groups, collectively composed of 401 artefacts, it was arbitrated that there are 107 Viking burials in Ireland. Furthermore, it was also determined that of these 107 burials, three quarters of all furnished Viking graves and four fifths of all Irish Viking grave goods are from Dublin and even more curiously over half of all Irish furnished Viking graves are linked to Kilmainham – Islandbridge. In addition to this, the project enabled the ability to effectively map out the burial complexes in order to further analyse any distinctive patterns. This led to the questioning as to whether or not Dublin was in fact the centre of the Viking Western world.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxPFoljJ7ZmY5crefmObq6qPuhlGlwaAUbv0xtqjVnElQonNwCPWZk4pLMZ9Y4GXWOO3BbB2GkaT1EqxlJRYNL-yaw4Cn_w2dADQLX0t53Jo6i7UGrHYNtrAz67Kxo_rvygiwG-2AcVIL/s1600/Harrison+picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxPFoljJ7ZmY5crefmObq6qPuhlGlwaAUbv0xtqjVnElQonNwCPWZk4pLMZ9Y4GXWOO3BbB2GkaT1EqxlJRYNL-yaw4Cn_w2dADQLX0t53Jo6i7UGrHYNtrAz67Kxo_rvygiwG-2AcVIL/s400/Harrison+picture+1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fig 1: Viking Burial Sites at Dublin. © National Museum of Ireland. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
In order to answer this question, Dr. Harrison examined the diversity and distributional patterns of Viking burials between Ireland and the insular British Isles. He uncovered that 21% of all Insular Viking graves and 29% of all Viking grave goods found throughout Ireland and Britain, are found in Dublin. This arises the question as to whether or not this is simply caused by a statistical blip and other Viking complexes around Ireland have yet to be located. Dr. Harrison made the compelling argument that due to the scale and extent of these Irish Viking burial complexes that this interpretation simply isn’t plausible and that location of Viking burials is deliberately concentrated in Dublin. In conjunction with this, Dr. Harrison, drawing upon the work of Neil Price, also acknowledged the unconventionally and uniqueness of Irish Viking graves and the rituals that appear to accompany these graves. Not only did Kilmainham-Islandbridge produce the largest number of balances in either Britain or Ireland, but was one of the prime locations where weapons were consciously destroyed beyond any repair. Predominately in the central zone (Kilmainham-Islandbridge) were weapons deliberately bent, damaged or cremated as part of a carefully controlled ritual. This is perceived to be interconnected with the ideology that weapons, and in particular swords, are symbols of male dominance and power with Viking burials often being furnished with more weapons than one individuals could comfortably carry.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In addition to this, the distinction of Irish Viking weapons from that of the rest of the Viking world further exhibits the uniqueness of Irish Viking Burials. Not only were Irish Viking swords more elaborately decorated than their continental counterparts but other weapons, such as Dublin type Spearheads are found nowhere else in the Viking world. Smaller in size than traditional Scandinavian spearheads, the Dublin Type with its decorated rimmed sockets, was used primarily for throwing rather than for stabbing. Similarly Dublin type shield bosses were equally exclusive to Ireland. Found closely clustered, the shield bosses are believed to have originated from a single workshop, signifying localised metal production in Ireland.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPK0SOqiH5fmGm35hjGXKZUB72E8nlR_snV4VDBtW6M8zETR3twFjE57pdoBtN3OQsycsYtkflST_UK7gZZ1pVcHY8X5ro5mB5MPdXpOJSrSdhi1TfzUJKHv7_r9ltXAgDHg1TthaZOigo/s1600/harrison+picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPK0SOqiH5fmGm35hjGXKZUB72E8nlR_snV4VDBtW6M8zETR3twFjE57pdoBtN3OQsycsYtkflST_UK7gZZ1pVcHY8X5ro5mB5MPdXpOJSrSdhi1TfzUJKHv7_r9ltXAgDHg1TthaZOigo/s320/harrison+picture+2.png" width="268" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWroimvD26pSw6pXkvOA8DfHINA34xqlele-Tl1DnvXRXX1uzG05sNzvXcLuCx_IT6U6f39-i6fIbXsqCbsirfw2X-YUWUMTBNXuFtopvcmZxcQcA7oP9gNdNz-hg88NjOH4diLmXLwk5/s1600/harrison+picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWroimvD26pSw6pXkvOA8DfHINA34xqlele-Tl1DnvXRXX1uzG05sNzvXcLuCx_IT6U6f39-i6fIbXsqCbsirfw2X-YUWUMTBNXuFtopvcmZxcQcA7oP9gNdNz-hg88NjOH4diLmXLwk5/s1600/harrison+picture+3.png" /></a><br />
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<br />
