Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Pa st Hor izons
Digging through the thick layer of green clay (left). Uncovering evidence of
habitation beneath the green clay layer (right).
O nline Journal
of volunteer
The stereobate (leveling) courses of stone were archaeology
laid atop the clay, and then the temple proper was and training
constructed. The temple was probably destroyed
Adventures in Archaeology
in the early 2nd century BC when Bylazora itself August 2010
was sacked and then deserted. The ruins of the
temple must have remained undisturbed for quite
some time before later generations (the Romans?)
came by and quarried the stones of the temple to
burn down for lime mortar. We will have a more
complete discussion of the evidence for the
history of the temple, including its fate in the lime
kilns, in our 2010 report.
Clearing the stones of the stereoba
Shielings:
L ife in the H i g h Pa s t u re s
Issue 13
August 2010
Editors:
Felicity Donohoe
Maggie Struckmeier
Layout:
Maggie Struckmeier
Graphics
David Connolly
Past Horizons
Traprain House
Luggate Burn
Haddington
East Lothian
EH41 4QA
Front cover:
Jamie Humble, at 6’4”, modelling
the sl e e p i n g p o s s i b i l i t i e s a t a
circula r ce l l s t y l e hu t a t A l l t
Fearn a , S co t l a n d
Note
Past Horizons can give no endorsement
of any listed project or guarantee the
accuracy of the information supplied.
The editors accept no responsibility
for any loss, injury, or inconvenience
sustained by anyone using the resources
contained within this magazine and/or
the websites mentioned herein. When
considering a project, be sure to contact
the director with any questions you might
have about conditions, travel, health
issues, etc. Check for references from
previous participants, seek advice where
possible and select a project that will be
of the greatest benefit to you, the project
and the team.
20 Wallingford
All content is copyright and no With only limited display and storage space the Wa l l i n g f o r d
reproduction of text or images is
allowed without prior permission
museum i n England made plans to build a timber fram e e x t e n s i o n
from the author. to their existing medieval building. In order to fulfil t h a t d r e a m ,
the townsfolk of Wallingford joined ranks to raise t h e n e c e s s a r y
Past Horizons 2010
funds to give their museum a whole new lease of life .
past horizons 2
Contents
Dig Diar y - Byla zora
38 Lost? 42 Shielings
Children and teachers from Aboyne academy Shielings played a significant part in the rural practices of the
in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, adopt a variety of Highlands of Scotland until the 19th century. Archaeologist
archaeological techniques to discover more about the Fiona Baker explains where to locate them and describes
small, abandoned settlement of Auchtavan. their particular functions.
R e g u l a rs
5 Editorial 47 Profile
Making way for change. Fiona Baker.
6 News 54 Dig In
Stories from around the world. Current excavation opportunities.
3 past horizons
www.aerial-cam.co.uk
adam@aerial-cam.co.uk
past horizons 4
M akin g w a y f or ch a n g e . . . .
WELCOME to the new edition of Past Horizons . This
editorial
issue includes a couple of articles on the new and exciting
steps educators are taking towards history, heritage and
archaeology in both the United States and the United
Kingdom. Archaeology is now included at some schools
as a means to equip children with the skills to explore
h e r i t a g e i n a way that has never been presented to them before. The ability
t o t h i n k c r i t i c ally is a very powerful tool and one that is extremely useful
w h e n t r y i n g t o uncover the truth about the past; after all, pseudo-archaeology is
e v e r y w h e r e a n d most of us have been fooled by it at some time or another.
T h e I n d i a n a J ones movies and books such as The Da Vinci Code are mainly
h a r m l e s s f u n b ut they can make fools out of people when they do not apply the
b a s i c t e n e t s o f archaeology, which are the presence of physical evidence and
c r i t i c a l t h i n k i n g. Believing in something is one thing, but proving a theory can
b e m u c h h a r d e r and in the end is a m uch more satisfying experience.
editor@pasthorizons.com
5 past horizons
Executed m e n we re o f Vi k i n g o r i gi n
news
past horizons 6
t h e e a r t h w o r k o peration for a relief road, and
w a s e x c a v a t e d by Oxford Archaeology over
t h e f o l l o w i n g months. The remains of bodies
b e l o n g i n g t o t he skulls had been discarded
h a p h a z a r d l y i n another area of the same grave,
w h i c h w a s a r e - used quarry pit.
R a d i o c a r b o n dating placed the rem ains between AD910 and AD1030, and sp e c i a l i s t s a r e
c o n t in u i n g t o e xamine the remains to try to piece together the events surrounding t h e g r u e s o m e
d i s c o v e r y.
w w w. p a s t h o r i z o n s . com/magazine
OR
H e r e : h t t p : / / w w w. youtube.com/
w a t c h ? v = 3 U V L G 7 j9zLA&NR=1
I mage s co u r te s y o f Ox fo rd Arc h a e o l o g y
7 past horizons
D ig di re c to r D. B a r r y H o b s o n ( h a n d ra i s e d i n w h i te shir t), a retired general prac titioner, welcomes a group of visitors to the
excava t i o n s i te. D r. H o b s o n to o k a d e g re e i n A rc haeolo gy at Bradford Universit y a f ter his retirement.
Tipi proj e c t
past horizons 8
CO NFR ONTING TH E
CHALLENGE
of cultural her itage preser vation
In te ra c t i ve s h e l ter mo dules
IN TODAY’S wo r l d , w e f a c e m a n y c h a l l e n g e s
in negotiating m u l t i c u l t u r a l l a n d s c a p e s , a n d
to equip the next g e n e r a t i o n f o r t h i s t a s k , i t i s
necessary to prov i d e t h e m w i t h a n e d u c a t i o n a l
foundation that i s g r o u n d e d i n a r e s p e c t f o r
social and cultur a l d i ff e r e n c e s . T h e d i s c i p l i n e
of archaeology p r o v i d e s a u s e f u l t o o l t o h e l p
instill a reverenc e f o r t h e p l a c e s a n d o b j e c t s t h a t
define our past, a r e s p e c t f o r o u r s h a r e d c u l t u r a l
heritage, and to e m p h a s i s e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f
protecting it now a n d i n t h e f u t u r e .
9 past horizons
Worksh o p p a r t i c i p a nt s a t a b u f fa l l o j u m p s i te, M o ntana
past horizons 10
workshops, reaching an estima t e d 2 2 5 , 0 0 0
pupils each year. The curric u l u m g u i d e
has been distributed throughou t t h e U S A
and several other countries, an d h a s b e e n
adapted by various organisations , s u c h a s t h e
Smithsonian Institution, for othe r u s e s .
