Tambora S l ove n i a n D at i n g D e te c t i n g Fro nt i er

E xc avat i o n Preser vation H illfor ts Archaeology For t

Past Horizons
November
2009

U p f ro m t h e A s h es, Indonesia’s Online journal

of volunteer
Ki n g d o m o f Ta m bora Resurrec ted archaeology
and training

Adventures in Archaeology
Issue 10
November 2009

Editors:
Felicity Donohoe
Maggie Struckmeier

Layout:
Maggie Struckmeier

Graphics
David Connolly

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

Tel: +44 (0)1620 861643

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

Contributors:
Rik Stoetman 14 Up From the Ashes
Dan McLerran
Jamie Donahoe In 1815 on the Indonesian island of Tambora a massive volcanic eruption caused
Murray Cook
a pyroclastic flow which wiped out all in its path. The tiny Kingdom of Tambora
Dominic Hall
Peter Twinn disappeared under the ash. Now, almost 200 years later, the carbonised, well-
Ian B Kerr preserved remains are slowly being uncovered.
Dr. Michael Nasseney
Annie Evans

Front cover: The Jungle landscape

covering the lost Kingdom of
Tambora.
Photo: Rik Stoetman

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.
32 Making Preservation Happen
All content is copyright and no
reproduction of text or images is
allowed without prior permission
Slovenia is a small nation with big ambitions to preserve its wealth of historical
from the author. buildings. Two Slovenians are at the forefront of this work and have reached out
to the international community for help. Now in partnership with Colorado-based
Past Horizons 2009
Adventures in Preservation, hands-on workshops are now up and running.

past horizons 2
 Contents
8 Archaeology Through the Keyhole 38 Prepare for Action

Dating of hillforts has long been the subject of debate Dominic Hall, a field skills expedition leader, shares
amongst archaeologists. Murray Cook argues that some of his top tips for enjoying a safe but exciting
keyhole excavation is the way forward. adventure.

20 A Series of Fortunate Events 26 Fort St. Joseph

Metal detectorist Peter Twinn describes the An 18th century French frontier fort involved in the fur trade
chain of events in his life that led to a passion provides the subject for an exceptional award-winning community
for archaeology. archaeology project.

R e g u l a rs
4 Editorial 44 Course Finder
Community involvement. Suggestions for practical archaeology courses
within the UK and Ireland.
6 News
News stories from around the world. 45 Viewpoint
David Connolly discusses the need to create
40 Dig In standards in archaeology.
Volunteer digs and field schools for 2010.
46 Back Pages
42 Dig Cook Archaeology comedy from the video archive,
Culinary escapades from Annie Evans. including classic Monty Python.

3 past horizons
 C o m m u n i t y involvement...
editorial
C o m m u n i t y down through generations a n d i s o f t e n
archaeology accepted as truth. Dealing w i t h t h e s e
has been hailed communities requires sen s i t i v i t y a n d
as the antidote care from the archaeologis t a s p e o p l e
to commercial understandably take great p r i d e i n t h e i r
archaeology, a corner of the world. For e x a m p l e , y o u
way to remind can be guaranteed that ev e r y t i m e a
ourselves that Scottish castle or mansion i s m e n t i o n e d
a r c h aeology is about people’s lives a local will recount a story c o n n e c t i n g i t
a n d what they left behind, and not just to Mary Queen of Scots. S i m p l e s t o n e -
a b o u t schedules, budgets and financial lined drains are mysteri o u s e s c a p e
a c c o untability. However, are most tunnels that lead from every c a s t l e , a n d
a r c h aeologists ready to tackle this type any suspicious mound is bo u n d t o b e a
o f w ork? From my experience working plague pit or a Roman cam p . O h , a n d
w i t h a community can be a great pleasure don’t forget the pot of gold t h a t i s s a i d
b u t i t can also be a potential minefield. to be buried somewhere in t h e v i c i n i t y.

The Time Team o f c o u r s e

may have a lo t t o a n s w e r
for in the c r e a t i o n o f
unrealistic expectations.
These days, t h e p u b l i c
expectation is t h a t a l m o s t
anything can b e f o u n d a n d
the mystery so l v e d i n t h r e e
days. Everyon e i s h a p p y
and by the end o f t h e t h i r d
day they can be f o u n d d o w n
the pub celebr a t i n g .

However, we a l l k n o w
that this is n o r m a l l y n o t
what happens . I n f a c t ,
the beauty of a r c h a e o l o g y
is that it pro d u c e s m o r e
questions than a r e i n i t i a l l y
Pe o p l e o f Co u s l a n d e xca va t i n g a ro und a 15th centur y tower house in the
ce n t re o f t h e i r v i l l a g e.
asked, which i s g r e a t f o r
the archaeolo g i s t b u t a
M y advice is to tread carefully and take community is often not rea d y f o r t h i s .
t i m e to connect with people, find out You may be held responsib l e f o r t h e i r
w h a t they want through discussion but initial disappointment if you d o n o t f i n d
h a v e the strength of character to keep the what they were looking fo r b u t i f y o u
m o m entum going when the community remain positive and enthu s i a s t i c , a n d
m i g h t seem downhearted at a perceived explain your case clearly, y o u m i g h t b e
l a c k of progress. After all , archaeology pleasantly surprised by th e i r g r a d u a l
c a n be a long, drawn-out process and can acceptance.
o f t e n disappoint the hopeful.
Community archaeology c a n b e a n
R e m ember, every community has its own organic process. It may h a v e a c l e a r
e s t a blished history that has been passed starting point but it can chan g e d i r e c t i o n
editor@pasthorizons.com 
past horizons 4
Volunte e r s f o r t h e 2 0 0 9 N a t i o n a l Tr u s t f o r S co t l a n d Thistle Camp getting ready to excavate Black potts hillfor t, St. Abbs.
a l o n g t h e w a y and does not necessarily
h a v e a n e n d . By contrast, if you are used
t o c o m m e r c i a l work the process is quite
d i ff er e n t . T h e archaeologist goes in with a
p r e - d e t e r m i n e d goal, the community is not
g e n e r a l l y p a r t of the process and there is a
t i m e s c a l e f o r completion. It is ther efore no
Membe r s o f Ed i n b u rg h A rc h a e o l o g i ca l Fie l d S o c iet y helping
to loca te a 1 2 t h ce n t u r y c hu rc h a t O l d Pe n t l a n d g raveyard on
behalf o f t h e l o ca l co m mu n i t y.
wonder that many commercial ar c h a e o l o g i s t s
find it difficult to make the ment a l t r a n s i t i o n
to community involvement.
Perhaps more training is n e e d e d f o r
archaeologists who are int e r e s t e d in
community engagement. After al l , s e c t i o n 6 4
of the proposed Planning Policy S t a t e m e n t 1 5
for England and Wales makes it c l e a r t h a t i n
the future some commercial ar c h a e o l o g i c a l
excavations which may be of pu b l i c i n t e r e s t
should be made more acce s s i b l e . T h e
feasibility of this goal needs mor e d i s c u s s i o n
and does not constitute full-blown c o m m u n i t y
archaeology, but it may open t h e d o o r s
for greater community involvem e n t i n t h e
future. Although some archaeolo g i s t s w i l l b e
horrified by this prospect it is m y b e l i e f t h a t
archaeology can benefit from thi s p r o c e s s .
There seems to be a consensus of o p i n i o n t h a t
commercial archaeology needs to b e c o m e m o r e
community friendly but until now t h a t h a s b e e n
met with some resistance. Legis l a t i o n i s n o t
always welcome but sometimes it f o r c e s u s t o
re-evaluate our position and in t h i s i n s t a n c e
it might just be a step in the righ t d i r e c t i o n .
Maggie Struckmeier
5 past horizons
 E xc avat i n g a Po s s i b l e E a r l y C h r i s t i a n B a p tister y

T he 2009 summer training excavation and later Anglo-Saxon bu i l d i n g s h a v e

news of the Kent Archaeological Field also added to the rich repe r t o i r e o f t h e
S chool (KAFS) set out to investigate site.
a Roman octagonal building at Bax
F arm in Kent, south east England. The jewel in the crown, h o w e v e r, i s
T he building was located in 2000 by the bath house which has n o p a r a l l e l
e xcavation director Dr Paul Wilkinson in south east England. Th e s t r u c t u r e ,
a s debris in a field during the Swale approximately 14 metres a c r o s s , h a s
A rchaeological Survey. arcaded columns surround i n g t h e h u g e
four metre-wide central oct a g o n a l p o o l .
T he 2009 excavation brought together The walls of the building we r e o r i g i n a l l y
8 2 students from most of the major covered with decorated pa i n t e d p l a s t e r
B ritish universities who helped to and the floors with unu s u a l l y s m a l l
expose this magnificent tesserae in black,
l a te Roman octagonal yellow, re d a n d b l u e
s t ructure, complete stone and t i l e . S m a l l e r
w ith an octagonal The high building marble m o s a i c c u b e s
c e ntral plunge were als o r e t r i e v e d
would have echoed
b ath. The corpus of indicating t h a t s o m e
e xcavated pottery and and reflec ted the of the floo r s m a y h a v e
c oins suggests that the sound of cascading featured m o s a i c s .
b uilding at Bax Farm water on its blue
w as built during the domed ceiling. Octagonal b u i l d i n g s o f
r e ign of Constantine, this type ha v e o n l y e v e r
the first Christian been found i n E n g l a n d ’s
e mperor, and could be associated West Country at Lufton an d H o l c o m b e .
w ith his time in Britain where he was Further afield in Italy, at R a v e n n a a n d
p r oclaimed emperor on the death of his Rome, there are known t o b e e a r l y
f a ther at York. Christian baptisteries. The f u n c t i o n o f
these elaborate and exotic b u i l d i n g s i n
A mazingly, the blue-coloured fresco Britain has often been di s c u s s e d b u t
f l oor of the plunge bath has survived, most experts favour the i d e a t h a t t h e
a s well as the lead water pipe leading octagonal frigidarium at t h e c e n t r e o f
f r om the massive brick arched conduit the building could have b e e n u s e d f o r
b uilt to carry large amounts of water to Christian or possibly Jewi s h b a p t i s m a l
t h e plunge bath. bathing. This theory is s u p p o r t e d b y
the discovery of a Roman l e a d s e a l a t
A mong the other structures that Dr. Bax Farm which depicts a s p e c i a l k i n d
Wilkinson has found on the site, of five-branched menorah u s e d i n t h e
r e vealed by evaluation trenches dug in Jewish baptism ceremony, a n d m a y b e
2 006 along with a geophysical survey, a ‘redemption of the first b o r n ’ m e d a l .
i s the concrete base of an enormous
R oman corn mill. A road or ‘hollow- Some rooms at Bax F a r m h a d
w ay’ also leads down from other Roman underfloor heating as wel l a s a l c o v e s
b uildings to a possible harbour, and the which contained hot plung e b a t h s . O f
p r esence of earlier Iron-Age ditches particular interest is the dis c o v e r y o f a n

Top right image: Adam Stanford http://www.aerial-cam.co.uk

Bottom right image: Lawrence Lew

past horizons 6
2009 exca va t i o n s a t B a x Fa r m re ve a l i n g t h e o c t a g o nal building with central plunge pool.

a p s e o r s c h o l a set out of the perimeter of the base of a large cold-water basin o r l a b r u m . I t

o c t a g o n a l b u i l d ing on the south west side. It is logical to assume it is probab l e t h e r e w a s
e n c l o s e s a h y p o caust hot room and the masonry a vaulted ceiling carried on arca d e d c o l u m n s
above the central pool and its fou n t a i n ( s o m e
elements of a stucco ceiling hav e s u r v i v e d ) ,
and a large dome set on pendent i v e s p i e r c e d
by clearstory lighting. The hi g h b u i l d i n g
would have echoed and reflected t h e s o u n d o f
cascading water on its blue dome d c e i l i n g .