Although male Viking graves are not stereotypical of traditional male Viking burials, female graves do not express this level of local identity and in fact are routinely identical to their eastern equivalent. This has led rise to a number of questions. Were female Viking graves more conservative than male graves, again tying in with this question of male dominance and power, or were the female graves trying to preserve a Scandinavian identity which was otherwise being rapidly assimilated into Irish society?<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The question as to if Dublin really was the dead centre of the Viking west still remains a topic for debate. However as Dr. Harrison points out that regardless of the direction in which you approach Dublin you will undoubtfully pass a Viking burial complex. Not only are these complexes mapping out Viking Dublin but are also gallant expressions of a formidable community. We wish Dr. Harrison all the best with his book and further projects and once again thank him for coming and delivering a fascinating talk.<br />
<div>
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<div>
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<div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-37777769066004890292015-09-30T13:57:00.000-07:002015-09-30T13:58:51.267-07:00<h2>
</h2>
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<h2>
<i>"How the Ancient Irish Destroyed Egyptian Civilisation"</i></h2>
<div>
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<h3>
First Seminar by Dr Barry Molloy from University College Dublin, given on the 24th September 2015</h3>
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<u>Report by Laura Cawley</u><br />
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The truth is, the ancient Irish did not destroy Egyptian civilisation. This seminar focused on how extensive the transcultural phenomena were that extended across Europe, and investigated how such phenomena may have originated and spread across Europe. It explored issues such as religious symbolism, focusing mainly from the period 1200-1000 BC.<br />
In the early twentieth century, archaeologists such as Childe used directional diffusionism in archaeological explanation. Ex oriente lux and binary oppositions such as civilisation and barbarianism were used to explain archaeological cultures.<br />
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Today archaeologists have very different opinions on what Bronze Age life in Europe and the Mediterranean was like. Harding believes it was a period of local traditions with selective interconnections, while Kristiansen sees it as the ‘EU without the Red Tape’.<br />
There is certainly evidence of cross-cultural links in this period, such as in the area of religious symbolism. One example of this is the sun wheel, which is a prominent feature of European prehistory. This symbol has been found in areas such as Ireland, Turkey, Sweden, Egypt, and many others. Sun symbolism was an integral feature of the period, with examples ranging from Early to Middle Bronze Age gold sun discs to sun symbolism evident on the base of Early Bronze Age pots in Atlantic Europe. It has also been found in the chariot wheels of the Indo-Europeans in the late third or early second millennium BC. Perhaps the most famous chariot which bears this symbol is the Trondheim chariot. This symbolism is evident in many other forms as well, including rock art, jewellery, shields, bridles, leg armour and helmets.<br />
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Shields in the Bronze Age world are another medium through which transcultural phenomena are evident. Examples from Iberia and North Western Europe were of similar v-notch forms, both from early dates. Those from Delphi in Greece and Clonbrin in Ireland are also of a v-notch form, as are examples from Denmark and the Czech Republic. There is evidence to support the development of such shields in Atlantic Europe, and their subsequent spread to central Europe.<br />
Spearheads are another medium through which transcultural phenomena can be seen. Spearheads of a typology similar to Bronze Age European examples were found in Mycenaean Europe. These were copies of Bronze Age spears and were not functional, but show the importance of the symbolism of the Bronze Age, as it was still evident four hundred years later. This symbolism played an active role in identity religion.<br />