Project Archaeolo g y a c t i v i t i e s
are hands-on, inte r a c t i v e , a n d
engaging opportu n i t i e s t h a t
�������������������� both teachers and p u p i l s e n j o y –
������������������������ and the experience l e a d s t o r e a l
������������������� learning. The new c u r r i c u l u m ,
�����������
Project Arch a e o l o g y :
11 past horizons
Shawn e e s i te s c i e n ce
past horizons 12
WHS
W O R K H A R D O R S TA RV E
F i n d i t H e re
13 past horizons
exhibition focus
Th e I m m o r t a l Al ex a n d e r t h e Great
Alexander the Great will be
brought to life nex t month at
the Her mitage Amsterdam,
the first time a D utch museum
has devoted an exhibition
to the M acedonian K ing. The
I mmor tal Alexander the Great
char ts the k ing’s jour ney to
the East and explores the
influence of Hellenism through
the last 2500 years, with over
350 master pieces including the
famous G onzaga cameo from
the State Her mitage M useum
in St Petersburg.
R e l i e f f ra g m e n t : Pe r s i a n s o l d i e r f ro m D arius or Xer xes’ royal
g ua rd. I ra n . C . 5 0 0 B C . L i m e s to n e, 2 2 .3 x 20.2 cm
past horizons 14
A n exploration of his life in Macedonia th e n e x a m i n e s
his teachers, heroes and ideals, and a l s o i n c l u d e s
his Great Expedition to the East, his c a m p a i g n o f
conquest lasting over 10 years, supported b y a 5 0 , 0 0 0 -
strong army. Objects from Egypt and Per s i a , f r o m t h e
nomads and the Babylonians, show the r i c h c u l t u r e s
he encountered on his travels, and can b e t r a c e d b y
visitors using interactive maps and comp u t e r s .
Por trai t s t u d y o f a P to l e m a i c k i n g
Egypt. 3 rd - 1 s t ce n t u r y B C
Limesto n e, h 1 0 . 5 c m
15 past horizons
exhibition focus Unearthed
Unear thed, The latest
exhibition from the
S ainsbur y Centre for Visual
Ar ts in Nor wich, England,
promises to impress
visitors with its collec tion
of remar k able ancient clay
figures, some 5000-years- old
and drawn from t wo regions:
Japan and the Balk ans.
Th e oldest expressions of human form are very small, and the making a n d k e e p i n g
o f s mall figurines is widely shared by certain human societies. In preh i s t o r i c J a p a n
a n d t he Balkans people had begun to explore new ways of identifying t h e m s e l v e s ,
a n d f igurines played an important role in showing how these pioneeri n g v i l l a g e r s
m a y have experienced the world and expressed their place within it. Ho w e v e r, a f t e r
a c e n tury of painstaking archaeological investigation, recording and in t e r p r e t a t i o n ,
t h e f igurines remain mysterious; some appear distinctly male or fem a l e w h e r e a s
o t h e r s are less identifiable, and do not look human at all. However, sev e r a l t h e o r i e s
f o r t heir purpose have be en proposed. Some archaeologists focus o n r i t u a l a n d
s p i r i tual life as an explanation for the figurines, other interpretat i o n s s u g g e s t
f u n c t ions such as magical items, afterlife accessories, fertility im a g e s , v o t i v e
o b j e cts and initiation objects.
past horizons 16
Through sight and touch, these figurines provo k e a n u m b e r
of responses in the viewer such as vulnerability, p r o t e c t i o n ,
excitement, fear, confusion and intimacy, and c o n t i n u e t o
make an impact in the present. The exhibition si t s a l o n g s i d e
contemporary artworks that invite visitors to und e r s t a n d a n d
appreciate the objects in new ways, providing i n s p i r a t i o n
for contemporary artists working in a variet y o f m e d i a ,
from prints and drawings to animation and perf o r m a n c e .
J ō m o n f i g u r i n e s a n d f ra g m e n t s
f ro m S a n n a i M a r u ya m a , J a p a n
M i d d l e J ō m o n Pe r i o d
© Ao m o r i Pre f e c t u ra l B o a rd
o f Ed u ca t i o n
17 past horizons
Th e U n i v e r s i t y Museum, the University of Tokyo, holds approximately 450 pie c e s o f d o g û
d a t i n g t o t h e J ô mon period. A large p art of this collection, kept by the museum’s D e p a r t m e n t
o f A n t h r o p o l o g y and Prehistory, was made from the 1890s to the early 20th cent u r y, a p e r i o d
w h e n a n t h r o p o l ogy and archaeology were being developed as scientific disciplin e s i n J a p a n ,
a n d i t s h i s t o r i cal value is significant. Among the dogû displayed in unearthe d , t h r e e a r e
p e r h a p s o f p a r t icular interest. The shape of one (from Ikarigaseki, Aomori Pref e c t u r e , F i n a l
J ô m o n ) a t t e s t s to a stylistic transition from the famous ‘goggle-eyed dogû’, w h i l e a n o t h e r
( To k o s h i n a i , A omori Prefecture, Middle-Final Jômon) shows a miniaturised repre s e n t a t i o n o f
t h e t y p i c a l f e a t ures of the goggle-eyed dogû. A third example (Tozurasawa, Aomor i P r e f e c t u r e ,
L a t e J ô m o n ) h a s a very rare shape that reminds us of a monkey.
past horizons 18
Figurin e s a n d Fra g m e n t s f ro m Cu c u te n i , R o m a n i a , 4000 - 3500 BC, National Histor y Museum of Romania
19 past horizons
Framing the Future with
Walling ford M useum
Wallin g f o rd M u s e u m ( Fl i n t H o u s e )
past horizons 20
������
�����������
������
FO R MER LY IN Be r k shire b u t n o w
w ith in the b o un d ar ies o f Ox fo rd shi re,
th e h istor ic to w n o f Wal lin g fo rd
o r igin ated in th e 9 th c en tu ry as o n e o f
th e two la rg est o f A lf r ed t he Great ’s
p lan ne d to wn s or bu rh s . Th e ex te ns iv e
S a xo n r a m pa r ts a nd m uc h o f th e Sax o n
str e et p atter n s till su r v iv e, an d p art
o f th es e b an ks su r r o u nd a g ree n o p en
sp a ce in the h ea r t o f the to w n c all ed
th e Kin ec r of t, p r ov id in g th e b ack d ro p
f o r Wa lling f o r d M u se um . Th e fu ll y -
a cc r ed ite d an d ind ep e nd en t lo cal
h istor y m u se um is ho u sed i n a Gra de
I I lis te d m e diev a l timb er-fra med
b u ild ing co v er e d by a f li nt fa çad e,
a nd is a p pr o p r ia tely k no wn as Flin t
H ou se .
21 past horizons
Aerial v i e w o f t h e e a r t hwo r k re m a i n s o f Wa l l i n g f ord Castle (foreground)
past horizons 22
been tried in an urban context. To d a t e 3 0 p i t s
have been excavated and reporte d .