Ceilings such as these would h a v e b e e n

possible with the columns or arca d i n g b e a r i n g
the vertical pressure, with the s u r r o u n d i n g
ground floor room masonry w a l l d i v i d e r s
providing a buttress to counteract t h e o u t w a r d
thrust of the tower. This was very s o p h i s t i c a t e d
Roman engineering that was mor e c o m m o n i n
the Eastern Roman Empire, and w i l l n o d o u b t
encourage discussion on why suc h i n f l u e n c e s
were present in Roman Britain.

The octagonal Lateran Baptister y in Rome is thought to To find out more about Kent Arc h a e o l o gi c a l
be the first building of its k ind, founded by Pope Six tus III Field S chool (K AFS) visit the web s i te :
in 440. http://k afs.co.uk/index.html

7 past horizons
 S co t l a n d

Hillforts of Strathdon

Lammermuirs
Rampart Scotland

Studen t s a n d vo l u n te e r s e xca va t i n g a n d s i e v i n g on Hill of Barra, Aberdeenshire. Images: D avid Connolly

past horizons 8
 Archaeology
through the Keyhole
A small team of professional archaeologists,
students and local volunteers have been
car r ying out keyhole research excavations
on the hillfor ts in the nor th east of S cotland.
Mur ray Cook the projec t direc tor explains how
keyhole excavation could reignite the debate
on the dating of these magnificent but little
understood monuments.

Keyhole trench over stone rampar t on Hill of Barra.

A s m a l l f o r t s i t u a t e d o n a s m all nose hill and mountain range the length and

of l a n d a n d c o n s i s t i n g o f a s t one wall breadth of Scotland.
sur ro u n d e d a t a s l i g h t l y l o w e r level by
a r a m p a r t w i t h a n e x t e r n a l d i tch. Attempting to address the problem, the

T
Hillforts of Strathdon project was set
his 1959 d e s c r i p t i on of up in 2007 with the specific purpose
A b e r d e e n s h i r e ’s M a i d e n Castle of producing solid dating e vidence for
c a n b e f o u n d i n r e c o r ds of the some of these enigmatic sites. Supplying
Roy a l C o m m i s s i o n o n t h e A n c ient and primary data to move the subject
His t o r i c a l M o n u m e n t s o f Scotland. forward is the overarching aim of the
Ast o n i s h i n g l y, u n t i l r e c e n tly this project, arguing that if archaeologists
wa s t h e s u m t o t a l o f o u r k n owledge continue only to undertake survey after
reg a r d i n g t hi s s i t e , a n d i s s a d l y true for survey we will have better plans but no
the m a j o r i t y o f h i l l f o r t s f o u n d on every new dates!


9 past horizons
Tap O ’N o t h h i l l f o r t , A b e rd e e n s h i re.

The Aberdeenshire hillforts have been surveyed achieving these goals the aim of t h e H i l l f o r t s
a n d a s s e s s e d t h r ee times since the 1960s, each of Strathdon project has been to off e r t r a i n i n g
t i m e u s i n g t h e same basic evidence of size to enable future generations o f r e s e a r c h
a n d t y p e o f d e f ences. With each new survey students to carry out their own pr o j e c t s .
t h e s a m p l e s i z e became smaller and smaller,
r e s p e c t i v e l y N o rthern Britain, Aberdeenshire Scotland already has a fine t r a d i t i o n o f
a n d f i n a l l y t h e Don Valley, each time coming keyhole excavation which has d e m o n s t r a t e d
u p w i t h d i ff e r e nt conclusions. As result, for good results. Examples of suc h p r o j e c t s
t h e b e s t p a r t o f 50 years all we have to work include Colin Renfrew’s work at t h e R i n g o f
w i t h i s a m a s s i ve corpus of data but no new Brodgar, Orkney in 1979 (recen t l y a m a j o r
h a r d e v i d e n c e t o go on. research excavation by Orkney R e s e a r c h
Centre for Archaeology), Close-B r o o k ’s w o r k
A rg u a b l y, l e s s a nd less primary research work
i s u n d e r t a k e n e ach year by academics, both
b e c a u s e o f t h e rising costs of such work, as
w e l l a s t h e d r i v e of United Kingdom national
p o l i c y t o p r e s erve remains in situ. As a
c o n s e q u e n c e o f this, local archaeological
s o c i e t i e s a n d c ommunity projects have also
t e n d ed t o f o c u s on non-intrusive arch aeology
i n c l u d i n g d e s k - based work, field walking and
v a r i o u s t y p e s o f survey.

A d v a n c e s i n d ating techniques have seen a

Image: Paddy Paterson

r e c e n t u p s u rg e o f interest in the use of limited

k e y h o l e e x c a vation to retrieve carbonised
m a t e r i a l f o r C 1 4 dating. Real academ ic gains
c a n r e s u l t f r o m a relatively small investment
i n m o n e y a n d time which safeguards the
m o n um e n t f o r future research. Alongside R ing of Brodgar, O rk ney.

past horizons 10
a t C l a t c h a r d C r aig, Fife in 1987 (now quarried while charcoal from below the w a l l i n d i c a t e s
a w a y ) , t h e l a t e Leslie Alcock’s work on Early that it was constructed after the 6 t h o r 7 t h
H i s t o r i c f o r t i f i cations during the 1980’s and centuries. This was a complete su r p r i s e a s t h e
m o s t r e c e n t l y t he Edinburgh University Angus
a n d s o u t h A b e r deenshire Field School.

I t i s p o s s i b l e t o take a very targeted approach

t o r e t r i e v i n g d ata from a hillfort by putting
i n a t r e n c h o f around 10m long x 1m wide
a c r o s s t h e r a mparts and ditches. However,
t h e m e t h o d o l o g y must be flexible enough to
a l l o w f o r s i t e v ariations. This allows the best
c h a n c e o f r e c o vering charcoal and m inimises
a n y a r c h a e o l o g ical intrusion. On co nclusion
o f t h e f i e l d w o rk all that is left to do is to
d r a w u p t h e p lans and sections, sieve the
s a m p l e s a n d o btain charcoal identifications
a n d r a d i o c a r b o n dates. A report can then be
p r o d u c e d , w i t h plans, sections and dating
e v i d e n c e a n d significantly, there is an
a l m o s t i m m e d iate academic return; a real
c h r o n o l o g i c a l f ramework to work fro m. Retrieving charcoal from the wall and ditch of Maiden Castle.

Ta k i n g M a i d e n Castle as an example, the team site was never assumed to date t o t h e e a r l y

d e c i d e d t o u n d ertake keyhole excavation in
2 0 0 7 a n d a g a i n in 2008. Three radiocarbon
d a t e s w e r e r e c o vered from below and above the
o u t e r r a m p a r t and below the inner e nclosure
w a l l . T h e d a t e s show that the rampart was
c o n s t r u c t e d i n the 5th to 7th centuries AD,
historic period.
Excited by the obvious potential a n d w i s h i n g
to undertake a comparative study, t h e p r o j e c t
is now focusing on another regio n a l t o g e t h e r
and looking to the future it has bee n c h r i s t e n e d

11 past horizons
Get Involved
The R ampar t S co t l a n d projec t will take in the
Lammer muir H ills near Edinburgh. An impor tant
par t of the projec t is to provide training to students
and volunteers in excavation and sur vey techniques
taught by professional archaeologists.

Dates: 1 - 15 August 2010

Cost: £395 (includes bunk house accommodation,

food and transpor t to and from site).

For more details and to book a place email Mur ray

Cook at: info@rampar tscotland.co.uk

Website: http://w w w.rampar tscotland.co.uk

R a m p a r t S c o t land. Moving south to the give up a bit of their time to jo i n u s i n t h i s

r u g ge d , h e a t h e r covered Lammermuir Hills in immensely enjoyable experience . I t i s e a s y t o
t h e L o t h i a n s a n d due east of the capital city of feel a little jaded with the comm e r c i a l w o r l d
E d i n b u rg h , e n ormous hillforts stand silently and what better way to recharge y o u r b a t t e r i e s
g u a rd i n g e v e r y ancient pass. than a couple of week in the beau t i f u l S c o t t i s h
hills.
I n c o m m o n w i th the Aberdeenshire hillforts
o n l y s h o r t d e s criptions are available of the As a commercial archaeologist m y s e l f , w i t h
physical characteristics as there have been little many years of experience behin d m e , t a k i n g
o r n o i n t r u s i v e archaeological investigations part in a purely research based pr o j e c t i s t r u l y
w i t h i n t h e i n terior portions, ramparts and rewarding. I have enjoyed the c h a l l e n g e o f
d i t c h e s . T h e m ighty Traprain Law which lies teaching new skills to students an d v o l u n t e e r s
a f e w m i l e s t o the north of the Lammermuirs and take great pleasure in seeing p e o p l e c o m e
i s t h e o n l y h i l l fort of the region to have been back each year. A couple of s t u d e n t s w h o
e x t e n s i v e l y s t u died in recent years and shows have been with the project from t h e s t a r t w e r e
a d at i n g r a n g e from the Neolithic period to given supervisory roles on the 2 0 0 9 H i l l o f
the Mediaeval. Barra excavation and it is heart e n i n g s o s e e
their confidence growing as the i r s k i l l s s e t
I n a d d i t i o n t o k eyhole excavation the Rampart develops.
S c o t l a n d p r o j e ct will expand to survey the
s u r r o u n d i n g c o untryside. It is hoped to obtain At present we are in negotiation s w i t h a l l t h e
a g r e a t e r u n d e rstanding of how each hillfort various landowners and of cou r s e H i s t o r i c
s i t s w i t h i n t h e wider landscape by looking at Scotland in order to finalise th e d e t a i l s f o r
t h e m a n y u n e x plored features that lie within future years of Rampart Scotlan d . T h e r e a r e
the environs. so many interesting hillforts to c h o o s e f r o m
in the Lammermuirs that we a r e s p o i l t f o r
T h e H i l l f o r t s o f Strathdon project has enabled choice. Our firm belief in this pr o j e c t a n d t h e
u s t o l e a r n m uch about keyhole excavation benefits it can bring to Scottish a r c h a e o l o g y
a n d h a s a l l o w e d us to hone our techniques in is extremely exciting and I for on e c a n n o t w a i t
a n o n c o m m e r cial environment. We would to get out there to examine the p a s t t h r o u g h
e n c o u r a g e o t h e r commercial archaeologists to the keyhole once again.

Murray Cook joine d AOC A rchaeology Group as a subcontrac tor in 1996 eventually becoming a direc tor in 2007
managing a wide range of projec ts. In 2009 he joined Oxford A rchaeology Nor th as post- excavation programme
manager. Throughout his career he has developed and run a number of communit y-led archaeological projec ts
and remains passionately committed to under tak ing research for the sake of research!

past horizons 12
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professional training courses aimed to provide you with the skills you need to
work in the heritage environment today. From project management techniques
in archaeology to the visualisation of past environments, we aim to give you
practical experience in the diverse range of techniques and approaches
available to heritage practitioners.

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

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

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

Distance Education programmes

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

To find out more, go to

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

13 past horizons
 Sumbawa 0 10km

Area of
Investigation

Tambora

Above : T h e j u n g l e g row s ove r t h e l o s t k i n g d o m o f Tambora. Images: R ik Stoetman

R ight: T h e ca r b o n i s e d s ke l e t a l re m a i n s o f a re s i d ent of Tambora caught in the pyroclastic surge.

past horizons 14
Up fro m t h e As hes
Discover ing the K ingdom of Tambora

B y R ik Stoetman and Dan M cLer ran

M o s t p e o p l e are familiar with the cataclysmic

e r u p t i o n s of Mount Krakatau and Mount
Ve s u v i u s b o t h o f which left an indelible mark on
h u m a n h i s t o r y. Comparatively few, by contrast,
h a v e h e a r d o f t he eruption of Mount Tambora in
A p r i l 1 8 1 5 o n t he island of Sumbawa, Indonesia,
b u t i t i s n o w a c c epted that this was the largest and
p o s s i b l y m o s t d estructive eruption on record.