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Apollo was a key figure in Bronze Age religion, and is seen as a voyager between archaeological worlds. He is the only Olympian deity not mentioned in Linear B, and is sometimes confused with Helios. He is the only god whose worship place (Delphi) closed for a month each year. Apollo was introduced from beyond the Mycenaean world after its collapse. Common attributes and derivations of deities are widely shared in Bronze Age religion, as is evident from Apollo.<br />
Bronze Age society collapsed in the Eastern Mediterranean circa 1200 BC. This was due to the invasion of the Sea Peoples. Representations of the boats of these peoples at Medinet Habu seem to indicate boats of Aegean or Danubian style. They may have been a European type, or a derivative thereof. Representations of boats found in Greece, Central Europe and Sweden show similar boats. This indicates a spread of people and ideas.<br />
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In conclusion, the Irish did not destroy Egyptian civilisation but the study of the transcultural phenomena across Bronze Age Europe and the Mediterranean have revealed clear linkages between the civilisations of these areas. Studying this with the balance between technology, ideology, and physical mobility kept in mind allows these phenomena to be more clearly seen. Morphometric or taxonomic approaches need a more central role in this study, as well as the up to now dominant typo-chronological approaches. Such study has revealed increased prosperity in Europe and the collapse of the Mediterranean at a time when long-established relationships were more visible. However, unknown parties did assassinate Ramses III by cutting his throat in the mid-twelfth century, leading to the fall of Egypt soon after…<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-64570747373900233572015-07-02T06:52:00.000-07:002015-07-02T06:52:57.064-07:00Etruscan Tombs, Tuscany, Italy<br />
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Tuscany, Italy</h2>
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Here are some beautiful shots taken by our third year student Paul MacNamara during his visit to Tuscany, Italy. These photos are of Etruscan tombs, the Etruscans were a society prevalent in north-central Italy by the 8th Century BC. The Etruscan settlement pictured in these photographs was called Dometaia, just outside of the village of Colle di Val d'Else, on the way to Volteria. </div>
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One tomb had an entrance hall and six rooms, with a shelf for the ossuaries. The other tomb was circular.</div>
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Below six photographs of rectangular tomb with six rooms</h4>
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Below six photographs of circular tomb</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EwibnNWvB6VZE2o0UPZv95CE3vPEsfnQqdf0xCkZy_pith_YWRvJJHVxWoYaUJ30eJkMVGL_WRdybpM2uOgslB9jDlPKdM-7JqXYSEcxZmiQ4so53feQsEGXDyn2ud62IxyhkwH7J39x/s1600/IMG_1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EwibnNWvB6VZE2o0UPZv95CE3vPEsfnQqdf0xCkZy_pith_YWRvJJHVxWoYaUJ30eJkMVGL_WRdybpM2uOgslB9jDlPKdM-7JqXYSEcxZmiQ4so53feQsEGXDyn2ud62IxyhkwH7J39x/s200/IMG_1714.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mf0YLaUT4kGwg94exDBUAzzVDN1-zQ8b7JHx33ZXkR8vd6LuODNVbA1e-GgKrKHYs926qogl6pDO4s4mCv7MXGJCsFZxQ9NZ2ACVUUYslCXmOK6JuJBewJN5mXHGDDV0pEH0XbrqmYWW/s1600/IMG_1713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mf0YLaUT4kGwg94exDBUAzzVDN1-zQ8b7JHx33ZXkR8vd6LuODNVbA1e-GgKrKHYs926qogl6pDO4s4mCv7MXGJCsFZxQ9NZ2ACVUUYslCXmOK6JuJBewJN5mXHGDDV0pEH0XbrqmYWW/s200/IMG_1713.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASdX9CBDPDKnMYedYcOGlD9FHyWKm_0OOl77wQgQVTDbuWy1DaM0mhEcZBLR0yDqF6h7aDJ4_W3wlv0dg4vzTCJcAdLarQmC1dBA5uZCBNOENh7LT2yOVH94kK7-X8BXZCobTl9W84IjR/s1600/IMG_1712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASdX9CBDPDKnMYedYcOGlD9FHyWKm_0OOl77wQgQVTDbuWy1DaM0mhEcZBLR0yDqF6h7aDJ4_W3wlv0dg4vzTCJcAdLarQmC1dBA5uZCBNOENh7LT2yOVH94kK7-X8BXZCobTl9W84IjR/s200/IMG_1712.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AIDlF_MS9oeztnZBFhxifogtjr4hnEnMTY3dDFp8BiqteICopSkvRt0koWJE0aQMq3hIT1MvQpIKWm7LevDGabMXfBe7xZf8isuGXx07hQ9SJXKZjEjBL4C5wn0jtBdq8YsWYktmCZS5/s1600/IMG_1709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxMEeg8FNq0MtTCGXmYliLJG562900dxTvvPc6Fa5Ro5u9D1-DnSga64XgjhbaGGB6DSGgZIFBbTfSLXvRMAw2nlKHaIId0v-j3e9X4Cm7lTPgBbXJwF-oPZsPXXX4fP_A-h5OCEh3coW/s1600/IMG_1706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxMEeg8FNq0MtTCGXmYliLJG562900dxTvvPc6Fa5Ro5u9D1-DnSga64XgjhbaGGB6DSGgZIFBbTfSLXvRMAw2nlKHaIId0v-j3e9X4Cm7lTPgBbXJwF-oPZsPXXX4fP_A-h5OCEh3coW/s200/IMG_1706.