“ D espite its long and
signific ant histor y, The museum has a vital role t o p l a y i n
the developing picture of the h i s t o r y o f
Walling ford has rarely b ee n Wallingford, but there are future c o n c e r n s t o
more than a footnote in mo s t be addressed. Storage space for th e c o l l e c t i o n s
has become a critical issue and w e h a v e b e e n
academic tex ts” actively seeking a solution to t h i s g r o w i n g
problem for several years. The an s w e r l i e s i n
the utilisation of the open yard i m m e d i a t e l y
w e r e o ff e r e d t h e lease on the ground floor as behind Flint House, which is p a r t o f o u r
w e l l , s o i n t h e next year we reunited the two lease. After a couple of false st a r t s , w e h a d
p a r t s o f t h e b u ilding and moved the entrance a breakthrough in September las t y e a r w h e n
t o t h e m u c h m ore visible front door on the it was suggested that we build a t r a d i t i o n a l
H i g h S t r e e t . A t the same time we became a timber framed structure as a pub l i c s p e c t a c l e
c h a r i t a b l e c o m pany. on the Kinecroft – a Festival o f Tr a d i t i o n a l
Skills – and then crane the comp l e t e d f r a m e s
D e s p i t e i t s l ong and significant history, into position behind the nearby F l i n t H o u s e .
Wa l l i n g f o r d h as rarely been more than a It was an exciting idea.
f o o t n o t e i n m ost academic texts but with
t h e ‘ Wa l l i n g f o rd Burh to Borough Project’,
f u n d e d b y t h e AHRC, things were to change.
T h i s t h r e e - y e ar project is the result of
c o l l a b o r a t i o n between the Universities of
L e i c e s t e r, E x e t er and Oxford, with practical
e x c a v a t i o n i n p ut and documentary research
f r o m T W H A S , and hosted locally by the
m u s e u m . A f t e r the first season of geophysics
a n d d i g g i n g i n 2008, TWHAS organised a
h i g h l y - s u c c e s s ful conference and the papers
g i v e n , w i t h a d ditional material, have been
p u b l i s h e d a s T he Origins of the Borough of
Wa l l i n g f o rd – Archaeological and Historical
P e r s p e c t i v e s. A second successful co nference
o n M e d i e v a l Wallingford was organised
l a s t y e a r o n b ehalf of the Burh to Borough
P r o j e c t b y Wa l lingford Museum and a third,
Wa l l i n g f o rd C a stle in Context, is pla nned for
O c t o b e r 9 , 2 0 1 0.
23 past horizons
T h e b u i l d i n g could be entirely independent Apart from the attraction of build i n g i n g r e e n
o f t h e l i s t e d building but would provide oak and its environmental attribut e s , t h e r e i s
t w o s t o r e y s of important display space a unique benefit to the proposed t i m b e r f r a m e .
a n d s o m e w h e r e to address groups, adults Each frame will be constructed in a d i ff e r e n t
a n d c h i l d r e n , as well as providing a much- style so that from west to east, t h e t i m b e r
n e e d e d c o l l e c tions management a rea and work (visible to visitors within t h e b u i l d i n g )
a r c h a e o l o g i c a l workshop. A disab led WC will tell the story of developing t e c h n i q u e s
a n d a s e c o n d , ambulant WC, plus a covered from Mediaeval to Victorian, a ki n d o f 1 2 ” t o
a c t i v i t y a r e a for outdoor events such as the foot scale model.
F a m i l y A r c h a e ology Day, would comp lete the
f a c i l i t i e s . ( S e e plan below.) It was proposed that we should wo r k w i t h T h e
Carpenters’ Fellowship, the no t - f o r- p r o f i t
trade body that represents and set s s t a n d a r d s
for the structural timber frami n g i n d u s t r y
4.3m 9.1m
CAR
PARKING Archaeology
Collections
(Day
in the UK. They were also resp o n s i b l e f o r
3.3m
Workshop
Centre) Management
Coats
etc
Display Boathouse and the award-winning N o r t h m o o r
Activity Area/
Trust building at Little Wittenham .
3.3m
Loading Bay
9.5m
Canopy
2.2x1.5
2.9m
1.5m
WC
Fire Exit
Lift &
Stairs
window in August which gave us a v e r y t i g h t
schedule to design the building, g e t p l a n n i n g
GRASS WC
0.9m
VERGE 0.8x1.5
FLINT HOUSE
2.3m
6.2m
past horizons 24
To w n C o u n c i l , who enthusiastically embraced
t h e i d e a a n d g a ve it the go-ahead. We held a “ l o c a l wo o d l a n d owners
p r i v a t e l a u n c h i n our local hotel and presented we re co nt a c te d to a sk them
t h e gu e s t s w i t h an information pack sponsored
b y a l o c a l p r i n t er. to d o n ate o a k t re e s to the
p ro j e c t. Th e re s p o n se was
D e t a i l e d p l a n s were completed and the
p l a n n i n g a p p l ication submitted i n early re m a r k a b l e. We n ow have
J a n u a r y 2 0 1 0 . Nearly 300 people wrote to the a l l t h e o a k we n e e d, around
D i s t r i c t C o u n c il in support of the scheme,
u rg i n g t h e p l a n ners to give it their permission, 7 0 t re e s i n to t a l ”
w h i c h w a s g r a nted in mid-March. Meanwhile
a t a p u b l i c l a u n ch in the Town Hall nearly 100
p e o p l e s i g n e d up in support of the scheme and
8 0 t o o k a w a y f orms to sponsor beams in the Individual timber beams have be e n p r i c e d f o r
p r o p o s e d b u i l d i ng. sponsorship, ranging from a comm o n r a f t e r f o r
£25 to £2500 for the main west w i n d o w, w i t h
F u n d - r a i s i n g f o r the target figure of £400,000 lots of beams at around £250-£50 0 . S p o n s o r s
h a s t a k e n v a r i o us forms. A series of lectures will have their names carved in t o t h e b e a m s
o n t h e h i s t o r y of Wallingford raised over by a local woodcarver. With item s d o n a t e d b y
£ 3 0 0 0 a n d w e received generous donations local individuals and businesses, i n A p r i l w e
held a grand auction which raise d £ 7 0 0 0 w i t h
£5000 matched funding promised . A t t h e s a m e
time, local woodland owners we r e c o n t a c t e d
to ask them to donate oak trees to t h e p r o j e c t .