T h e p y r o c l a s t i c onslaught of pumice and ash

c o m p l e t e l y e n g ulfed and destroyed two entire
k i n g d o m s w i t h i n the vicinity of the volcano, Pekat
a n d Ta m b o r a , l eaving no survivors. The swathe
o f d e s t r u c t i o n , however, did not stop there. 

15 past horizons
Sunset ove r M o u n t Ta m b o ra’s ca l d e ra .

T h e n e i g h b o u r i ng islands of Bali, Lombok and patterns as far away as Europe a n d N o r t h

s o u t h S u l a w e s i were covered in a crushing
b l a n k e t o f a s h 20 to 30 centimetres thick,
c o l l a p s i n g b u i ldings and burying many of
t h e i r i l l - f a t e d inhabitants. The worst was
y e t t o f o l l o w, with destroyed crops leading
t o m a s s i v e f a m ine, plunging the islands into
a n a b y s s o f p o verty and misery. Alto gether it
i s b el i e v e d t h a t 117,000 people in the region
d i e d , m o s t o f them from disease. It would
b e f i v e l o n g y ears until any new vegetative
g r o w t h r e t u r n e d to the area.
America. In fact it rated as 7 on t h e Vo l c a n i c
Explosivity Index giving it the sta t u s o f ‘ s u p e r
colossal’. Research now connects d i r e c t l y t h e
summer of 1816, known as the ‘ y e a r w i t h o u t
summer ’ with the eruption which t h r e w u p a
column of ash 28 miles high. T h e u n u s u a l l y
cold summer in the Northern H e m i s p h e r e
was caused by a lack of penetra t i n g s u n l i g h t
due to the high amount of upper a t m o s p h e r i c
dust. This in turn contributed to c a t a s t r o p h i c
flooding and eventual famine.

The eruption of Mount Tambora was so immense Europe, still recuperating from th e N a p o l e o n i c
a n d i t s f o r c e s o powerful that its attendant Wars, suffered from food shor t a g e s . F o o d
atmospheric effects influenced weather riots broke out in Britain and F r a n c e a n d
grain warehouses were looted. T h e v i o l e n c e
was worst in landlocked Switze r l a n d , w h e r e
famine caused its government t o d e c l a r e a
national emergency. It is estimat e d t h a t t h e r e
were 200,000 deaths in Europe a s a n i n d i r e c t
result of the eruption.

Mount Tambora’s height was e s t i m a t e d a t

around 4000 metres before 1815 b u t i t l i t e r a l l y
blew its own top off and was red u c e d i n s i z e
to 2851 metres producing a crate r, o r c a l d e r a ,
six kilometres in diameter and 11 0 0 m e t r e s
deep. Before the blast, the peopl e o f Ta m b o r a
made a living primarily by growin g r i c e , m u n g
and maize, and by trading coffe e , b e e s w a x ,
pepper, cotton, timber, honey, r e d w o o d ,
Pumice fa l l f ro m t h e e r u p t i o n o f 1 8 1 5 .

past horizons 16
s a n d a l w o o d , i ncense, red dye and horses.
B y t h e t i m e o f the eruption, it is estimated
t h a t Ta m b o r a consisted of approximately
1 0 , 0 0 0 i n h a b i t ants, defining what seemed to
b e a s m a l l b u t wealthy kingdom. Situated on
t h e v o l c a n o ’s western flank, the remains of
t h i s k i n g d o m a re now being investigated by
archaeologists.
The remarkable preservative eff e c t s o f t h e
searing volcanic surge carbon i s e d a l m o s t
everything in its path. This has l e f t b e h i n d
a wealth of structures, artefacts a n d h u m a n
remains which are beginning t o y i e l d
information about the lifesty l e t h a t t h e
inhabitants enjoyed before this c a t a c l y s m i c
event.


Collap s e d ca r b o n i s e d b u i l d i n g s t r u c t u re w i t h p re ser ved coil of rope in foreground.

17 past horizons
A carb o n i s e d s ke l e to n b u r i e d u n d e r a t wo m e t re t hick ash deposit.

Work started in 2004 when v o l c a n o l o g i s t

Dr. Haraldur Sigurdsson of the U n i v e r s i t y
of Rhode Island, United States o f A m e r i c a ,
discovered remnants of a buried village. Known
as ‘Museum Gully’ by the loc a l s b e c a u s e
of the amount of artefacts found t h e r e , i t i s
located approximately five kilom e t r e s i n l a n d ,
deep in the jungle. Sigurdsson’s f i r s t m a j o r
find, located using ground penet r a t i n g r a d a r,
included a complete house crus h e d b e n e a t h
two to three metres of pyroclas t i c f l o w a n d
surge deposits. Though complet e l y c h a r r e d ,
it was well-preserved making it p o s s i b l e t o
identify the shape of the roof, r o o f b e a m s
and bamboo floors. Chinese po r c e l a i n a n d
copper bowls lay within the hou s e s t r u c t u r e ,
indicating a wealthy people who h a d g r o w n
prosperous from trade.

Since 2004, succeeding excav a t i o n s h a v e

Well-pre s e r ve d s m a l l C h i n e s e s to ra g e j a r f o r a l co hol.
revealed a number of features, a r t e f a c t s a n d
human skeletal remains. In 20 0 8 , a n o t h e r
house was uncovered, this time c o n t a i n i n g a
male skeleton sitting in an uprig h t p o s i t i o n ,
still adorned with a copper toba c c o b o x t i e d
to the waist and a ceremonial spea r a t h i s s i d e .
On his fingers were rings inlaid w i t h p r e c i o u s
stones, a bracelet on his wrist a n d a r o u n d
his neck he wore a large pendulu m n e c k l a c e .
The pendulum is considered loca l l y t o b e a n
attribute of royal dress. In 20 0 9 , a n o t h e r
carbonised house structure was d i s c o v e r e d ,
this time with another male sk e l e t o n l y i n g
just outside under the fallen deb r i s , h i s l e f t
hand cradling the back of his hea d .
D amag e d C h i n e s e b ow l s w i t h g l a z i n g i n p r i s t i n e condition.

past horizons 18
T h e e x c a v a t i o n s have so far only s cratched
t h e s u r f a c e . T hey will continue during 2010
u n d e r t h e d i r e ction of Dr. M. Geria of the
B a l i I n s t i t u t e f or Archaeology, building upon
t h e p r e v i o u s w ork that has taken place. The
l o g i s t i c a l e x p e rtise for the project falls to
R i k S t o e t m a n o f Travel4pros, an exp erienced
e x p e d i t i o n l e a der. They are both looking
f o r w a r d t o w e l coming students and volunteers
f r o m a r o u n d t he world who will work in
t a n d e m w i t h l o cal archaeologists to excavate
a n d r e c o r d t h e site.
T h e K i n g d o m of Tambora is particularly
i n t r i g u i n g b e c a use very little is known about
i t s r e s i d e n t s , t he language they spoke, how
t h e i r l i v e s w e r e structured and who they traded
w i t h . N o w, w i th the help of archaeological
r e s e a r c h a p i c ture is starting to emerge. The
a r t e f a c t s r e c o vered point to trading links
p a r t ic u l a r l y w i th Vietnam and Cambodia. It
h a s e v e n b e e n s uggested in the scant historical
r e c o r d s t h a t a visitor to the island just before
1 8 1 5 c o n c l u d e d that the Tamborans spoke
a l a n g u a g e s i milar to that of Cambodian or
Laotian.
However, what we do know for c e r t a i n i s t h e
fateful events that took place h e r e i n A p r i l
1815 brought an end to this thrivin g k i n g d o m i n
the most horrific and deadly of cir c u m s t a n c e s .
The opportunity to bring Tambo r a u p f r o m
the ashes allows the chance to s t u d y a n o l d
world order that had been lost to u s u n t i l n o w
and with each new discovery tha t w o r l d g e t s
tantalisingly closer.
R ik Stoetman has lived in Indonesia for 22 years and
works in par tnership with local people expor ting and
promoting Indonesian handicra f ts. With his excellent
local k nowledge, he has led many groups and expeditions,
including a National G eographic expedition to the
hear t of Borneo. R ik is currently work ing closely with
volcanologist D r Haraldur Sigurdsson and Balinese
archaeologists on the Mount Tambora e xplosion.
D an McLerran is a freelance writer and ar tist who has
par ticipated in a number of excavations in the United
States, as well as the Bethsaida Excavations Projec t
in Israel. He is creator and editor of A rchaeological
D igs, a popular info -blog about archaeological digs
and research oppor tunities. He is also creator and
administrator of A rchaeologyNet, an online social
net work for archaeologists, students, volunteers and
educators.

Get Invol ve d
Vo lunteers will receive training in excavation, site recording and
other investigative techniques.

Par ticipants will lodge in a local guesthouse or may camp near the
excavation site in tents.

When not wor k ing, there will be oppor tunities to explore the area,
which includes the beautiful beaches, a shor t boat tr ip to Satonda
Island, a climb to the summit of M ount Tambora or hikes in the vicinit y
of the dig.

Dates: 20 June - 3 July 2010

Co st: $1500 (approx £950 or €1050)

The volunteer contr ibutions help to provide much needed resources
and finance for the local archaeologists and the communit y.
Dates: 20 June - 3 July 2010

Email R ik Stoetman at travel4pros_indonesia@yahoo.com for more

infor mation or to apply.
Website: http://travel4pros-indonesia.blogspot.com for more detailed
infor mation.

R ik Stoetman exploring the vic init y of Tambora.

19 past horizons
Above: Peter Twinn detecting in a Gloucestershire field in 2005. R ight: Peter Twinn excavating
Image: Charles S ainsbu r y- Pl a ce

past horizons 20
 A
S er ies o f
For tunate
Events
B y Pe te r Tw i n n

D
u r i n g my ve r y f i r s t te r m at school our histor y class visite d B er keley
Ca s t l e, S o u t h G l o u ce s tershire, in the south east of England. This tr ip
l e f t a n i n d e l i b l e m a r k u pon me, opening the door to an interest in all
thin g s h i s to r i c a l. I l i k e to b e l ieve this exper ience was the star t of a ser ies
of fo r t u n ate e ve nt s t h at e ve ntually awakened in me a ver y real passion for
arch a e o l o g y.

A f t e r l e a v i n g school my job brought me into Now very aware of the importance o f r e c o r d i n g

c o n t a c t w i t h a colleague who was selling a
m e t a l d e t e c t o r. Deciding to buy it, I used this
C - S c o p e 7 7 0 D on many occasions in my local
w o o d s a n d p a r ks and never found anything
m u c h o l d e r t h a n a Georgian penny, but for me
i t w a s , a n d s t i ll is, a very tangible way of
t o u c h i n g t h e p ast.
T h e n , n e a r l y 2 0 years later, in 2002, a sequence
o f e v e n t s c h a nged everything. I joined a
m e t a l d e t e c t i n g web forum called UKDetector
N e t ( U K D N ) a nd participated in discussions
a b o u t d e t e c t i n g machines, finds identification,
d e t e c t i n g o n f a rm scheme land and recording
f i n d s w i t h t h e Portable Antiquities Scheme
( PA S ) . I u p g r a ded my detector, was introduced
t o m y l o c a l F i nds Liaison Officer (FLO) Kurt
A d a m s a n d e v entually I became part of the
UKDN team.
finds, I purchased a hand held G a r m i n G P S
(Global Positioning System) wh i c h a l l o w e d
me to record and bag ’n’ tag in t h e f i e l d . I
could then hand my finds over to K u r t A d a m s
for further recording and researc h .
The next fortunate event occurre d o n a w a r m
September evening in 2006 when I m e t a g r o u p
of people on a field that I had p e r m i s s i o n t o
detect. The group were part time a r c h a e o l o g y
students from a continuing educ a t i o n c o u r s e
run by the University of Bristol an d w e r e l a y i n g
out a grid for fieldwalking. I w a s i n v i t e d t o
come along the next day to det e c t t h i s a r e a
for them and was then encourage d t o s i g n u p
to their university course. I hav e t o s a y t h a t
the meeting in that field and the s u b s e q u e n t
adventure I have undertaken has b e e n a r o l l e r
coaster ride that has yet to stop.