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AIDlF_MS9oeztnZBFhxifogtjr4hnEnMTY3dDFp8BiqteICopSkvRt0koWJE0aQMq3hIT1MvQpIKWm7LevDGabMXfBe7xZf8isuGXx07hQ9SJXKZjEjBL4C5wn0jtBdq8YsWYktmCZS5/s200/IMG_1709.JPG" width="200" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17wSahc4fUQdY3GTZyP8ReN525Cvq-qVVeJVAgDaMTEsRv_5SQjPij84UYrv4Qp8DmCJvEb5k-DdbRB9kOf0khPtr3Ow8LO2s-8AgYZObrismzcWSIVwcc_JkkYsftaVwLc70HQZWyrLp/s1600/IMG_1708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17wSahc4fUQdY3GTZyP8ReN525Cvq-qVVeJVAgDaMTEsRv_5SQjPij84UYrv4Qp8DmCJvEb5k-DdbRB9kOf0khPtr3Ow8LO2s-8AgYZObrismzcWSIVwcc_JkkYsftaVwLc70HQZWyrLp/s200/IMG_1708.JPG" width="148" /></a></div>
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Below three photographs of amphitheater in Volteria</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdGqI8ZiJWcgtQl40ltmIT1raFiRxzsdrj5qvXkxaIXfMJyVOv_QvhzoLPNBMMgB7Sc-qhG4wsUNe6JxTO9krGNIi-4x3QQ3veBRZhRGK1Yws2MSAtiiHElo2iUdUuAgG2Q_RQkVX3vSF/s1600/IMG_1703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdGqI8ZiJWcgtQl40ltmIT1raFiRxzsdrj5qvXkxaIXfMJyVOv_QvhzoLPNBMMgB7Sc-qhG4wsUNe6JxTO9krGNIi-4x3QQ3veBRZhRGK1Yws2MSAtiiHElo2iUdUuAgG2Q_RQkVX3vSF/s200/IMG_1703.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y9CYXkSFflHc62sxCQqXnZqtW-Y-bvVBoXqWvbkpdaixX0Td1EaOqcL2l31mrIs8_zTbG65AQHEleY4xY6ONDN5fNrHdCkDMzDjaozgZSwMpI0ALfMKtsz7st16dfHARoFVcW2NTGAGQ/s1600/IMG_1705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y9CYXkSFflHc62sxCQqXnZqtW-Y-bvVBoXqWvbkpdaixX0Td1EaOqcL2l31mrIs8_zTbG65AQHEleY4xY6ONDN5fNrHdCkDMzDjaozgZSwMpI0ALfMKtsz7st16dfHARoFVcW2NTGAGQ/s200/IMG_1705.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Two more photographs:</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>single tomb/grave</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImm43mOH1Q1q51cN9pofFesCRhqIUXQUWNwAzUsa8pKLnO3MidtdmBF61Kzya-sq9OuExCzSlwOb5uXVDhqVxFKmZvl3DETny0BY9vVAi4A0ruKJd1a19c4D0JZiV6CJHZvgQYtnh6AxS/s1600/IMG_1722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImm43mOH1Q1q51cN9pofFesCRhqIUXQUWNwAzUsa8pKLnO3MidtdmBF61Kzya-sq9OuExCzSlwOb5uXVDhqVxFKmZvl3DETny0BY9vVAi4A0ruKJd1a19c4D0JZiV6CJHZvgQYtnh6AxS/s320/IMG_1722.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>graffiti from burial </b></td></tr>
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Thank you to Paul MacNamara for sharing these photographs and giving us an insight into the archaeology of Tuscany, Italy!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-86177701551201554782015-05-18T07:00:00.000-07:002015-06-03T11:30:46.603-07:00Trowel Call for Papers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<i>Trowel </i>volume XVI will be launched later this year. The editors of the paper are currently looking for contributors for this volume.<i> Trowel </i>is an archaeological journal from the School of Archaeology, University College Dublin. It is a great opportunity for undergraduates, postgraduates and early career researchers to begin their publishing career and share their work. As well as sources from UCD, input from other sources is especially welcomed to represent different perspectives across the field of archaeology. Those from a scientific, historical, anthropological or classical background are encouraged to contribute. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Interested parties should submit an abstract no longer than 300 words by 21st June 2015 to trowelucd@gmail,com. Published articles will be no longer than 3000 words.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
More information on <i>Trowel</i> and past volumes can be found at http://trowelucd.weebly.com/.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-67610494190595591132015-04-30T14:53:00.000-07:002015-04-30T14:53:22.324-07:00Seminar report: "Matters most foul". Investigating chickens in the archaeological record<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_xXzK_KyUyw/VUKicAVF9EI/AAAAAAAADuQ/ymUo_4EGgNU/s1600/11055258_10153169067795833_6567682751721338228_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_xXzK_KyUyw/VUKicAVF9EI/AAAAAAAADuQ/ymUo_4EGgNU/s1600/11055258_10153169067795833_6567682751721338228_n.jpg" height="452" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the 2<sup>nd</sup> of April,
the UCD Archaeological Society were host to Dr Julia Best from Bournemouth University. Her talk, “Matters
Most Fowl: Investigating Chickens in the Archaeological Record” was part of a
wider project “Cultural and Scientific Perceptions of Human – Chicken Interactions.”