The response was remarkable. We n o w h a v e
all the oak we need, around 70 t r e e s i n t o t a l ,
all sourced within a radius of 10 m i l e s o f t h e
museum.
past horizons 26
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I N MY LAST offering, I discussed th e a l m o s t as prestige ‘goods’ in the sense that they convey a
u n i v ersal thirst for shiny things and th e b i z a r r e far more profound manifestation of social position
h u n g er to re-establish the primacy of ‘ s t a t u s ’ . than functional and attractive items placed
Perhaps this is a reflection of modern capitalism and within a burial context. The stresses of weaning,
t h e l oss of individual identity in a life d o m i n a t e d childhood mortality and birth itself would surely
w i t h the relentless pursuit of social adva n c e m e n t . have presented something of a lottery to societies,
P a r a doxically, physical manifestati o n s of communities and cultures who would had relied
p e r c eived social dominance today may r e f l e c t a upon reproduction for their very survival almost
n e e d to climb out of an individual ide n t i t y a n d as much as food sources.
g a i n access to a social grouping we aspi r e t o b u t
i n t e r pret in different ways. Philippe Ariés in his book Centuries of Childhood
claimed that before the “invention of childhood”
M o d ern archaeol ogists are consistently g u i l t y o f i n t h e Vi c t o r i a n p e r i o d , c h i l d r e n w e r e s i m p l y
m a k i ng the assumption that the acqui s i t i o n o f percieved as small adults. This was expanded
m a t e rial goods in the distant past was an a c c e p t e d upon in The Making of the Modern Family by
v e h i cle to asserting individual posi t i o n . B y Edward Shorter who claimed that in certain
e x t e nsion, this sated envy and signalled t o p e e r s s o c i e t i e s m o t h e r s v i e w e d t h e d e ve l o p m e n t a n d
t h a t some transformation had taken place , t h e r e b y h a p p i n e s s o f i n f a n t s w i t h i n d i ff e r e n c e o n t h e
g r a n ting access to a niche where so m e w e r e basis of high mortality rates. In her book A
s e e m ingly promoted to a ‘superior ’ statu s . D i s t a n t M i r ro r B a r b a r a Tu c h m a n d e m o n s t r a t e d
that during the Mediaeval period, an absence of
O f c ourse, material goods can equally be s e e n a s i n t e r e s t i n c h i l d r e n a n d t h e i r p e r c ei v e d s t a t u s a s
t o o l s , containers and necessary accoutrem e n t s f o r “unrewarding products” prevailed.*
t h e p erceived journeys into afterlives de t e r m i n e d
b y s ocial and cultural values, but a grav e s h o u l d As these historians have shown, it is likely that
n o t exclusively been seen as an opport u n i t y f o r for many cultures young children were often
a g g r andisement. Reading archaeology in t h i s w a y v i e w e d i n a p r a c t i c a l s e n s e . H o w e v e r, h i s t o r i c a l
i s e x traordinarily naïve and archaeolog i s t s c a n evidence also points to a deep emtional attachment
o f t e n be guilty of judging a book by i t s c o v e r of people to their children. For example, the
w h e n others have the foresight to read t h e b o o k diarist John Evelyn and his wife lost six of eight
first. children in childhood and, after the death of his
oldest child who died three days after his fifth
Wi t h this in mind, it is possible to arg u e t h a t birthday in 1658, he wrote, “Here ends the joy of
c h i l d ren – in prehistory at least – could b e v i e w e d m y l i f e ” . T h e w r i t e r Wi l l i a m B r o w n l o w l o s t o n e
child every year for seven years admitting that the
t r a g e d y “ h a s t b r o k e n m e a s u n d e r an d s h a k e n m e
to pieces”.
past horizons 28
N e o / Bronze transition here in the Briti s h I s l e s . 500 years suggests that the number of sub-adults
I n g eneral terms, the Cypriot Neolith i c ( f r o m who survived to adulthood must have been very
7 0 0 0 B.C) sees individual burial within d o m e s t i c much higher than believed. Archaeologists really
c o n t exts (under house floors/hearths et c ) a n d a have little notion of the place of sub-adults within
m o v e towards co llective burial within ch a m b e r e d the daily lives of prehistoric communities and yet
t o m b s during the Bronze Age (from 2 5 0 0 B . C ) . here at least, in death, there is no major distinction
T h e communal and often chambered tom b s o f t h e between them and adults.
B r i t i sh Neolithic (from 4000 B.C) give w a y t o
l a rg e ly individual burial in the Bronze A g e ( f r o m If archaeologists accept the idea that Bronze
2 5 0 0 B.C). Age communities in Cyprus had a developed and
structured concept of afterlives, it would follow
I n 2 0 04, I took part in the excavation of an e x t e n s i v e that sub-adults also had a place or a perceived
B r o n ze Age cemetery complex in Deneia , C y p r u s . role to play also, hence burial in the same tomb
T h e s e cemeteries lie to the south of th e O v g o s s p a c e s . A rg u a b l y, t h e a b i l i t y t o p r o d u c e c h i l d r e n
v a l l e y and occupy around six hectare s o f t h e amongst the female members of society may
l i m e stone Kafkalla plateaux. With over a t h o u s a n d have resulted in an elevated status within the
t o m b shafts visible across the area, Dene i a i s t h e community and children may have been viewed
l a rg e st known Bronze Age burial groun d o n t h e as prestige achievements of these women: new
i s l a n d. Throughout the twentieth cent u r y a n d members of the community to farm, hunt, produce
e v e n today, archaeologists working in C y p r u s goods and enrich the fabric of society for the
h a v e paid little or no attention at all t o h u m a n future. Children were potential assets; pots were
r e m a ins. Material goods and ceramic ty p o l o g i e s for storing and eating.
h a v e characterised the island’s prehistor y a n d a s
a r e sult it was accepted that children w e r e n o t
a l l o c ated the same burial space as adult s d u r i n g
t h e B ronze Age.
29 past horizons
Del a n cey Pa rk
Excavating a Neolithic G aller y Grave on Guer nsey
by G e o rg e N a sh
S I N C E t h e a d vent of a fully integrated planning process in the early 1990s,
a r c h a e o l o g y societies in the UK have found it increasingly difficult to
o rga n i s e a n d run excavation programmes. The view post PPG 16 (and
n o w P P S 5 * ) has been to preserve, where possible in situ archaeological
r e m a i n s , i n p articular sites such as prehistoric burial-ritual monuments.