21 past horizons
Berkele y Ca s t l e, S o u t h G l o u ce s te r s h i re, b u i l t c. 1 1 53 AD.

T h e c o u r s e a t Bristol University, initiated by It would be wonderful to see mor e e x c a v a t i o n

M i c k A s t o n o f Time Team , has introduced me directors engage with metal de t e c t o r i s t s t o
t o s o m e f a n t a stic people. Dr. Stuart Prior, allow for a last line of defence a g a i n s t t h e
P r o f e s s o r M a r k Horton and Dr. Paul Tubb loss of precious historical ma t e r i a l s . T h e
h a v e l e f t t h e i r mark of encouragement and 2009 spoilheap contained a cut h a l f p e n n y o f
e x p er i e n c e f o r which I am extremely grateful. William the first and a cut half pen n y o f h i s s o n
T h e y h a v e e q u i pped me with the skills to deal Henry the first (found by continui n g e d u c a t i o n
w i t h t h e a r c h aeological sites I have come student Mark Smith) and even dur i n g t h e v e r y
a c r o s s w h i l e d etecting and fieldwalking. last day of the dig, a 12th cent u r y h e r a l d i c
harness pendant hanger belongin g t o t h e d e
M y c o u r s e a l s o led to an invitation by Dr. Sudeley family was also discover e d .
P r i o r a n d P r o f essor Horton to participate in
a r e s e a r c h e x c avation in the Gloucestershire The greatest satisfaction, though , w a s y e t t o
t o w n o f B e r k e l ey, looking for an Anglo Saxon come. Returning once more to the s c e n e o f t h e
d o u b l e m i n s t e r. Whilst allowing me to take school trip I undertook all these y e a r s a g o , I
p a r t i n a n e x t e n sive archaeological excavation, was pleasantly surprised to be in v i t e d b y D r.
i t a l s o g a v e m e a chance to demons trate my Prior to assist him in a talk to the ‘ F r i e n d s o f
m e t al d e t e c t i n g skills to the team. Berkeley Castle’ where I found m y s e l f i n t h e
Great Hall facing the gathered c r o w d . T h i s
I n 2 0 0 7 , I w a s s oon discovering small finds on event for me was a lovely culm i n a t i o n o f a
t h e s p o i l h e a p which had been missed during story that started back at school a g e d 11 .
d i g g i n g . R e t u r ning in 2008, many more finds
c a m e t o l i g h t including an impor tant 8th My own personal projects beg a n i n 2 0 0 2
c e n t u r y A n g l o Saxon artefact, believed to covering an area of around 20 0 0 h e c t a r e s
b e an A e s t l e or text pointer for mediaeval of Gloucestershire. I gain a g r e a t d e a l o f
m a n u s c r i p t s . This exciting find in troduces satisfaction when recording my f i n d s , a s i t ’s
t h e p o s s i b i l i t y that a scriptorium may have not about money or even the c o l l e c t i n g ( I
b e e n p r e s e n t a t the double minster. do neither), but about informati o n . A g r o t t y

past horizons 22
The Un i ve r s i t y o f B r i s to l ’s e xca va t i o n a t B e r ke l e y Castl e. Lef t to r igh t: Profes sor M i ck A s ton , Profes sor Mark Hor ton, D r.
Stuar t Pr i o r a n d S i an T h o m a s.

spoil heap find: A p oss ibl e s p o i l h e a p f i n d: A heraldic

A n g l o S a xo n Ae s t l e f ou nd i n pendan t h anger with the de
2 0 0 8 a t B e r ke l e y. Su deley coat of arms found in
2009 at Ber kel ey.
M a d e f ro m a s i n g l e s h eet of
co p p e r a l l oy w h i c h wa s rol led to Joh n de S udel ey was par t of a
f o r m a co n i ca l s h a p e a n d a roun d grou p wh o seal ed the baron’s
f l a t h e a d w i t h a p i e rce d cross. I t letter to the Pope in 1301. The
m a y h a ve s a t o n a n i vo r y, antl er letter wh ich was never sent,
o r b o n e s h a f t a n d u s e d as a stated th at th e barons would not
p o i n te r to re a d m a nu s c r ipts and bow to the Pope’s demands that
re l i g i o u s te x t s. Edward I aban don his claims to
S cotlan d.

23 past horizons
Trench w i t h i n s i t u de p o s i t s o f p o t te r y a n d b o n e s. Coins of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina II.
Above I n s e t: fra g m e n t s o f u r n i n t h e o u t s i d e e d g e of the ditch.

R o m a n c o i n o r a broken fibula means an running through the corner of th e f i e l d . Wi t h

u n f o l d i n g s t o r y, something to be teased out the farmer ’s consent it was deci d e d t o p u t a
f r o m t h e l a n d s cape. I am fortunate to have a 3xm trench across this ditch to att e m p t t o d a t e
g o o d r e l a t i o n s h ip with the landowners I comeit. After stripping the topsoil (w h i c h h a d n o
i n t o c o n t a c t w i th and they are always willing metal finds within it) a few sher d s o f R o m a n
t o o ff e r u p t h e i r finds to the local museum. pottery were recovered, which i s n o r m a l
for the region, but what happen e d n e x t w a s
O n o n e p a r t i c ular farm I was told by the unexpected. Beneath the topsoil i n t h e t o p f i l l
f a r m e r t h a t s u b -soiling was to take place and of the ditch some Mesolithic flint b l a d e s w e r e
k n o w i n g o f s o me significant finds that I had uncovered, all in pristine conditi o n .
r e c o r d e d p r e v i ously, I asked for permission
t o d o g e o p h y s i cs to check for archaeological Confusingly, Roman pottery s t a r t e d t o
features. increase in frequency as the fill w a s e x c a v a t e d
in 100mm spits. At 300-400mm t h e a m o u n t o f
A s m a l l g r o u p of us surveyed 100x40m Roman pottery became disproport i o n a t e t o t h e
r e s u lt i n g i n t h e location of a large ditch size of the trench. By the time t h e d i t c h w a s

past horizons 24
f u l l y e x c a v a t e d to a depth of 1m there were everything from metal detecti n g t o f i e l d
n i n e t r a y s o f p ottery dating from the 2nd to walking, geophysics and excava t i o n . A l l t h e
4th centuries. coins found in this area have b e e n s t u d i e d
by Sam Moorhead of the Portabl e A n t i q u i t i e s
T h i s s m a l l e v a luation trench also revealed a Scheme and Phillipa Walton (for h e r P h D ) . T h e
c o m p l e t e R o m an hair pin made from antler, results have been outstanding, re v e a l i n g a 4 t h
t h e r e m a i n s o f a child’s finger ring with a blue century temple site and a possib l e m a r k e t o r
g l a s s i n t a g l i o and what is probably a child habitation site in the vicinity, a n d t h e w i d e r
c r e m a t i o n , b a d ly damaged in the past when landscape may contain a Roma n e s t a t e o r a
t h e d i t c h h a d been recut before finally being small settlement.
filled in.
This series of fortunate events ha s c o m e a b o u t
T h i s i n v e s t i g ation tested all my new by deciding to becoming involve d . O f c o u r s e
k n o w l e d g e t o t he limit, being presented with there is an element of chance to i t a l l b u t t h e r e
r e v e r s e s t r a t i g r aphy, where the earli est finds is nothing to beat joining a club o r a s o c i e t y
a r e f o u n d a b o ve the later. This was due to where you will have the opportu n i t y t o m e e t
t h e b a n k b e s i d e the ditch, which must have likeminded people. These days t h e r e a r e a l s o
c o n t a i n e d t h e Mesolithic flints, being pushed many learning opportunities avai l a b l e f o r a n y
o v e r i n t o t h e d itch once it had been partially age and ability and like me, you w i l l d i s c o v e r
f i l l e d w i t h R o man deposits. Only through the that if you choose that path, ar c h a e o l o g y i s
c a r e f u l r e c o r d i ng of the layers and artefacts guaranteed to add a whole new d i m e n s i o n t o
w a s t h e p r o c e s s understood. your life.

T h e c r e m a t i o n was spread throughout the infill

o f t h e d i t c h w ith only a few bone fragments
r e m a i n i n g . H o wever, the dating of the burial
w a s m a d e e a s i e r by the pottery fragments and
b y t w o c o i n s w hich had been deposited within
the urn.
O n e w a s a c o p per alloy sestertius of Marcus
Aurelius (AD 161-80), the other a contemporary
c o p y o f a n A s of Faustina II (the younger, AD
1 4 5 - 6 0 ) . T h e s e coins depict a couple who had
1 3 c h i l d r e n d uring their 30-year marriage,
m a n y o f w h o m died young. Perha ps these
c o i n s a r e s y m b olic of parents who had to bury
t h e i r o w n c h i l d ren. The second coin is a scarce
c o p y f r o m t h e reign of Antoninius Pius. The
o b v er s e c o p i e s a type of Faustina II whilst
t h e re v e r s e i s f rom a coin of Faustina I. Other
c o p i e s o f t h i s period have been found in the
S a c r e d S p r i n g at Bath, not far from this site.
T h e b o n e f r a g ments are due to be studied by
a P h D s t u d e n t at the University of Bristol
a n d a n o t h e r e x cavation will hopefully make
s e n s e o f t h e d i t ch itself, especially as the clay
l i n i ng s u g g e s t s it was made to retain water
– but why?
I t i s e x c i t i n g t o be able to take part in what
h a s b e c o m e a combined project i nvolving
Le a r n M o re
Th e U n i ve r s i t y o f B r i s to l ’s l i fe l o n g l e a r n i n g
p ro gra m m e o f fe r s a ra n g e o f p ra c t i c a l
a rc h a e o l o g y s h o r t co u r s e s.
Pr i ce s ra n g e f ro m £ 3 6 - £ 1 2 0
I n J u l y / Au g u s t o f 2 0 1 0 t h e u n i ve r s i t y w i l l r u n
a f i ve - d ay a rc h a e o l o g y s u m m e r s c h o o l. Th i s
i n c l u d e s t wo - a n d - a - h a l f d ays o f c l a s s ro o m
t u i t i o n , o n e h a l f - d ay s u r ve y i n g s e s s i o n ,
a n d t wo f u l l d ays o f p ra c t i c a l e xc avat i o n
e x p e r i e n ce at a n e a r by a rc h a e o l o gi c a l s i te.
E: arch-lifelong@br istol.ac.uk
W: http://w w w.br istol.ac.uk/archanth/continuing/
shor tcourses
A p a r t- t i m e d e gre e, BA (Hons) in
A rc h a e o l o gi c a l S t u d i e s i s a l s o ava i l a b l e fo r
p e o p l e w h o w i s h to p u r s u e a rc h a e o l o g y at
u n d e rgra d u ate l e ve l. Th e co u r s e i s t a u g ht o n e
we e k e n d a m o nt h , w i t h o n e d ay d e d i c ate d to
l e c t u re s a n d a n o t h e r to f i e l d - t r i p s.
A p p l i c at i o n s a re n ow b e i n g a cce p te d fo r
O c to b e r 2 0 1 0 e nt r y. Co nt a c t :
Chr istine Eickelmann
E: c.e.eickelmann@br istol.ac.uk

25 past horizons
Above : T h e o p e n h o u s e p rov i d e s a u n i q u e o p p o r t unit y for communit y members and visitors to obser ve and tour the site as
well as i n te ra c t w i t h t h e a rc h a e o l o g y s t u d e n t s.

R ight: Two s t u d e n t s e xca va t i n g a f i re p l a ce a n d h ear th complex during the 2009 field season.

Ph o tos: Vic toria Hawley

past horizons 26
 Fo r t
S t . J o s e ph
Archaeology and Public Outreach

For t St . J o s e p h a n d co n te m p o ra r y
French s e t t l e m e n t s i n t h e We s te r n
Great L a ke s.