Various universities are working together on this project, including the
universities of Bournemouth, Cardiff, Southampton, Oxford, York, Nottingham,
Leicester and Roehampton. I have to say I never knew there was so much to know
about chickens! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today there are approximately 20
billion chickens on earth, and they serve a variety of purposes. They are food,
pets and even in some places have religious importance! However, their role in
the past has been overlooked, partially because of the difficulties involved in
recovering and identifying chicken remains. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chickens were domesticated in
South East Asia, from jungle fowl. There is a lively debate surrounding their
exact origins, but it most likely took place in China in 8000BC and spread
westwards. There are remains in India dating to the 3<sup>rd</sup> millennium
BC, and the first reliable European dates are found in Bulgaria, in 1000BC.
They reach Britain by 100BC, although there are some rare remains before this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chickens are also represented in
the archaeological record by material culture. A chicken brooch has been found
in Reinhem Hesse dating to the 4<sup>th</sup> century BC. It was included in a
high status burial. In Britain, a collection bronze coins dating to the Late
Iron Age are inscribed with chicken imagery. These objects give us an insight
into the importance of chickens in ritual and cosmology. In West Deeping, a
whole bird was recovered from under a doorway, it has been hypothesised that
this is linked to fertility. Chickens have also been recovered from mortuary
contexts, and sometimes represent exotic trade links.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Roman Britain, chickens were
hugely important. They are frequently included in burials, either on platters
to serve as food, cremated or whole in pots. In other burials chicken ornaments
are included rather than the chicken itself. The cockerel is linked to Mercury
in Roman mythology. Mercury helped people to move from life to the otherworld,
and is also connected with the coming of the day. This may explain the presence
of chickens in burials. In Uley there was a Roman temple dedicated to Mercury,
and significant amounts of male chicken bone has been recovered from the site,
possibly linked to ritual activities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chickens in the past had
different morphology from modern chickens, as they were not bred to be as large
as chickens today. The osteological remains show that morphology also changed
in the past, which can tell us about disease and living conditions. Following
domestication, there are higher levels of osteopetrosis, as chickens were kept
in close proximity and disease spread quickly. At a site in Lyminge, Kent,
chicken remains show evidence for viral arthritis, probably a result of the
marshy living conditions. At a Roman site in Belgium, hundreds of broken bones
have been found, that may represent a cockfighting arena. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Osteological features can also
tell us about what features were important in the past. Crested skulls , five
toed legs and yellow legs were all seen as rare and therefore important. Today
these traits are more common as they were bred for in the past. Indeed it is
rare to see a chicken with grey or red legs, which were originally the norm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The presence of a spur, in either
male or female chickens was seen as high status. Larger spurs were preferable,
and was related to display and prestige. However, it may also be related to the
advantages it presented in cockfighting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Scientific analysis of the
composition of bone can also reveal a lot. A burial site in Vienna dating to
the 7<sup>th</sup> century AD, shows that chickens with higher levels of
protein were associated with higher status burials. The people they were buried
with also had higher levels of protein. This suggests the chickens were fed
scraps off the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When talking about chickens it is
important not to forget eggs. A wild jungle fowl will have a clutch of 4-7 eggs
per year. However, this was increased due to selective breeding during and
after domestication. Originally eggs probably played a small part in diet,
however that increased significantly under the Romans. The Chester Amphitheatre
in Britain (70-80AD) shows that eggs
were sold as snacks during plays and were important in the diet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The medullary bone in hens is
made of calcium for the eggshell, which depletes and replenishes as the hen
goes through the different stages of laying eggs. This can allow the bird to be
sexed, as well as revealing how important eggs were in the diet. An assemblage
with high levels of medullary bone represents a society that used eggs
regularly, lower levels suggests eggs were less important. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">An interesting study in the Outer
and Inner Hebrides Islands, Scotland compares the levels of wild seabird and
chicken bones. A settlement at Bornais shows a gradual increase in chicken
following their introduction at 400-800AD. However, there was still a reliance
on wild seabirds. Following analyses, it was found that 40% of the chicken bone
was medullary. This suggests that chicken were exploited for eggs, while
seabirds were used for meet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This seminar covered a wide
geographical and chronological range, with a focus on the osteology. The
project covers many other areas, including material culture, genetics and many
others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> If you are interested in finding out more, they can be found at
scicultchickens.org or on Twitter @Chicken_project. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many thanks to Dr Julia Best for
a truly egg-cellent seminar. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Patricia Kenny</span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-13017601107301630952015-04-20T08:46:00.001-07:002015-04-21T06:16:01.087-07:00Seminar series: "Bewitched by an elf-dart": prehistoric artefacts in traditional Irish folk magic and medicine"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-49jlb6OP8Ww/VTZNfAZjYsI/AAAAAAAADts/tyebGt1UHS8/s1600/10410673_10203315265237298_1186655132647450952_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-49jlb6OP8Ww/VTZNfAZjYsI/AAAAAAAADts/tyebGt1UHS8/s1600/10410673_10203315265237298_1186655132647450952_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="mailto:stephen.davis@ucd.ie"><br /></a>
<a href="mailto:stephen.davis@ucd.ie"><br /></a>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The next seminar will be:<br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span><b><span style="text-align: left;">Thursday 23rd April</span><span style="text-align: left;"> 2015</span></b><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><b>Newman building, Room A109</b></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><b>5.30pm</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Marion Dowd</span><br />IT Sligo</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Bewitched by an elf-dart": prehistoric artefacts in traditional Irish folk magic and medicine"</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><a href="http://ucd-archsoc.blogspot.ie/search/label/seminar%20series">CLICK HERE</a> for all seminar posters and reports. </b></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-44506709486374489812015-04-20T08:11:00.001-07:002015-04-20T08:18:34.058-07:00Seminar report: “Interpreting change and diversity in Early Bronze Age burial practices"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">On the
26<sup>th</sup> of February Dr. Chris Fowler of Newcastle University visited
UCD to give a lecture on “Interpreting change and diversity in Early Bronze Age
burial practices: Northeast England, c. 2500-1500BC”. With a successful turnout
the seminar began with Dr. Fowler discussing the following questions in
relation to the topic at hand:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">How
did funerary and mortuary practices in NE England change during the period c.