B e a r i n g t h i s i n mind, and the limited opportunities to excavate sites of this
a g e a n d q u a l i ty in Britain, members of the Clifton Antiquarian Club, were
d e l i g h t e d t o e xcavate one of Guernsey’s premier prehistoric monuments,
D e l a n c e y P a r k. Prior to this the last excavation on Guernsey of a Neolithic
b u r i a l - r i t u a l monument was undertaken in 1979 at Les Fouillages.
past horizons 30
Aerial v i e w o f D e l a n ce y Pa r k s h ow i n g t h e o n g o i n g excavation
Clif to n A n t i q ua r i a n C l u b
31 past horizons
D elance y Pa r k i n a s o r r y s t a te i n l a te 2 0 0 9
D e l a n c e y P a r k , one of 18 or so free-standing
s t o n e l a t e p r e h i storic burial-ritual monuments,
c o m p r i s e s t w o parallel lines of stone that
e x t e n d f o r s o m e nine-and-a-half metres east-
w e s t . T h i s m o nument is one of three gallery
g r a v e s i n t h e Channel Islands; a further two D elancey Park during the 1932 excavation with archaeolo gist
s t a n d i n n e i g h bouring Jersey and a further M iss Vera C.C. Collum
past horizons 32
B a s e d o n t h e architecture and artefacts workforce to treat the site with g r e a t c a r e ,
r e c o v e r e d f r o m two previous excavations, the believing the stones formed part o f a d o l m e n .
D e l a n c e y P a r k monument appears to date to According to newspaper accounts a t t h e t i m e ,
t h e L a t e N e o l i t hic period and therefore later further stones were uncovered, n e a r l y a l l
t h a n t h e p a s s a ge grave tradition, a group of ‘oblong’ in shape and in a ‘perfe c t l y n a t u r a l
m o n u m e n t s t h a t more or less dominate the condition’. It is not clear if a n o ff i c i a l
N e o l i t h i c b u r i al-ritual landscape of Jersey excavation took place as no reco r d s s u r v i v e .
a n d G u e r n s e y, s uch as Le Varde and Le Dehus However, a small number o f a r t e f a c t s ,
i n t h e n o r t h o f Guernsey. many probably contemporary w i t h t h e u s e
G I S vie w of D elancey Pa r k a n d n e i g h b o ur i n g monu ments and f ind s p ot s - cour tes y of Guerns ey Mu s eum s
33 past horizons
L a t e r i n 1 9 3 2 a two-day excavat ion was larger stones were removed off s i t e f o r t h i s
u n d er t a k e n b y Miss Vera C. C. Collum who, excavation; their in situ position a r e s u p p o r t e d
b a s e d o n s e v e r al site photographs, conducted by digital images that were taken p r i o r t o t h e
a ‘ p r o d d i n g a n d recording’ exercise between 2010 excavation and show that on l y o n e s t o n e
t h e s t o n e s . T he excavation yielded further has been removed, its whereabou t s u n k n o w n .
p r e h i s t o r i c f i nds and possible structures Although its archaeological d i s c o v e r y i s
r e l a t i n g t o t h e construction of the m onument attributed to 1919 Ms Collum d o e s s u g g e s t
i n c l u d i n g a number of possible uprights that a number of the capstones w e r e r e m o v e d
l o c a t e d a l o n g t he northern line of stones (and and broken up around 1878 for f o u n d a t i o n
t h e i r a s s o c i a t e stone packing). Investigations material to support the nearby A d m i r a l d e
w e r e a l s o c o n ducted around the western end Saumarez monument, but it is not c l e a r w h i c h
o f t h e m o n u m e nt. Following the ex cavation ones were removed.
M s C o l l u m r e ferred to Delancey Park as
past horizons 34
Exca va t ion of Tre nc h 1 , w h ic h wa s orgi n a l l y covered by on e of t he fa llen upright s
past horizons 36
w i l l h o p e f u l l y provide radiocarbon dates for
p a r t i c u l a r s e q u ences, the first from a gallery G et Involved
g r a v e s i t e i n t he Channel Islands. Several
m e m b e r s o f t h e team also researched those CLIFTON ANTIQUARIAN CL U B
u n s t r a t i f i e d a r tefacts, in particular faunal
r e m a i n s o b t a i n ed from the 1919 and 1932 Originally formed in 1884, Th e C l i f t o n
excavation. Antiquarian Club, based in C l i f t o n ,
Bristol, lasted 28 years before o p e r a t i o n s
T h i s r e s e a r c h will hopefully paint a clearer resumed in 2006. We seek to p r o m o t e a
p i c t u r e o f w hat was happening at this better understanding of our archaeological
m o n u m e n t b e t ween c. 2500 and 3000 BC. heritage and meet on several o c c a s i o n s
A s f o r n e x t y e ar, we hope to target an open during the year for lectures, t o u r s a n d
a r e a t r e n c h a l o ng the northern line of fallen research projects. Please fee l f r e e t o
u p r i g h t s , b a s e d on the results from this contact us if you have any que r i e s o r a r e
s e a s o n . I f t h e r esults of this year are anything interested in getting involved.
t o g o b y, t h e D elancey Park monument should
p o s e a v e r y i n teresting prospect. However, W: http://www.cliftonantiquari a n . c o . uk
a s w i t h a l l p r o jects like this, there are more E: theeditor@cliftonantiquaria n . c o . uk
q u e s t i o n s t h a n answers, reminding us that
e v e n d u r i n g t h e Neolithic, life and death was
a c o m p l i c a t e d matter.
Fu r t h e r R e a d i ng
37 past horizons
Br ingi n g Lo s t ?
Com m u n i t i e s
Bac k to L i fe
right: re s to re d co t t a g e a t Au c h t a va n
past horizons 38
39 past horizons
Sur vey i n g w i t h t h e u s e o f a p l a n e t a b l e, l o o k i n g a t old maps and planning using a grid
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Map s h ow i n g t h e d e s e r te d ������
settlem e n t o f Au c h t a va n . Th e
projec t w i l l a l s o b e s e a rc h i n g
for an o l d c h a p e l w h i c h i s �
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past horizons 40
A c a d e m y A r c h aeology club to support the history. Until then, the pupils c o n t i n u e t o
p r o j e c t a n d o p en the experience to all year enjoy the challenge of bringing t h e i r L o s t ?
g r o u p s . H a v i n g done some work previously community back to life.
w i t h p u p i l s o n site surveys, Jane recognised
t h a t a r c h a e o l o gy could appeal to children of Auchtavan and Loin in Glen F e a r d a r m a k e
a l l a b i l i t i e s a n d interests. up a large township at 430m abo v e s e a l e v e l .