B y Dr. M ichael Nassaney and Ian B. Ker r

O
n a w a r m , c l e a r A u g u st day in
N i l e s , M i c h i g a n , U n i t ed States
o f A m e r i c a , s e v e n hundred
p e o p l e t u r n e d u p t o v i e w t h e ongoing
e x c a v a t i o n s a t F o r t S t . J o s e p h. ‘Open
H o u s e ’ w a s t h e c u l m i n a t i o n of the
s u c c e s s f u l 2 0 0 9 a r c h a e o l o g i cal field
s e a s o n w h i c h s a w s t u d e n t s and staff
m e m b e r s c a l l N i l e s t h e i r h o m e for six
weeks.

27 past horizons
T h e F o r t S t . J oseph Archaeological Project
i s c o n d u c t e d u nder the auspices of Western
M i c h i g a n U n i v ersity’s (WMU) Anthropology
D e p a r t m e n t i n Kalamazoo and led by
p r i n c i p a l i n v e s tigator Dr. Michael Nassaney.
T h e e x c a v a t i o ns have been ongoing for
s e v e n y e a r s a n d have previously centred on
A 200 9 f i e l d s c h o o l s t u d e n t ca re f u l l y
exca va t i n g a w h i te c l a y p i p e.
past horizons
understanding the social makeup o f t h e f o r t ’s
diverse inhabitants through the d i s c o v e r y o f
intact cultural features and artefa c t d e p o s i t s .
Excavations in 2009 shifted t h e f o c u s
to determining the temporal a n d s p a t i a l
relationship of the fort to its s u r r o u n d i n g s
through its structural remains, p o s t h o l e s
and wall trenches and finding ar c h a e o l o g i c a l
evidence for the French construc t i o n m e t h o d
known as poteaux-en-terre (p o s t s i n t h e
ground). Several occupation fe a t u r e s w e r e
positively identified including sh e e t m i d d e n s ,
a sizable stone hearth and fireplac e w i t h c l e a r
evidence of burnt oxidized soil a n d c l a y, a n d
a possible well.
Fort St. Joseph was a Frenc h m i s s i o n -
garrison-trading post complex si t u a t e d a l o n g
the banks of the St. Joseph Rive r i n p r e s e n t
day Niles. First established as a m i s s i o n i n
the 1680s by French Jesuits it i s o n e o f t h e
oldest European settlements in t h e We s t e r n
Great Lakes region.
Later, during the first half of th e e i g h t e e n t h
century it took on the roles of b o t h g a r r i s o n
and trading post, supporting a c o m m a n d a n t ,
8-10 enlisted men, a blacksmith, a p r i e s t , a n
interpreter and up to 15 additiona l h o u s e h o l d s
comprising a diverse communit y o f F r e n c h
traders, their Native wives and t h e i r M é t i s
children. The fort was an essentia l l i n k i n t h e
chain of French colonial frontier s e t t l e m e n t s
and played an important role in the c o m m e r c i a l
and social functioning of the Nor t h A m e r i c a n
fur trade.
In 1761 during the French and I n d i a n Wa r
(Seven Years’ War), the fort came u n d e r B r i t i s h
control. While the French sought a l l i a n c e w i t h
indigenous populations, strengthe n e d t h r o u g h
practices such as gift-giving and intermarriage,
the British appeared to appro a c h N a t i v e
relations in a less conciliatory f a s h i o n a n d
with little inclination towards e s t a b l i s h i n g
the same arrangements that had c h a r a c t e r i s e d
French rule. This led to the uprisi n g k n o w n a s
Pontiac’s Rebellion, and in the sp r i n g o f 1 7 6 3
Fort St. Joseph and other posts i n t h e G r e a t
Lakes region were attacked in or d e r t o f o r c e
the British from the area and en c o u r a g e t h e
return of the French.
28
 Above : Yo u n g v i s i to r s to t h e O p e n H o u s e e ve n t can obser ve and
take p a r t i n t h e a rc h a e o l o g y.
R ight : A s u m m e r ca m p e r t r i e s h i s h a n d a t we t - screening during
the fi r s t o f t h re e we e k - l o n g p u b l i c a rc h a e o l o g i cal camps.

T h e B r i t i s h d id not re-garrison the fort Education has always played a n i m p o r t a n t

a f t e r t h i s a t t a c k until a brief occupation in part in Fort St. Joseph public a r c h a e o l o g y.
1 7 7 9. H o w e v e r French traders remained in Each field season three summe r c a m p s a r e
t h e a r e a u n t i l r oughly 1780. In 1781 a small held; for young adults, continuin g e d u c a t i o n
c o n t i n g e n t o f F rench and Natives supported by adults and middle and high scho o l t e a c h e r s .
t h e S p a n i s h g o vernor at St. Louis raided the These week-long camps pro v i d e l o c a l
f o r t , c l a i m i n g i t for Spain, though remaining communities with the opportunit y t o r e c e i v e
a t t h e s i t e f o r only a day. After this episode hands-on archaeological training t h r o u g h t h e
t h e p o s t w a s largely abandoned, providing excavations at the fort, working c l o s e l y w i t h
a n e x c e l l e n t o pportunity for the WMU student s . S i n c e 2 0 0 6
a r c h a e o l o g i s t s to examine in teachers have be e n o ff e r e d a
d e t a il i t s r e l a t i vely short but summer camp fo r c o n t i n u i n g
Empower ing
f a s c i n a t i n g h i s t ory. education credi t s t h r o u g h
people through Western Michigan U n i v e r s i t y,
T h e F o r t S t . J oseph project, infor mation will and this educatio n p r o g r a m m e
t h o u g h , i s f a r m ore than simply not only help was the proud rec i p i e n t o f t h e
an academic exercise. A primary s hape the research 2007 Historical S o c i e t y o f
c o m p o n e n t a n d driving force questions but Michigan Educat i o n Aw a r d .
s i n c e i t s i n c e p t ion in 1998 has
s hould ultimately
i n v o l v e d p u b l i c outreach and Ensuring that loc a l r e s i d e n t s
c o m m u n i t y s e r vice learning. h elp answer them. continue to e n g a g e w i t h
T h e l o c a l c o m munity of Niles the ongoing ar c h a e o l o g i c a l
i s i n v i t e d t o work with the work at Fort S t . J o s e p h ,
a r c h a e o l o g y t e am in the many facets of the published reports, field sum m a r i e s a n d
p r o j e c t . S t r o n g collaboration between local promotional material provide s v a l u a b l e
p e o p l e a n d W MU field school students has information on recent developme n t s , f i n d i n g s
a l l o w e d f o r a multi layered reconstruction and interpretations. The fort itse l f b e c a m e a
o f t he p a s t t h r ough these shared experiences. multi-cultural community and a n i n f o r m e d
Va r i o u s o u t r e a ch programmes have succeeded public can add to the discuss i o n o n t h e
i n c r e a t i n g a n ongoing dialogue which serves layered contexts and histories of s u c h a s i t e .
t h e n e e d s o f t he many community groups, Empowering people through info r m a t i o n w i l l
s o m e t h i n g w h i ch lies at the heart of the not only help shape the research q u e s t i o n s b u t
project. should ultimately help answer th e m .

29 past horizons
S i n c e 2 0 0 4 , ‘ O p en House’ has been the exciting
c u l mi n a t i o n o f WMU’s archaeological field
s c h o o l , a n d t he showpiece of its public
e d u c a t i o n a n d o utreach initiative. The public,
f r e e o f c h a rg e , is invited to Fort St. Joseph to
v i e w t h e o n g o i ng excavations where they can
i n t e r a c t w i t h t h e archaeology students.
archaeology, faunal remains an d i m p o r t a n t
recent finds, have been widely p u b l i s h e d .
Students and faculty members inv o l v e d i n t h e
project have in recent years given p r e s e n t a t i o n s
at professional conferences in Wi l l i a m s b u rg ,
St. Louis, Albuquerque, Quebec, P u e r t o R i c o
and La Rochelle, France.

O u t do o r m u s e um displays, recent artefact It is the opportunity for local invo l v e m e n t a n d

f i n d s , s t u d e n t -created information panels participation that remains at the f o r e f r o n t o f
a n d p r o f e s s i o nal re-enactors demonstrate this project. In the coming years e ff o r t s w i l l b e
1 8 t h c e n t u r y l ife. Public lectures on the geared towards expanding our un d e r s t a n d i n g
a r c h a e o l o g y a n d history of the fort are also of the fort’s role within the fur t r a d e . We a r e
g i v e n a l o n g w ith craft demonstrations and also keen to examine how the larg e r f o r c e s o f
g a m e s f o r t h e y ounger generation. This year ’s colonialism transformed the soci a l i d e n t i t i e s
O p e n H o u s e f o cused on the Jesuits of New of the inhabitants and to what e x t e n t t h i s
F r a n c e a n d p l a yed host to 1500 visitors from impacted on their lives. Hopin g t o f u r t h e r
t h e e n t i r e M i d west region over the course of incorporate the public’s vision a n d p o s s i b l e
two days. future directives we are confid e n t t h a t t h i s
project can go from strength t o s t r e n g t h .
I n 2 0 0 9 t h e p r oject added a lecture series to It offers many benefits to our f i e l d s c h o o l
i t s r e p e r t o i r e c o-sponsored by Niles District students and most importantly giv e s t h e p e o p l e
L i b r a r y a n d W MU. Four well-attended public of Niles a very tangible link to th e i r p a s t .
l e c t ur e s o n c u r rent research at the f ort were
p r e s e n t e d t o a n audience who learned about D r. M ichael Nassaney is a professor of archaeology
s u b s i s t e n c e s t r a tegies, site history and planned at WMU with research interests in archaeological
developments. theor y and method, political economy, ethnohistor y,
colonialism, regional analysis, material analysis and
critical theor y.
D i r e c t e d a t a n audience beyond Michigan,
n u m e r o u s a r t i c l es on various aspects o f Fort St. Ian B. Kerr is a teaching assistant and master ’s candidate
J o s e p h , p a r t i cularly concerning public in the D epar tment of A nthropology, WMU.

Get Invol ve d
There are three summer camps
available in July 2010.

1. Adults
2. H igh school students
3. Teachers

Wester n M ichigan Universit y also

runs a field school for students over a
per iod of six weeks in the summer. For
a chance to par ticipate in an award-
winning communit y archaeology
programme while gaining prac tical
field and laborator y exper ience
contac t:

Dr. M ichael Nassaney :

M ichael.Nassaney@wmich.edu
http://w w w.wmich.edu/for tstjoseph

past horizons 30
Past Horizons
a rch aeo lo gy to ol store
where quality matters
stanle y m e a s u ring tapes
to ol r oll s
dr af ting f ilm /per m at r a ce
r ot ring m e ch anic al pencils
he l ix s cal e r uler
japane se pot t ery combs
f ind s bags
t y ve k l abe ls
m a sking tape
shar pie inde l ible m a rker
ve rnie r cal liper
7” ru st pr o of a lloy nail
acid f re e ti ss u e pa per
whs 4” wo od h a ndl ed tr owel
whs 4” s oft handled t r owel
whs m ar gin t r ow el
bat t ife rr o sh ar pened t r owel
t y zack l e af & squa re
t y zack t r owe l & square
s tanl e y br a s s plumb bob
s tanl e y aluminium line le vel
sm al l to ol s set
stanl e y powe rwinder
c hart we l l waterpr oof notebook
c hart we l l surve y book
bl ack n ’ re d notebook s
www.pasthorizons.com/shop

SPEAR & JACK-

WHS Tyzack

31 past horizons
Stephe n B o o ke r m e a s u re s a co l l a p s e d s e c t i o n o f wall while preparing measured drawings of the Mlinar ’s Cottage.
I m a g e : Ad ve n t ures in Preser vation

past horizons 32
Ma k i n g
Pre s e r vat i o n
Ha p p e n
H e r i t a ge Conse r vation in Sloveni a

B y J a m i e D o n a hoe

S
l o v e n i a i s a s m a l l c o u ntry of natural beauty and abundant
h e r i t a g e . I t s r i c h a n d v a r ied past has inspired a nascent heritage
c o n s e r v a t i o n m o v e m e n t striving to preserve the buildings that
give t h e c o u n t r y i t s d i s t i n c t i v e feel. Working on behalf of Slovenia’s
herit a g e , s e v e r a l k e y p e o p l e h ave sought out international assistance.
One s t r a t e g y h a s b e e n t o e n c o u rage volunteers to participate in hands-
on c o n s e r v a t i o n w o r k a n d A m e rican-based Adventures in Preservation
(AiP ) h a s b e c o m e a s t r o n g p a r t ner in this endeavour.