2500-1500 BC?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">How
diverse were those practices in different centuries?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Why
were buried dead treated in the ways that they were? On what basis were people
selected for burial?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">What
does this tell us about change and diversity in social relations, cosmology and
relationships between the living and the dead?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">To begin
answering these questions Dr. Fowler along with a number of other colleagues
collected data from 355 burials at 150 sites which were excavated between 1810
and 2009. The data was then analysed in order to get a better understanding of
the variation which comes with Bronze Age burial practices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rites
of Passage:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_w0IIjHvZoA/VTUVxbAchaI/AAAAAAAADtc/XO2A6YHa6LY/s1600/Untitled2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_w0IIjHvZoA/VTUVxbAchaI/AAAAAAAADtc/XO2A6YHa6LY/s1600/Untitled2.png" height="241" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">In terms of the data Dr. Fowler
began to examine how these relate to the earlier concept of the ‘Rites of
Passage’ which ‘transform’ the individual from a living person to an ancestor.
To better understand this, a model of how we can conceive the rite of passage
was constructed. This appeared as follows:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
model tackles the phases of burial in relation to community reaction. Dr.
Fowler highlighted the need to address burial concerning the living rather than
the dead. “Funerals are for the living” – a concept which permits us to see the
celebration of death as a way of aiding the mourning process and to transform
the deceased individual into an ancestor. However the placement of physical
burial is currently under scrutiny as it may fit into many places along the
model. This model of the ‘rites of passage’ was then used to interpret the data
given above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Dr.
Chris Fowler took his spectators through a ‘chronology’ of Bronze Age burial to
see how the model and data develop over an extended period of time. These are
the results he found:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2500-2200
BC: <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">The
data showed very few burials in the period between before 2500 BC and 2200BC.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">There
were a number of crouched burials.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Towards
the end of the period burial mounds start to make an appearance.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2300-2100
BC:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Short
cist burials which measured around 1m long.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">East-West
orientation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Body
usually facing east with the head following the E-W orientation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Accompaniment
beakers/flint knives or copper-alloy daggers (after c.2200BC).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">During
this period there is also an appearance of shared burial.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It
should be noted that Dr. Fowler highlighted a possible differentiation in
positioning within a cist burial based on sex. On average women were shown to
have been placed on their right side with their head oriented to the west while
their bodies faced south, while men were placed on their left with their head
oriented east once again with their bodies facing south. This appears to have
been the distinct feature which differentiated the sexes in burial. Much of the
data had shown that material culture did not represent a definitive pattern of
placement in relation to sex.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2200-1950(?)