The buildings range from ank l e - h i g h t u r f
S h e s a i d , “ We hope that pupils will learn constructions to an intact lat e Vi c t o r i a n
a b o ut d i s t i l l a t ion and the use of lime in cottage. A previous project rescu e d o n e o f t h e
s c i e n c e , c r e a t i ng 3D images from their plane cottages which retained an origi n a l h a n g i n g
t a b l e d r a w i n g s , recreating the homes and the chimney (hingin’ lum) and the re m a i n s o f i t s
a t m o s p h e r e o f the community using artistic cruck framed, lichen thatched roo f . A u c h t a v a n
s k i l l s , r e s e a r c h ing the lives and culture of the has 17 unroofed buildings alone a n d t h e w h o l e
p e o pl e a t d i ff e r ent periods, as well as looking site has at least two corn kilns and a h u g e l i m e
a t t h e w i d e r h i story of Scotland. kiln, the highest building on th e s i t e . F r o m
estate records Jane has already pu t t e n a n t s a n d
“ T h e s e h i s t o r i es should be brought alive by subtenants’ names to the ruins, an d o n e o f t h e
t h e c r e a t i o n o f living history dramas about projects will be to research the n a m e s a n d t h e
t h e c o m m u n i t i es and the events linked to families that lived there, aided b y S c o t l a n d ’s
t h e m . T h e r e a r e massive opportunities to do People which has provided acce s s t o c e n s u s
s o m e e x p e r i m e ntal archaeology, too . In fact material and parish records.
t h e r e a r e s o m a ny creative ideas com ing from
t h e a r c h a e o l o g y it is difficult to keep a lid on The project will also attempt to lo c a t e t h e l o s t
them all.” chapel at Balnoe below Auchtava n . A l t h o u g h
there are a number of references t o t h e c h a p e l ,
T h e p r o j e c t will end with a ceilidh and which is recorded on RCAHMS, i t h a s n e v e r
e x h i b i t i o n o f t he interpretation and research been found, and Jane has enlisted t h e s u p p o r t
p r o d u c e d . T h e ceilidh will also showcase the of local archaeology group OFA R S t o h e l p
d r a m a s c r e a t e d to reflect the life and culture solve the mystery.
o f t h e s e t t l e m ents at various points in its
SCOTL AND ’S RUR AL PAST is a five -year initiative run by R C AHMS with par tnership fundin g. The projec t,
launched in O c tober 2006, is wor k ing with local communities to research, record and promote S cotland ’s
vanishing histor ic rural settlements and landscapes. S cotland ’s Rural Past was awarded H ighly Commended
in the B est Archaeological Projec ts categor y in the prestigious Br itish Archaeological Awards from the Br itish
Academy. This was in recognition of the valuable wor k being achieved by volunteer par ticipants across
S cotland. http://w w w.scotlandsruralpast.org.uk
ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTL AND br ings together those for whom archaeology is an interest, an ac tive pastime
or a career, suppor ting local archaeological ac tion and campaigns for the best possible conser vation and
mana gement of her itage. http://w w w.scottisharchaeology.org.uk
41 past horizons
S h ielings
Life in the H igh Pastures
past horizons 42
By Fiona Baker
43 past horizons
past horizons 44
Timber would have been used d e p e n d i n g o n
availability, and the constructio n t e c h n i q u e
was largely determined by the m a t e r i a l s t o
hand. The shape ranged from circ u l a r o r o v a l
chambers, to small stone cells and r e c t a n g u l a r
structures, and all main types are o f t e n f o u n d
on artificial mounds or with artif i c i a l m o u n d s
created around them, probably fro m c o l l a p s e d
turf construction and discarded ro o f i n g t h a t c h
around the building as well as mi d d e n s .
past horizons 46
r o f i l e
P Fiona Baker
FIONA BAKER graduated from the Universit y of D ur h a m i n 1 9 8 8
with a BA in archaeology. She then set off to excavate m a ny s i te s
across the UK , Europe and the M iddle East, and in 1 9 9 2 s e t u p
Firat Archaeological S er vices Ltd. to take advantage of a c h a n g e i n
planning laws and new roles for commercial wor k in a rc h a e o l o g y.
This helped establish a long-ter m career in field wor k a n d p rov i d e d
oppor tunities for travel and sunshine excavations in Eg y p t a n d
the M iddle East. Her time off is devoted to her dog, g a rd e n , a n d
amateur dramatics.
D o y ou have a fa vourite memory of a cou n t r y y o u Do you prefer the heat of the desert or the rain of
h a v e been to? Scotland?
O o h , difficult question as there are ma n y. T h e B o t h h a v e t h e i r m e r i t s b u t a f t e r b e i n g b l o w n o ff
f i r s t time I saw the Treasury at Petra I w a s m o v e d my feet in horizontal rain on Arran recently the
t o t ears; I watched the moon rise il l u m i n a t e current answer would be the heat of the desert.
i t s f açade one night which was magic a l . T h e
H y p o style Hall at Karnak left me dumbst r u c k ; t h e If you could return to a period in the past, where
D a r t River and Glenorchy, New Zealand, i s o n e o f and when would it be?
t h e most beautiful places on earth, and w a s h i n g a n The lifetime of Alexander the Great as a member
e l e p hant in Sri L anka was a privilege. of his inner circle.
47 past horizons
Dig Diary - B y l a z o r a
I N N O V E M BER 2008 Past Horizons carried a story on the Bylazora exca v a t i o n s i n
t h e F o r m e r Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Since then, the t e a m h a s
r i g o r o u s l y r e corded their activities and opened their diaries to us to show the p r o g r e s s o f
t h e d i g . F o r those who missed the original story, to recap, in 1 9 7 6 P r o f e s s o r I v a n M i k u l č i ć ,
a f ter a survey of central FYROM (th e F o r m e r Yu g o s l a v i a n R e p u b l i c o f M a c e d o n i a ) , s u g g e s t e d
t h at a large plateau near the town of S v e t i N i k o l e m i g h t p r o v e t o b e a p r o m i s i n g s i t e t o h u n t f o r
B ylazora, the largest city of the ancie n t P a i o n i a n s . E x p l o r a t o r y s o u n d i n g s m a d e b e f o r e a n d a f t e r
F YROM independence in 1991 suppor t e d t h i s .
Wh o w e r e t h e Paionians?
T he earliest mention of the Paionians i n a n c i e n t G r e e k l i t e r a t u r e i s i n H o m e r ’s I l i a d , i n w h i c h
t h ey appear as allies of the Trojans ag a i n s t t h e G r e e k s ( I l i a d I I : 8 4 8 s e q . ) . H e r e , H o me r m e n t i o n s
t h e Paionians as being from Amydon o n t h e “ b r o a d s t r e a m o f t h e A x i o s ” , f i g h t i n g w i t h c u r v e d
b ows and being led by a certain Pyrai c h m e s ( I l i a d X : 4 2 8 s e q . ) .