33 past horizons
 Above : J u d i t h B ro e ke r, o n e o f t h e f o u n d e r s o f A i P, work ing to uncover the
orig i n a l p a i n t s c h e m e o f t h e m a n o r h o u s e c h a pel, O plotnica, Slovenia.
R igh t : Vo l u n te e r s m e a s u re t h e d e p t h o f t h e m a sonr y wall at the Mlinar ’s
Cott a g e i n Š m a r t n o o b Pa k i d u r i n g t h e 2 0 0 8 workshop. I m a g e s : Ad ve n t ures in Preser vation

Tw o S l o v e n i ans instrumental in this of a 17th century manor house i n O p l o t n i c a ,

c o l l a b o r a t i v e e ffort are the founder of Zavod succeeded beyond their expectat i o n s a n d s e t
E T N O - E K O , Tanja Gobec, and Franci Pečnik, the stage for future collaboration s .
a c o n s e r v a t o r. Zavod ETNO-EKO encourages
i n t e rg e n e r a t i o n al co-operation, working to The manor house chapel, consecra t e d i n 1 6 3 1 ,
c r e a t e a n d p r e serve Slovenian oral histories is Baroque in style with a richl y d e c o r a t i v e
a n d o t h e r r e c ords of traditional life. They ceiling and just one the ma n y B a r o q u e
b e l i e v e t h e o l d er generation can keep folkloremasterpieces to be found througho u t S l o v e n i a .
a l i v e b y t e a c h i ng younger people traditional The workshop’s goal was to exam i n e w h a t w a s
s k i l l s a n d l i v e lihoods which are being lost hidden beneath the ceiling’s vib r a n t , m u l t i -
t o t e c h n o l o g y and machinery. AiP in turn hued colour scheme, in the hope of d i s c o v e r i n g
p r o m o t e s t h e philosophy that traditional and restoring the original. Rem a r k a b l y, t h e
m a t e r i a l s a n d techniques are the key to volunteers found that the chap e l h a d b e e n
p r e s e r v i n g t r a d itional and historic buildings,
repainted only once in it its 377- y e a r h i s t o r y
s o t he t w o o rg a nizations are a natural fit. and that the original paint schem e o f s i l v e r,
gold and cream lay just beneat h t h e b r i g h t
Tw o h i g h l y s uccessful hands-on building colours of the1800s.
c o n s e r v a t i o n w orkshops have resulted from
t h e e ff o r t s o f Tanja and Franci. Volunteers Significantly, in addition to t h e t r a i n i n g
f r o m a l l w a l k s of life under the guidance and restoration work accomp l i s h e d , t h e
o f a t e c h n i c a l expert learned, practiced and workshop succeeded in rallying t h e e n t i r e
c o m p l e t e d m u c h needed preservation work at community around the project. Th e v o l u n t e e r s ’
e a c h s i t e . B o t h projects have involved types commitment, apparent in their ha r d w o r d a n d
a n d s t y l e s o f b uilding that reflect the breadth willingness to share their kno w l e d g e a n d
o f t h e c o u n t r y ’s architectural, ethnological contribute ideas, inspired the c o m m u n i t y
a n d c u l t u r a l h eritage. The first workshop, to adopt the project themselves a n d c a r r y i t
d e a l i n g w i t h d ecorative stucco in th e chapel through to completion.

past horizons 34
S l o v e n i a , s o o n to be celebrating 20 years
a s a s o v e r e i g n nation since the demise of
Yu g o s l a v i a , i s working to preserve its history
a n d t o d e v e l o p a strong heritage tourism
p r o g r a m m e . F ranci saw AiP’s hands-on
w o r k s h o p s a s an opportunity to demonstrate
t h e m a n y b e n e fits of preserving a historic
s i t e , w h e t h e r f inancial, social, economic or
educational.
The Mlinar ’s Cottage is even ol d e r t h a n t h e
Oplotnica manor house, a ston e a n d w o o d
structure initially built around 1 5 4 0 a n d
expanded over the centuries, mos t r e c e n t l y i n
1840. Incredibly, it still houses t h e m a s s i v e ,
hand-made wooden press that w a s u s e d u p
until 1970 to make wine and app l e c i d e r, a n d
stands testament to the region’s l o n g a n d r i c h
wine-growing history and culture .

S l o v e n i a ’s P u blic Institute for Cultural Workshop participants focused on documenting

H e r i t a g e P r o t ection, established i n 1999, the structure and creating measur e d d r a w i n g s
f o c u s e s p r i m a rily on actual preservation. in preparation for eventual c o n s e r v a t i o n .
F r a n c i w a s c o n cerned that many other aspects The goal of the local communi t y i s t o u s e
o f h e r i t a g e c o n servation, such as fundraising the building as a regional w i n e - m a k i n g
a n d s i t e p r omotion, interpretation and museum, but plans for a road thro u g h t h e a r e a
m a n a g e m e n t , w ere falling through the cracks. may adversely affect this. It is h o p e d t h a t
I t p r o v e d a s m art strategy as, presented with presenting further evidence of th e s t r u c t u r e ’s
t h e i r o w n p r e s e rvation project the Oplnotnica significance and potential wi l l p e r s u a d e
c o m m u n i t y r a l l ied to the cause. Such was the planners to choose an alternative r o u t e .
p u b l i c s u p p o r t that the community sought
a n d r e c e i v e d European Union funding to One of the participants in thi s w o r k s h o p ,
c o m p l e t e t h e project. Today the building, Stephen Booker, an Australian c o n s e r v a t i o n
w i t h i t s g l e a m ing chapel ceiling, is a well- architect, fell in love with the c o u n t r y a n d
u s e d c o m m u n i t y centre. its heritage. Having never been t o S l o v e n i a
before, he saw the workshop as an o p p o r t u n i t y
F o l l o w i n g s u c h a strong debut was a challenge, to meet people involved in simil a r w o r k a n d
b u t o n e A i P a n d Tanja Gobek were happy to to learn how other countries man a g e h e r i t a g e
e m b r a c e . Ta n j a co-ordinated the local portion sites. He was so enthralled with t h e S l o v e n i a n
o f t h e 2 0 0 8 w orkshop held in co-operation people, its scenery and history, t h a t h e w i l l
w i t h t h e m u n i cipality of Šmartno ob Paki be leading AiP’s third workshop t o b e h e l d i n
t o e n c o u r a g e preservation of the Mlinar ’s Brecljevo at a 17th century cotta g e .
C o t t a g e , t h e o l dest known vintner ’s cottage
in Slovenia. 

Trad i t i o n a l fa r m b u i l d i n g s i n a r u ra l S l ove n i a n setting, t ypical of the struc tures Zavod ETNO -EKO is work ing to preser ve.

I m a ge: Stephen Booker

35 past horizons

A Slove n i a n co n s e r va to r ca r r i e s o u t re s to ra t i o n work in the Church of St. Rok , one of the countr y ’s finest examples of
Baroqu e a rc h i te c t u re.
T h e c o t t a g e i s located in a very rural village
w h e re t h e i s sue of cultural landscape
p r e s e r v a t i o n , a s well as that of traditional
s t r u c t u r e s , n e e d to be addressed. In a recent
a t t e m p t a t ‘ r e s t oration’ a contractor did more
d a m a g e t h a n g ood. This was largely due to
i n e x p e r i e n c e w orking with historic structures
a n d a l a c k o f u nderstanding and appreciation
f o r t r a d i t i o n a l building materials and
techniques. The current owner, a young member
o f t h e f a m i l y t hat has owned the cottage for
g e n e r a t i o n s , i s very keen to recover as much
a u t h e n t i c i t y a s she can which is contrary to
t h e a t t i t u d e o f many older Slovenians who
t e n d t o f a v o u r new buildings over old.
T h e w o r k i n v o l ves four main areas: the stone
w a l l s , t h e c e n t ral oven, the timber structure
a n d t h e j o i n e r y. Work related to the walls
i n c l u d e s r e p a i r ing and re-laying of the stone
a n d S t e p h e n i s hoping for a group of 10-15
v o l u n t e e r s a b l e to rotate through the different
t a s k s . T h i s w a y they will have the chance to
l e a r n d i ff e r e n t skills and accomplish a good
a m o u n t o f w o r k.
T h e o t h e r g o a l of the project is to once again
p r e s e n t a n e x a mple of local preservation to
t h e g r e a t e r c o mmunity. Stephen describes the
B r e c l j e v o w o r kshop as a ‘message’ project
past horizons
I m a g e: Stephen Booker
which emphasises that preservatio n w o r k d o n e
at the domestic level can serve as a n e x a m p l e
for people on the cusp of changing t h e i r m i n d s
about reusing old farm buildings . H i s h o p e i s
to enable future interpretation o f S l o v e n i a ’s
rural cultural landscapes.
Stephen emphasises to commun i t y m e m b e r s
that the volunteers are there t o m o t i v a t e
rather than dictate, and to sho w t h e w a y s
their culture can be preserved an d t i e i n w i t h
Zavod ETNO-EKO’s mission. E n j o y i n g t h e
opportunity to work with people fr o m a v a r i e t y
of countries, and particularly the o p p o r t u n i t y
for cultural and professional ex c h a n g e s , h e
has befriended a number of tr a d e s p e o p l e
including those doing restoration w o r k a t S t .
Rok. One of the field trips plan n e d f o r t h e
Brecljevo workshop is to St. Rok. I f t h e t i m i n g
is right, the group will be treated t o a b e h i n d -
the-scenes tour of the church with a c h a n c e t o
view the restoration work of one o f S l o v e n i a ’s
finest examples of Baroque archi t e c t u r e . .
Jamie D onahoe is the operations direc tor and co -
founder of Adventures in Preser vation (formerly k nown
as Heritage Conser vation Net work). She received a
master ’s degree in Preser vation Studies from Boston
Universit y in 1987, a f ter graduating from Hamilton
College with a degree in A merican Studies. Jamie has
lived and worked overseas since 1996 and currently
lives in Hong Kong.
36
The in te r i o r o f t h e 1 7 t h ce n t u r y co t t a g e a t B re c l j evo. The restoration of the large traditional Slovenian
stove a n d t h e rep a i r o f wo o d e n f u r n i t u re will be included in the 2010 workshop tasks.

Image: Zavod ETNO -EKO

G e t I nvo l ve d
Th e wo r k s h o p ‘Co t t a g e I n d u s t r y : S av i n g S l ove n i a’s
A rc h i te c t u ra l a n d E t h n o l o gi c a l H e r i t a g e’ w i l l b e h e l d
i n B re c l j e vo at a 1 7 t h ce nt u r y co t t a g e w hi c h i s i n n e e d
o f b o t h s t r u c t u ra l re p a i r s a n d i nte r i o r re s to rat i o n . Th i s
i n c l u d e s t h e l a rg e S l ove n i a n s tove a n d t h e re p a i r o f i te m s
o f wo o d e n f u r n i t u re.

D ate s : 2 2 Au g u s t - 4 S e p te m b e r 2 0 1 0 .

Fe e : $ 2 1 5 0 fo r o n e we e k a n d $ 3 1 0 0 fo r t wo we e k s w h i c h
cove r s l o d gi n g, m o s t m e a l s, f i e l d t r i p s, p ro j e c t m ate r i a l s
a n d i n s u ra n ce.