BC: <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Copper
alloy/Bronze daggers placed in burials all maintained a specific orientation in
burial.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">The
metal used for these weapons came from south-western Ireland which creates
questions in use of imported material in ritual.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Hasting
Hill, Tyne & Wear:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">To
emphasise his ideas of ritual practices from the previous period he focused on
Hasting Hill. Here the remains of a 40-55 year old male were present (dated to
2194-1977 cal BC) It was accompanied by an unusual high-bellied S-profile
Beaker, bone pin, flint knives, antler pick, cremated adult bones, weathered
child bones (c. 5 years old), scraps of animal bone, fish bone, teeth and sea
shells. He was buried on his right hand side with his head oriented west and
his body was facing south; this is an exception to the common practices of the
period. <b>This indicates a formalised
ritual practice but also a knowledge of previous burials at the same location. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Two
later burials from the site expose that this burial practice style was carried
throughout the following periods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2000-1850
BC</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-no-proof: yes;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Burials
during this period were oriented North –South and are mainly located in
Norththumberland. Bodies were accompanied by late beakers in deep graves. The
bodies were placed within organic containers. Afterwards a mound was placed
over the burial. Dr. Fowler interprets this placement of the mound as an
association with integration with the earth. The use of vessels in burial the
dead integrates as well with the living. By placing a deceased relative within
a vessel which was used to feed the living directly associated the action of
feasting with the ancestors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cremation:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cremation
during the period included the following actions:</span><br />
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Burning of the remains</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Collection of the remains</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Placement of the body into the beaker</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Placement of the beaker into the ground</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Construction of the mound</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Concluding
Remarks:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It is
difficult to understand a distinct change in burial practices over time. Only
the minor changes within the burials can be used to identify cultural
variation. Isolated periods show a tendency to preserve the dead in a stylised
position. The dead either joined a community of the dead or their existence was
reintroduced into some form of world for the dead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Diversity
within burials should be seen as deliberate. The smallest of variations within
these graves are the result of changes in society/ritual/decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: right;">
By Brandon Walsh</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-52820354459948201892015-04-19T13:44:00.001-07:002015-04-20T08:31:41.516-07:00AGM 2015 !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear everyone,<br />
<br />
It is that time of year again, the time of the AGM, the time to say good bye to the old committee and hold elections for the new one! This year, the AGM will take place on <b>Friday 24th April</b> at <b>5pm, </b>in the School's Reading Room (K012 -TBC). In order to run for a position on the committee, you need to be there in person! Here are the positions you can run for:<br />
<br />
<i><b>(Nota bene: all new position-holders will receive "training" from the outgoing committee members, especially auditor, treasurer, trip advisor, and web admin. So no need to worry!).</b></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Auditor</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Hail Caesar! As auditor, you are the head of the committee and represents the Society. You are in charge of coordinating everything and make sure things run smoothly. You get to introduce the inaugural lecture speaker - yay! - aaaand to do all the paperwork related to the society- boooh! But don't worry, your committee is there to help you!</i> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Treasurer</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>You're the Money Man/Woman! You are in charge of keeping track of the Society's expenses and all that. It <u>is</u> a very stressful position, and involves a lot of paperwork and duties. BUT, not only is it great experience and looks good on your CV, but also, you won't be left alone with this daunting task:</i><i> the Senior Treasurer (a responsible adult, currently Dr. Steve Davis) is there to make sure you don't do anything wrong and bring the Society to bankruptcy ;) </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Secretary</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>You are maybe the one most important person in the committee! No, seriously, you are the one who organises meeting, hunts other committee members down to remind them of said meeting, you also take minutes and email them to everyone, thus making sure everyone is up to date with what is going on. See what I meant? The committee neeeeds you!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
PRO</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Public Relations Officer! You are the Face and Voice of the society, the one who looks after all society members and make sure they're having a good time. You are in charge of organising social events, and the one society member can ask about anything that is going on in the Society (as you are the one writing the weekly emails). You are also the main contact point for the organisation of the weekly seminars - along with the auditor.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Trip Officer</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>It's all in the name! You're the one who gets to organise The One Big Trip of the Year and bring the society abroad! Other than that, you also organise local trips, and other events. Now before you get all excited and start planning trips to exotic destinations, just bear in mind that as a Trip Officer, you not only need to organise transport, accommodation (where relevant), entry to sites, etc. etc. but you are responsible for everyone going on your trips! So no losing freshers abroad please. Nein, nein, nein!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Web administrator</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>You are the Messenger of the committee, and for this you have two essential weapons of choice: Facebook and this absolutely beautiful website (what? biased? Of course, the current web administrator is writing those words...). So just as the secretary needs to keep the whole committee informed of everything that is going on, YOU, as web administrator, need to tell THE WHOLE WORLD about it! Facebook events, website posts, Tweets... You make sure events are publicised, seminar reports are uploaded and events documented by pictures and write-ups on the website. You make sure the Society goes down in history and archaeologists of the future can find out about what we did!