B ackground photo: the TFAHR team in their first season (2008) at B ylazora
past horizons 48
Wee k 1 , J u n e 2 0 1 0 -
o p ening o l d trenches
I
trenches. We are completing our picture of
t h a s theb emonumental
e n a spectacular
propylon of theweek in ofthe
acropolis
t r e n c hBylazora.
e s . W e are Partscompleting
of the propylon our picture
which we of
t h e m o n uhad m eonly
n t alhypothesized
propylonlast of year
the have now
acropolis of
B y l a z o r abeen
. P auncovered.
r t s of theItpropylon
seems that after Bylazora
which we had
had been abandoned, people
o n l y h y p o t h e s ised last year have now beencame to the
u n c o v e r edeserted site andthat
d . I t s eems quarried away
after many of thehad
Bylazora
larger stones of the propylon. This meant
b e e n a b a n d o n e d, people came to the deserted
that only the deepest foundations of the
s i t e a n d propylon
q u a r r ied
wereaway
left for many of the larger
us to discover.
s t o n e s o f t h e p r opylon. This meant that only
t h e d e e p e s t f o u ndations of the propy lon were
l e f t f o r u s t o d iscover.
We are also extending our excavation to uncover more of what now appears to be the casemate wall of the
acropolis. As usual, the first things we encounter in digging are the ramshackle buildings of the last days of
Bylazora (our so-called Second Squatter Period). Beneath this stratum, we anticipate encountering a half-
meter layer of sterile soil, and then the remains of the casemate wall.
In another area of Sector 3, we have dismantled some of the walls of the Second Squatter Period to reveal
earlier habitation levels. We have uncovered floors, drainsUand
n c ostorage vessels, but we have not yet
ve
determined the precise date of these structures. the w ring a
all sto ra
build of a
ing Secon ge jar
n wal l of the d Squ be
Cle ani ng the eas ter atter neath
ar roo m of the pro pyl on Perio
rec tan gul d
past horizons 50
W e e k 3- a Hellenistic temple of the Doric order
Anta
Column drums
Column base
Cornice
sku lls in th e
Un cov eri ng hu ma n neat
h
n be
deb ris of th e tem ple o f ha
bit atio
nce
vide yer
ng e
n c o veri clay la
U n
gree
the
past horizons 52
Week 5 - more intriguing discoveries
53 past horizons
D ig In
A selectio n of archaeolo g i c a l
p r ojects around the worl d
Dates : 2 October-7 November 2010 (express ions of interest also sought for 2011 season)
Costs: Students-$1300AUD, volunteers-$3000 AUD (does not include airfare)
Contact: craig.barker@sydney.edu.au
Web: http://www.paphostheatre.co m
past horizons 54
Uni te d St ate s G a r f i e l d Fa r m
Excavation of the original log house site at this 1840s historically intact former Illinois
prairie farmstead and teamster inn, which is being restored as an 1840s working farm
museum. This newly-established five year archaeology investigation will allow volunteers
to help excavate, screen, wash and catalogue artefacts in the vicinity of the original 1836
Culverson family log house, the first settling family of Garfield Farm.
P L E A S E N O T E: The dates for the 2011 projects will start being posted by the en d o f 2 0 1 0 a t
t h e ea r l i e s t . I f there are any projects that interest you for 2011 get in touch with t h e r e l e v a n t
f i e l d d i r e c t o r e xpressing your interest as early as possible.
55 past horizons
Recipes for Archaeologists
VA R I E T Y A N D T H E S P I C E O F L I F E
THE FOOD that I p r o d u c e o n a d i g teams, re-assembled and re-bound in
varies according to t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s m a n y f a r- f l u n g p l a c e s o v e r t h e y e a r s .
and the needs of the t e a m . Some of the pages from this book can
be seen on my website, and some of the
Annie Evans It might be comfort foo d f r o m t h e c o u n t r y recipes which have featured right here
The Dig Cook where the participant s c o m e f r o m , q u i t e in Past Horizons can be downloaded as
often using recipes fro m s o m e o f t h e t e a m P D F f r o m w w w. d i g c o o k . c o m.
members. Or I might c h o o s e q u a s i - l o c a l
cuisine that becomes m o r e a u t h e n t i c a s One of the challenges of my work is
I gradually familiarise m y s e l f w i t h l o c a l in finding the right ingredients, not
ingredients and metho d s o f p r e p a r a t i o n . o n l y i n a n u n f a m i l i a r v il l a g e s h o p o r
Living in Australia, I’ v e l e a r n e d t o c o o k supermarket but with the handicap of
a wide variety of dis h e s b e c a u s e w e ’ r e a l a n g u a g e d i ff e r e n c e . T h i s i s n o t a
a nation of immigran t s . O u r r e s t a u r a n t s problem to me as I dislike the idea of
and home kitchens o ff e r a n e n o r m o u s a homogenized world where everything
diversity of food fr o m m a n y c u l t u r e s is the same. I believe that the fact that
with supplies of ingre d i e n t s t o m a t c h . certain ingredients are not available in a
p l a c e i s a r e m i n d e r o f c u l t u r a l d i ff e r e n c e
For variety and to giv e e v e r y o n e a b o o s t and is something to be celebrated.
I cook Asian dishes s u c h a s T h a i a n d
Indian curries, and s o m e I n d o n e s i a n But the cook is sometimes dealing with
noodle dishes which p r o v i d e p l e n t y o f a group of people who have certain
interest and exciteme n t t o t h e d i g m e n u . expectations, and he or she has to be able
The balance of my m e n u r e p e r t o i r e t o w o r k a r o u n d t h e p r a c t i ca l i t i e s o f s u c h
includes dishes that h a v e p r o v e d v e r y i s s u e s . H o w e v e r, w h e n y o u ’ r e o u t i n t h e
popular over the year s . country in a location far from home it
m a y b e d i ff i c u l t t o o b t a i n s u p p l i e s t o
These come from th e o l d h a n d - m a d e cook ethnic food from elsewhere in the
recipe book I compi l e d t h e f i r s t t i m e world, and this is where some culinary
I cooked for a dig b a c k i n 1 9 9 8 . A t l a t e r a l t h i n k i n g b e c o m e s n e c e s s a r y.
that time, I left m a n y b l a n k p a g e s
for additional recipe s . I s t i l l u s e t h a t T h e r e h a v e b e e n t i m e s wh e n I ’ v e u s e d
battered, splattered a n d f o o d - e n c r u s t e d spaghetti as noodles in Asian dishes
tome which is now f u l l t o o v e r f l o w i n g a n d n o o n e h a s b e e n a n y t h e w i s e r. I
with recipes from eve r y w h e r e I ’ v e b e e n m a k e a g o o d s u b s t i t u t e f or k e c a p m a n i s
since my first project i n C y p r u s w h e n I (Indonesian sweet soy) by simmering
cooked for a team fr o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y one cup of soy sauce and 2/3 cup brown
of Glasgow. Some of t h e s e a r e o r i g i n a l s u g a r o v e r a l o w h e a t u n ti l i t ’s s l i g h t l y
recipes that I would n e v e r a t t e m p t t o t h i c k a n d s y r u p y.