For more details see http://w w w.adventuresinpreser vation.

org/ws-slovenia-2010.htm
A complete list of wor kshops oppor tunities is available at
http://w w w.adventuresinpreser vation.org
Projec t v i c i n i t y.

37 past horizons
Prepare f o r A c ti o n
Fi e l d s k i l l s ex p e r t D o m i n i c H a l l p rov i d e s d ow n-to - ear th,
h a n d s - o n p ra c t i c a l t ra i n i n g fo r a l l t y p e s o f expeditions.
H i s a d v i ce h e l p s to c re ate a s a fe r e nv i ronment for
a d ve nt u re t rave l l e r s, i n c l u d i n g a rc h a e o l o g i s t s. B elow he
s h a re s s o m e t i p s fo r a s u cce s s f u l t r i p.

A
r c h a e o l ogists certainly get about,
e x p l o r i ng the modern world every
b i t a s much as they explore the past.
W h i l s t R a i d e r s of the Lost Ark has perhaps
g o n e s o m e w h a t too far in creating an image of
t h e w i l d , a d v e nturous archaeologist, there is
n o d o u b t t h a t a r chaeology as a subject can take
y o u t o w i l d a n d pretty inhospitable parts of
t h e w o r l d . A s p roviders of expedition support
a n d t r a i n i n g we are constantly approached
b y c o m p a n i e s , universities and individuals
r e q u i r i n g o u r h elp to get out into remote and
c h a l l e n g i n g p l a ces, and archaeology is often
t h e r e a s o n w h y.
O f c o u r s e t h i s is one of the attractions of the
d i s c ip l i n e , t h e lure of the fabulous location
a n d t h e d i s c o v ery. As a non archaeologist an
e x p e r i e n c e I w ill treasure forever happened
o n m y f i r s t t a ste of expedition travel back
i n 1 9 9 9 . I w a s taken to the Mayan site of
C a r a c o l , B e l i z e , by the father of the family I
w a s s t a y i n g w i t h. Myself and two friends were
l e d a r o u n d s m a ll caves and burials sites that
v e r y f e w p e o p l e ever get to see,and it filled
m e w i t h a s e n se of wonder and privilege at
b e i n g g i v e n a c cess to these special places.
Taking a leap from the romantic b a c k t o t h e
practical, travelling in remote r e g i o n s i s
not without its dangers. The jun g l e c o n t a i n s
poisonous snakes and deadly ma l a r i a w h i l s t
desert conditions produce seari n g h e a t a n d
disorientation. Mountain altitude a n d c o l d c a n
cause many problems if proper pre c a u t i o n s a r e
not taken and good training is i n v a l u a b l e t o
counteract these issues. After all a n a d v e n t u r e
is only worthwhile when you com e b a c k s a f e l y
and get to recount your story.
In April 2007 BSI British Standar d s p u b l i s h e d
its specification for the provisio n o f v i s i t s ,
fieldwork, expeditions and a d v e n t u r o u s
activities outside the United K i n g d o m .
Developed in response to increa s i n g c a l l s t o
make overseas adventure activit i e s s a f e r, i t
outlines requirements that shoul d b e m e t b y
organisers of such trips. This can r a n g e f r o m
a school day trip to France to th e s c a l i n g o f
mountain peaks. With such a bro a d r a n g e t o
cover this has had inevitable di ff i c u l t i e s i n
the preparation, but nonetheless t h e r e a r e n o w
some very clear guidelines for s a f e r t r a v e l .
The aim is to enjoy the adventure b u t t o e n s u r e
that the participants do not come t o h a r m .

Dominic’s e x p e d i ti o n ti p s:

1. Pre - p l a nning
S o much of expedition and fieldwork saf e t y i s d r i v e n b y a d v a n c e p l a n n i n g w h i c h c a n f e e l l i k e a w a s t e
o f t i me when you have other things to a r r a n g e . M o r e o f t e n t h a n n o t e v e r y t h i n g r u n s t o p l a n a n d y o u
m i g ht resent the time you feel that you h a v e s p e n t o n i t , b u t o n t h o s e r a r e o c c a s i o n s th a t s o m e t h i n g
d o e s go wrong p re-planning is worth its w e i g h t i n g o l d .

2. A s s e s s t he risks
M o s t people take a sharp intake of breath a t t h e t h o u g h t o f r i s k a s s e s s m e n t . I t i s n o t j u s t a b o u t f i l l i n g
o u t a form; risk assessment is a process o f t h o u g h t a n d d i s c u s s i o n c o n c e r n i n g p o t e n t i a l d a n g e r s a n d
c o m ing up with mitigation strategies. T h i s p r o c e s s s h o u l d c o n t i n u e e v e n w h e n o u t i n t h e f i e l d a s i t
i s t h e dynamic a ssessment of risk that k e e p s p e o p l e s a f e .

past horizons 38
 Be Prepared
Fi e l d s k i l l s Ltd. i s a U K- b a s e d
ex p e d i t i o n t ra i n i n g co m p a ny
p rov i d i n g a w i d e ra n g e
o f co u r s e s fo r a d ve nt u re
t rave l l e r s, re s e a rc h e r s, s t u d e nt s
a n d ex p e d i t i o n l e a d e r s.

Fo r m o re d e t a i l s o n th e s e l e c t i o n
o f co u r s e s ava i l a b l e g o to :
Studen t s c ro s s i n g a j u n g l e r i ve r i n t h e C ro c ke r N a tional Park , Borneo.
ht t p : / / w w w. f i e l d s k i l l s. com

3. Pre p a re for a crisis before you are in it

Ta k e a few hours to research where the l o c a l h o s p i t a l i s a n d w h a t i t i s l i k e . R e a d o v e r th e p a r t i c u l a r s
o f w hat your insurance company will c o v e r a n d p r e p a r e a l i s t o f u s e f u l n u m b e r s t o c o n t a c t i n a n
e m e rgency. Do not assume that if someth i n g g o e s w r o n g t h i n g s w i l l b e d e a l t w i t h i n t h e s a m e w a y a s
b a c k home. Always have a backup strate g y a n d a b a c k u p f o r t h a t b a c k u p !

4. E n j oy i t
T h e whole reason to carry out pre-planni n g i s t o e n s u r e y o u h a v e a g r e a t t i m e . I t s h o u l d n o t s t o p y o u
f r o m doing the things you want to do b u t i s t h e r e t o e n a b l e y o u t o p a r t i c i p a t e w i t h c o n f i d e n c e a n d
s a f e t y.

39 past horizons
Di g I n
A se l e c t i o n o f a r c h a e o l o g i cal and
con s e r v a t i o n p r o j e c t s a r o u nd the world

G re e ce - Th e Helike Projec t

In the winter of 373/372 BC, a violent earthquake struck the southwest shore of the Gulf of
Corinth and destroyed and submerged the Classical city of Helike. The rediscovery of the city
has remained a goal of many archaeologists ever since and as part of this objective, the main
focus of future fieldwork will be archaeological excavation of the Hellenistic, Classical, Early
Bronze and Late Bronze Age sites discovered in recent years. Bore hole drilling and geological
trenching will be used to investigate the geographic evolution of the area.

Dates: 5 July - 13 August 2010

Cost: From €550 per week (minimum period two weeks)

Email: eliki@otenet.gr
Web: http ://www.helikeproject.gr

E n g l a n d - R o man For t on the Tyne

This excavation site is in a quiet residential area with views over the River Tyne and the North
Sea. Over 11 years, Earthwatch teams have helped map over 1000 square metres of pre-Roman
and Roman settlement here, excavating jewellery, armour, gaming pieces, and ceramics.
Less than four miles from Hadrian’s Wall, Arbeia, the Roman fort overlooking the river and
har bour from Lawe Top, became part of one of the largest and busiest supply depots in the
nor thern Roman Empire.

Dates: June, July or August 2010

Costs: £695 for 7 days or £1095 for 14 days

Contact: info@earthwatch.org.u k
Web: http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/exped/bidwell.html

I s rae l - H i p p o s (Sussita) Projec t

The ancient city of Hippos-Sussita is located on the east shore of the Sea of Galilee on the
top of a flat, diamond-shaped mountain, 350m above the lake. City and mountain are almost
entirely isolated from their surroundings with just a narrow ‘saddle’ bridge leading towards
the western slopes of the Golan Heights. The objective of the expedition is to uncover the
entire ancient city, the street network, the main public secular and religious buildings, and the
domestic quarters.

Dates: 4 - 31 July 2010

Costs: €350 per week or €1240 for full season

Contact: hippos@research.haifa.ac.il
Web: http://hippos.haifa.ac.il

past horizons 40
 G e r m a ny - M e diaeval Cathedral Excavation

For the past seven years Grampus Heritage groups have joined the excavations in the city of
Magdeburg. Working alongside field archaeologists from the Landesamt fur Archaeologie Sachsen
Anhalt, participants were able to develop key skills related to archaeological excavation in the
urban environment. The 2010 placement in Germany will once again offer participants the chance
to work on the Mediaeval cathedral located in the centre of Magdeburg.

Dates: 1 July - 12 August 2010

Costs: The placement is free of charge to archaeology undergraduates (first and second year students only)
enrolled at a UK u niversity.

Contact: enquiries@grampusheritage.co.uk
Web: http://www.grampusheritage.co.uk/EASE%20Germany.htm

B u l g a r i a - A R oman M ilitar y Camp

Excavations at the hilltop fort of Cambustica have revealed a classic model of Roman defensive
architecture. The walls of the rhomboid-shaped fort were massive, with stone foundations
measuring over six feet high and five feet wide. Students can learn systematic survey and
stratigraphic excavation techniques, including mapping of excavated features. The training
will also include plan and section drawing, archaeological drafting, laboratory processing and
documentation of excavated material.

Dates: 5 - 31 July and 2 -29 August 2010

Cost: €500 for 4 week session

Contact: info@archbg.ne t
Web: http:/ /cambustica.archbg.net

M e n o rc a - Th e Necropolis of the R o man Cit y of Sanisera

The City of Sanisera was occupied from 123 B.C. to A.D. 550 and flourished d ue to the heavy
maritime commercial industry that received boats going from Spain to Italy and from France to
Africa. Participants in the field school will learn and apply excavation techniques used when
excavating tombs and in the laboratory will follow guidelines for the classification, study and
conservation of human remains and other related material.

Dates: 29 March - 31 October 2010

Costs : $2300 - $2700 per session

Contact: archaeology@ecomuseodecavalleria.com
Web: http:/ /www.ecomuseodecavalleria.com

U n i te d S t ate s of Amer ica - Saving ‘Shotguns’

A project aimed at restoring some of the historic ‘shotgun’ houses of Cairo, Illinois, for
quality affordable housing. The Shotgun Preservation Project includes some of a few
hundred houses being evaluated for inclusion in the Cairo Historic district and listing on
the National Register of Historic Places. This coalition of the National Register and the
Shotgun project will continue to work together in 2010 and hopes to provide a spark to
increase business and tourism, and even attract new residents to the hist oric town.