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ACM</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And you guys, may not need to stand for elections, but you are the blood of the committee. You are the fuel that brings this wonderful machine to life! You are the minions who make it all happen! </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Right, if this has not convinced you to stand for elections, then there is nothing more I can do for you! You should still come to the AGM and vote for your mates!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Friday 24th April</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>K012 (TBC)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Be there!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Alex,<br />Web administrator</i></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-62339243650497344252015-04-13T13:27:00.001-07:002015-04-13T13:27:50.149-07:00Seminar report: "Clontarf, Orkney and the Age of Piracy in the Late Viking Age"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkbLfMRLUDTIKrkHNdjRb9NeN7VOPLmhDvB5sxvAHUQWIDAyS07T84h25uL3HpVpUqdU846G9TYN9MtGBvVmS2BPQzYEoLj8JrdUhhTxM7zdQRQ8MpKfxtMHW0aHqJoQ3iB0Pj-h1OjY/s1600/James+Barrett+Seminar+Poster+(proper).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkbLfMRLUDTIKrkHNdjRb9NeN7VOPLmhDvB5sxvAHUQWIDAyS07T84h25uL3HpVpUqdU846G9TYN9MtGBvVmS2BPQzYEoLj8JrdUhhTxM7zdQRQ8MpKfxtMHW0aHqJoQ3iB0Pj-h1OjY/s1600/James+Barrett+Seminar+Poster+(proper).jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the 5<sup>th</sup>
of February 2015, the UCD Archaeology Society welcomed Dr. James Barrett, from
the Institute of Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His presentation was
titled, <b>‘Clontarf, Orkney and the Power of Piracy in the Late Viking Age’</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
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. <span style="text-indent: 36pt;">He posed the questions around which his seminar would be based.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These questions were:<o:p></o:p></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Was the Earldom of Orkney comparatively
wealthy and powerful?<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">If so, how?<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">What implications do the answers have to
wider economic patterns in the Irish and North Seas between 900 AD and
1200?</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
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.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
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. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
He spoke of the economic boom, which took place at Quoygrew in the 11<sup>th</sup>
and 12<sup>th</sup> 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 11<sup>th</sup> and 12<sup>th</sup>
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 10<sup>th</sup>
and 12<sup>th</sup> 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. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
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.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
When speaking on piracy associated with Orkney, he presented us with
several examples of where this piracy took place. These examples were:<o:p></o:p></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">1014 Battle of Clontarf, Ireland<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">1058 Magnus Haraldsson’s invasion of
England<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">1066 Harald Hardradis’ England invasion<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">1138 Battle of Standard, Yorkshire<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">1171 Askell Mac Turcaill’s attempt to
retake Dublin<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">1194 Battle of Florvag, near Bergen</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
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. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
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.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
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.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
One example Dr. Barrett used to show the trade
between the Northern Isles and the Irish Isles was in the 10<sup>th</sup>
century where Irish pins on Norwegian graves were replaced by local copies. In
the 11<sup>th</sup> 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. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: right; text-indent: 18pt;">
By Paul Kingston</div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-61002267424988055012015-04-13T13:16:00.005-07:002015-04-13T13:16:57.246-07:00Seminar series: "Getting to know you": the role of environmental experiences and daily interactions in the development of human-non humans relationships in the Early Mesolithic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WTuBtkQDHaY/VSwkLxpLPYI/AAAAAAAADtI/wc4ARLXfCW4/s1600/20089_10203277056842112_1256089404977977121_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WTuBtkQDHaY/VSwkLxpLPYI/AAAAAAAADtI/wc4ARLXfCW4/s1600/20089_10203277056842112_1256089404977977121_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The next seminar will be:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span><b><span style="text-align: left;">Thursday 16th April</span><span style="text-align: left;"> 2015</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><b>Newman building, Room A109</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><b>5.30pm</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nick Overton</span><br />University of Manchester</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Getting to know you": the role of environmental experiences and daily interactions in the development of human-non humans relationships in the Early Mesolithic</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-25367455416283610512015-04-07T13:56:00.001-07:002015-04-07T13:56:23.581-07:00Seminar series: "Algorithms, feature detection and interpretation - what role in landscape archaeology?"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eb592dzSE-o/VSREPU_oFNI/AAAAAAAADsw/9isYxyL0OvY/s1600/1509964_10153193720100833_3153570975467953791_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eb592dzSE-o/VSREPU_oFNI/AAAAAAAADsw/9isYxyL0OvY/s1600/1509964_10153193720100833_3153570975467953791_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The next seminar will be:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span><b><span style="text-align: left;">Thursday 9th April</span><span style="text-align: left;"> 2015</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><b>Newman building, Room A109</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><b>5.30pm</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dave Cowley</span><br />Royal commission of the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Algorithms, feature detection and interpretation - what role in landscape archaeology?"</span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3431688253916570167.post-89619861702676342502015-04-07T13:54:00.001-07:002015-04-07T13:54:22.171-07:00Classics VS Archaeology soccer match<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YFR8T1SQCqo/VSRD56ShbrI/AAAAAAAADso/f53vUxsvpHM/s1600/11133723_10202643674411507_6117257673699972645_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YFR8T1SQCqo/VSRD56ShbrI/AAAAAAAADso/f53vUxsvpHM/s1600/11133723_10202643674411507_6117257673699972645_n.jpg" height="640" width="414" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0