make for a large gro u p i n a p r i m i t i v e
kitchen with inadequ a t e f a c i l i t i e s ; a f t e r
I also travel with foil sac h e t s o f T h a i
all, there’s dinner p a r t y c o o k i n g a n d
curry pastes and the fo l l o w i n g i s a
then there’s dig coo k i n g , a n d t h e t w o
recipe for making cocon u t m i l k f r o m
are very different thin g s . desiccated coconut, wh i c h i s a l s o a
handy ingredient to hav e i f a n y o n e
I wouldn’t dream of g o i n g o n a d i g
on the team is lactose in t o l e r a n t .
without my recipe b o o k . I t h a s b e e n
photocopied by me m b e r s o f v a r i o u s
Apr i co t c h u t n e y
2 5 0 grams dried apricots
2 c u ps boiling water
2 0 0 grams sultan as or raisins
1 1 ⁄ 2 cups brown sugar
1 c u p vinegar
1 ⁄ 2 t easpoon ground cloves or 6 whole cl o v e s
2 t e a spoons mustard seeds or one teaspoo n m u s t a r d p o w d e r
2 t e a spoons ground ginger (optional)
Tand o o r i p a s te
1 t a b lespoon pap rika
1 t a b lespoon ground coriander seed
1 t a b lespoon ground cumin seed
3 t e a spoons ground ginger
1 t e a spoon turmeric
1 ⁄ 2 t easpoon ground chili powder
1 t a b lespoon veg etable oil
57 past horizons
U B
Birmingham provides the ideal footing for
anyone wanting to begin a career in
archaeology or the heritage environment.
Along with diverse skills and opportunities
provided, I also got to experience city life
in Britain’s second city. Thanks to the
course, I have been employed in
archaeology since I graduated in 2007.
Campus-based programmes
MA/PG Diploma in Practical Archaeology
MA/PG Diploma in Landscape Archaeology, GIS & Virtual
Environments
MSc in Environmental Archaeology & Palaeoenvironments
MA in Conflict Archaeology
M Phil (B) in Archaeological Practice
past horizons 58
Viewpoin t
The b e n e f i ts o f tea c h i n g cul tural her i t age
T H E FEAR of cuts and cutbacks has now b e c o m e appreciation of where they are and who they are;
a r e a lity for many of us in the heritage i n d u s t r y, t h e y d i s c u s s t h i s w i t h f r i e n d s a n d f a m i l y, p a s s i n g
from possible closure of ‘non-pr o f i t a b l e ’ on new knowledge and sharing the excitement.
m u s e ums, to the pruning of essential serv i c e s t h a t This can be about working out the location of
d o n ot include archaeology within its rin g - f e n c e d v i e w p o i n t s i n a n o v e rg r o w n 1 8 t h c e n t u r y g a r d e n
p r o t ection. So, is this a sad reality that w e m u s t or finding a WWII metalled road. Archaeology is
a c c e pt with a shrug and a weak smile whic h a d m i t s not just about hacking through jungles to find lost
t h a t maybe archaeology is not very impor t a n t a f t e r civilisations; discovery can happen anywhere and
a l l ? It is fair to say that given a choice b e t w e e n at any time, especially if you have been taught the
b i n collection, street repairs, and fun d i n g f o r appropriate skills.
s c h o ols and hospitals, versus handing o u t m o n e y
t o a r chaeology and other cultural platfo r m s , t h e The principal is one of holistic understanding of
n e e d s for basic services will always w i n o u t . community where interpersonal skills, outdoor
H o w ever, there may be valuable points w e h a v e fitness, careful thought and study combine with
f a i l e d to consider in the cost-cutting fre n z y. t h e m a i n i n g r e d i e n t w h i c h i s e n j oy m e n t . G r o u p
bonding comes with finding a common purpose
R e a d ing about the Project Archaeology v e n t u r e and realistic goals give everyone a sense of
( p a g e 8) I am inclined to think there a r e o t h e r achievement. This is a basic necessity for the
p o t e ntial losses which are easy to lose s i g h t o f h e a l t h y s o c i e t y t h a t w e a l l s t r i v e f o r. Yo u n g a n d
w h e n budgets are being drawn up. When c u t s a r e o l d , r i c h o r p o o r, i t r e a l l y d o e s n o t m a t t e r w h e n
m a d e , (and it is when rather than if), the l o n g - t e r m y o u a r e a l l i n i t t o g e t h e r, a n d t h i s i s w h e r e t h e
l o s s e s to heritage must be taken into consi d e r a t i o n ; need for decent facilities and good educators
a f t e r all, talented individuals, museums , a n d t h e comes in. Lose them and you lose a foundation
p a s t identity of a community cannot be p u t i n t o s t o n e . Te a c h i n g a n d c u l t u r a l e x p e r i e n c e s a r e n o t
s t o r a ge while money is being saved. O n c e l o s t w i n d o w d r e s s i n g f o r a n a ff l u e n t p u b l i c : t h e y h a v e
t h e s e are generally lost for good, and wha t w e o n c e been, and will continue to be, important to our
c o n s idered to be luxuries, or interesting p l a c e s o r wellbeing.
h o b b ies, turn out to be far more deep-ro o t e d t h a n
w e h ad ever have imagined. So what can we do to protect our cultural heritage?
In a way we are both powerless and powerful.
O v e r the last year I have been fortunate e n o u g h t o F i n a n c i a l c u t s w i l l t a k e p l a c e . H o w e v e r, w h e n
t e a c h evening cl asses in archaeology, w h i c h h a s it comes to losing something that has been well-
a l l o wed me a whole new perspective on th e n o t i o n established in the hearts and minds of a nation
o f p ublic archaeology. None of my clas s h a s a n y (such as Project Archaeology), it becomes harder
i n t e n tion of taking up archaeology as a ca r e e r, b u t to make these cuts. When there is a grass roots
b y t heir own ad mission it has made th e m v i e w support from a majority of people who have
t h e world in a different way. It has giv e n t h e m benefited from heritage education then they will
t h e s kills to analyse the environment w e l i v e i n , fight to keep rather than cut. After all, the value of
g i v i n g confidence in real life situations, a n d e v e n heritage cannot always be measured in economic
m a k i ng sense of Pythagoras (how else do y o u g e t a t e r m s a n d w h e n t h e f i n a n c ia l c r i s i s i s o v e r i t s n o t
r i g h t angle on a t rench!). They have deve l o p e d a n s o m et h i n g t h a t w e c a n j u s t p u r c h a s e b a c k .
D avid Connolly is the direc tor of British A rchaeolo gical J obs and Resources (B AJR)
Web: http://w w w.bajr.org
59 past horizons
WHS
W O R K H A R D O R S TA RV E
F i n d i t H e re
past horizons 60