Dates: June 2010

Costs : $775 per week or $1275 for 2 weeks (including lodgings)

Contact: info@adventuresinpreservation.org
Web: http://www.heritageconservation.net/ws-cairo-2010.htm
To s ee more projec ts go to: http://w w w. p a s t h o r i zo n s. co m / Wo r l d Pro j e c t s
41 past horizons
 Recipes for Archaeologists
Co o k i n g i n t h e D e s e r t C h i l l
Most of my cooking for archaeologists
has happened in the Mediterranean
Annie Evans and Europe in boili ng hot summers,
The Dig Cook so a mid-winter expedition in inland
Australia required a very different
approach.
The location was Lake Mungo, a desert
region in central Au stralia. Mungo is
a World Heritage area consisting of a
series of long dried-up lakes, and is
a place where Aborigines have lived
on the shores of the lakes over many
thousands of years.
This is a wide-open, flat landscape of
spectacular beauty and never-ending
sky. There are very few lights and
the stars are amazingly bright, like
diamonds scattered on a black velvet
backdrop.
We stayed on a former sheep station
that is now part of the National Park
and slept in the old and very draughty
shearers’ quarters. I worked in the
original kitchen where the shearers’
cook would have made damper (an
unleavened bread substitute) and
cooked lamb in eve ry way possible.
Back in those days it would have been
meat and two veg for almost every
meal. Good, but very plain fare.
It was mid-winter and very cold when
the sun went down so I made lots of
‘comfort’ food – slow cooked, rich
casseroles that simmered away on the
old Aga stove for hours. For dessert,
rice pudding, fruit crumbles, apple
pies and bread and butter pudding
were very popular.
The Dig Cook’s website
http://www.digcook.com
past horizons 42
When everyone came in f r o m t h e f i e l d
at sunset after walking m a n y c h i l l y,
dusty and windy kilome t r e s , I h a d a
steaming pot of soup and h o m e - m a d e
bread ready for them.
I have cooked many type s o f f o o d f o r
very diverse groups of p e o p l e . I ’ v e
done plenty of catering f o r p a r t i e s
where the food provide d h a d t o b e
the latest fashionable f i n g e r f o o d
for people who aren’t r e a l l y h u n g r y
and don’t even notice w h a t t h e y a r e
eating. It’s never like th a t o n a d i g .
The cook really feels app r e c i a t e d .
Archaeology, from my o b s e r v a t i o n s ,
is very tiring, dirty an d p h y s i c a l l y
taxing work and archae o l o g i s t s a r e
a hungry and appreciativ e l o t . T h e y
make my job, which is a l s o h a r d a n d
tiring at times, very rew a r d i n g .
The following recipe is a b i g h e a r t y,
healthy and yummy s o u p , v e r y
warming and comforti n g a f t e r a
hard day in the field. It i s b a s i c a l l y
a minestrone with the a d d i t i o n o f a
bolognaise sauce. This i s a o n e - p o t
meal when you add eithe r h o m e - m a d e
bread or some good lo c a l b r e a d i f
available.
You can substitute m a n y o f t h e
vegetables and herbs w i t h w h a t i s
available in the area w h e r e y o u a r e
cooking. I have used h o r t a ( w i l d
greens) in Greece and th e r e a r e m a n y
varieties of sweet potatoe s . Yo u c o u l d
also include pasta, rice , n o o d l e s o r
lentils in this soup.
Annie’s B e e f a n d To m ato M i n e s t ro n e
S o u p I n g r e d i e n ts (for 10 people)

2 t a b lespoons olive or vegetable oil

2 l a rge brown onions roughly diced
4 c l o ves garlic crushed
2 m e dium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 s m all sweet potato (kumera) peeled an d
diced
2 l a rge carrots peeled and diced
2 z u cchini diced
1 l a rge red capsi cum (bell pepper) seede d
a n d diced
4 s t a lks celery diced
1 m e dium fennel bulb diced
1 c u p shredded spinach, silverbeet or blac k
kale
2 l i t r es vegetable stock
5 0 0 mls water
1 t a b lespoon each of finely chopped fres h
p a r s l ey, chives and oregano
2 t a blespoons finely grated parmesa n
c h e e se
1 t i n beans, eg. chickpeas, borletti or red k i d n e y b e a n s
2 t e a spoons sugar
S e a salt and freshly ground black pepper t o t a s t e

B o l o g n a i s e S a u ce (make first)

5 0 0 grams mince d beef

1 l a rge brown onion finely diced
3 c l o ves garlic crushed
1 t a b lespoon olive oil
4 0 0 grams tomato paste
4 0 0 grams chopp ed tomatoes (tinned)
2 c u ps beef stock
1 c u p red wine (optional)
2 t e a spoons dried oregano
2 t a b lespoons fresh basil or basil pesto
S a l t and pepper to taste

B o l o g n a i s e M e t hod

H e a t t h e o i l i n a saucepan and brown mince well, making sure there ar e n o l u m p s .

A d d o n i o n a n d garlic and cook a further 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and paste, s t o c k , w i n e
a n d h e r b s . S t ir until combined and simmer gently for 2 hours. Test for se a s o n i n g a n d
adjust.

Soup Method

H e a t o i l i n a 5 litre capacity pot. Add onions, garlic, potatoes, carrots and k u m e r a , a n d

t o s s w e l l i n t h e oil until onions are soft. Add stock and water and cook the v e g g i e s f o r 5
m i n u t e s . A d d zucchini, capsicum and beans and cook for another 10 minutes. A d d c e l e r y,
f e n n e l , s p i n a c h or kale herbs and sugar, and cook until all are tender but not m u s h y. A d j u s t
s e a s o n i n g . S e r ve the vegetarians first, then add meat sauce and mix in. Serve so u p s p r i n k l e d
w i t h g r a t e d p a r mesan and fresh, warm crusty bread.
43 past horizons
 Course Find e r
Prac t i c a l f i e l d wo r k co u r s e s i n t h e U K a n d I reland
whic h o f fe r va i o us l e ve l s o f t ra i n i n g fo r p ro fessional
arch a e o l o g y.

University o f S u s s e x - Short practical archaeology courses cove r i n g f i n d s

i l l u s t r a t i o n , e xcavation training, site photography and planning and section dra w i n g .

P r i c e s r a n g e f rom £50 (full)/£25 (concession) to £220/£155

h t t p : / / w w w. s u ssex.ac.uk/cce/1-2-23 -40-1.html

Universit y o f B r i s t o l - Weekly courses and day schools containing to p i c s w h i c h

r a n g e f r o m a n introduction to archaeology, geophysical survey and human rem a i n s .

P r i c e s f r o m £ 36

h t t p : / / w w w. b r istol.ac.uk/archanth/continuing/shortcourses

Birkbeck U n i v e r s i t y - Short courses in academic writing for ar c h a e o l o g y,

a r c h i v e s , s i t e reports and records as well as recording and analysis of small fin d s .

P r i c e s f r o m £ 42 (full)/£21 (concession)

h t t p : / / w w w. b bk.ac.uk/study/ce/arch aeology/awards/XSCAR001.html

Universit y o f O x f o r d / E n g l i s h H e r i t a g e - One day to week lo n g c o u r s e s

i n p o s t e x c a v ation assessment, heal th and safety and survey.

P r i c e s r a n g e f rom £109 - £770

h t t p : / / a w a r d b earing.conted.ox.ac.uk/archaeology/HistoricEnvironment.php

Achill Arc h a e o l o g i c a l Fi e l d S c h o o l - Specialist and developme n t t r a i n i n g

i n f i e l d a n d l aboratory techniques.

P r i c e s r a n g e f rom € 395 - € 595

h t t p : / / w w w. a chill-fieldschool.com/specialist-courses

past horizons 44
 V i e wpoint
S t a n d a rds, what standards?
C
ommercial archaeology appears t o b e
running headlong into the aby s s . T h e
boom time of the previous years s a w m a n y
c o m mercial companies offer work to peo p l e w h o
h a d no specific ability or any real expe r i e n c e i n
f i e l d work. As a result, standards have d e c l i n e d
n o t i c eably even at basic levels and the i n d u s t r y,
n o w in crisis, is being forced to admit t h a t t h e
l a c k of any formalised system of skills tr a i n i n g i s
b e c o ming a real issue that needs to be ad d r e s s e d .
I t i s essential to the future health o f f i e l d
a r c h a eology that key skills, identified b y t h e
U n i t ed Kingdom National Occupational St a n d a r d s ,
b e c o me formally standardised. When a p p l y i n g
f o r a job it should be entirely possible t o s h o w a
p o t e ntial employer a set of qualification s w h i c h
a r e r ecognised as an industry standard. A l t h o u g h
t h i s is already available in the UK as a N a t i o n a l
Vo c a tional Qualification, the cost of sign i n g u p t o
t h i s i s more than most people can afford a n d h a s
r e s u l ted in very little uptake.
C u r r ently, a major problem is a lack of con s i s t e n c y
i n t r aining. So me universities, who, i t c o u l d
b e a rgued, shoul d be teaching field ski l l s t o a n
i n d u stry standard feel it is either not t h e i r r o l e
o r h ave little id ea of the needs of com m e r c i a l
a r c h a eology. A graduate should expect to b e a b l e
t o p r ove to an employer that they have a c h i e v e d
r e c o gnised skills , otherwise what is the p o i n t o f
t h e i r education? As there are simply no t e n o u g h
r e s e a rch posts to go around the only ot h e r l a rg e
e m p l oyer of archaeology graduates is w i t h i n t h e
c o m mercial sector, so it would make sen s e t o t r y
t o a t least fulfil some of its needs.
I n P oland, for ex ample, a student needs t o o b t a i n
o n e year ’s work experience in the fiel d b e f o r e
r e c e i ving their degree. However, here in t h e U K , a
s t u d e nt need only achieve on average six t o e i g h t
w e e k s of experie nce through the non-com m e r c i a l
e n v i r onment of the field school. There a r e s o m e
David Connolly is the direc tor of Br itish Archaeological Jobs and R esources (BA JR)
Web: http://w w w.bajr.org
short courses available (see page 44) which may
be suitable for obtaining some of the necessary
skills and although I would recommend them as
a means to get some form of structured training,
it is obviously a commitment in time and money
that many people just do not have in this already
p o o r l y p a i d i n d u s t r y.
When I was a regular face on the digging circuit
in the eighties and early nineties archaeology was
b e g i n n i n g t o m o v e i n t o t h e c o m m e r c i a l s e c t o r. A t
t h a t t i m e , h o w e v e r, w e d i d n o t o c c u p y t h e c u t -
throat world of competitive tendering to the extent
w e d o n o w. A l t h o u g h s t i l l w o r k i n g t o d e a d l i n e s w e
were able to hone our skills within the workplace.
Some of us had no archaeological qualifications
w h e n e n t e r i n g t h e p r o f e s s i o n b u t le a r n e d i n t h e
field from those with more experience. Nowadays
a person cannot really expect to learn in this way
because commercial work has neither the time nor
the space to allow this to happen.
There has to be some way out of the situation
we have so quickly found ourselves in. Do
we really want to be ‘temporal contamination
engineers’, skilled in the task of cleaning up a
site for the developer but lacking the skills of a
g o o d a r c h a e o l o g i s t ? F o r m e t h e c h o i c e i s e a s y,
I know the direction I would choose and it is
d e f i n i t e l y n o t t h e f o r m e r. I a m , t o m y v e r y c o r e ,
an archaeologist.
If as an industry we really want to move forward
there is a need to formalise the teaching of
skills before our working life starts, then allow
for continued growth within the workplace.
Embarking on this process will not be without
teething troubles but we desperately need to do
something to improve standards. If we achieve
this goal we can begin to justify calling ourselves
professionals and maybe then we will enjoy the
benefits that we have denied ourselves for so
long.
45 past horizons
Back Pages - Comedy Videos
A s e l e c t i o n o f classic comedy videos on the subjec t of archaeology for your en j oy m e nt .
To watc h m o re go to http://w w w.pasthor izons.t v/t v

To vie w this video please click here

M ont y P ython - Archa eology Today (1969)

To view this video please click here

Ed d i e I z z a rd a i rs his views on archaeology (1998)

past horizons 46
 To view this video please click here

Time Team - T V Bur p (2007)

To view this video please click here

A r m s t ro n g a n d M iller - Time Team spoof (2009)

47 past horizons
 PAST HORIZONS
Journal of Volunteer Archaeology

Share
your Projects
with the World
Past Horizons is a unique online publication aimed at anyone who has an interest in archaeology
and heritage conservation. Our remit is to inform people about projects around the world where
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Articles are written by project organisers or the participants in the project giving unique insights
into what to expect. Topics range from the discovery of mysterious features in Cornwall to rock art
survey in Nicaragua, restoring Ottoman period houses in Albania and surveys in the deserts of
Jordan. We encourage PhD students to contribute stories about projects they are involved in, such
as the recent article on Rwandan archaeology from two University College London
researchers.

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past horizons 48