Buildings Archaeology Resource Booklet and Activities
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Buildings Archaeology Resource booklet and activities Prepared for the Young Archaeologists’ Club Leaders’ Weekend, May 2018 Workbook written by Nicky Milsted With contributions by Debbie Frearson and Mark Phillips Kindly supported by: i Acknowledgements The biggest thank you in the preparation of this resources booklet and the YAC Leaders’ Weekend 2018 is due to Helen Parslow at Albion Archaeology and Bedford YAC. Her enthusiasm for hosting a Leaders’ Weekend training event was infectious, and she has provided impetus and ‘legwork’ throughout the planning of the event and significant input into the practical programme for the Weekend itself. The team at Albion Archaeology including Helen Parslow, Jeremy Oetgen, Victoria Guy and Mark Phillips, along with Clare Rogers at The Higgins Bedford and her team, have been incredibly supportive throughout. Thank you to them all. Invaluable financial and in-kind contributions have been provided by: • Albion Archaeology • Council for British Archaeology South Midlands • Bedford Borough Council • The Higgins Bedford • Whitmore Plant • Morris Homes Ltd. YAC branches across the UK have also made donations to ensure that these resources could be produced, and that the accompanying training weekend in May 2018 could go ahead. At the Council for British Archaeology, thanks are due to Debbie Frearson, Bob Sydes, Gill Bull, Claire Corkill, Claire Hulmes, and the rest of the staff team. Nicky Milsted May 2018 ii Contents Section 1: Introduction to Buildings Archaeology……………………………………1–16 What is buildings archaeology?...........................................................................1 Activity 1.1: Buildings and structures...........................................................................1 Activity 1.2: Are all building types equally important? ...................................................2 Why study and record buildings?........................................................................2 Activity 1.3: My buildings..........................................................................................3 Activity 1.4: My house..............................................................................................4 Activity 1.5: House detective......................................................................................4 Activity 1.6: Create a witch bottle or time capsule..........................................................5 What types of buildings can be recorded? .........................................................6 How are important buildings and structures recognised and protected? ..........6 In England and Wales.....................................................................................7 In Scotland..................................................................................................10 In Northern Ireland......................................................................................10 Activity 1.9: A building should be listed because..........................................................12 Activity 1.10: Listed or not?......................................................................................12 Activity 1.11: Match the building picture and list description.........................................12 Activity 1.12: My list description...............................................................................13 What agencies and people are involved in the care and understanding of the historic environment, and what are their roles? ..............................................13 Local Planning Authorities.............................................................................13 Historic Environment Records........................................................................14 Planning Archaeologist.................................................................................15 Archaeological Contractors...........................................................................15 Record Office / County Archive Office.............................................................16 Museum Services.........................................................................................16 Portable Antiquity Scheme............................................................................16 National amenity societies............................................................................16 iii Section 2: Recording Buildings………………………………………………………………17–31 Documentary research……………………………………………………………………..……………17 Building materials, techniques and features…………………………………….……………18 Activity 2.1: Building materials survey…………………………………………………….……………..19 Activity 2.2: Mix and match………………………………………………………………….……………..20 Windows and lintels……………………………………………………………….………………..20 Activity 2.3: Windows through time…………………………..…………………………………………..20 Doors and plaques……………………………………………………………….…………………..21 Activity 2.4: Doors through time……………………………………………………………….…………..21 Evidence for change……………………………………………………………….………………..21 Using the site recording worksheet……………………………………………………………….21 IMPORTANT: Health & Safety……………………………………………………………….……….22 Basic site safety……………………………………………………………….……………………..22 Weather……………………………………………………………….……………………………….23 Site access and permission……………………………………………………………….……....23 National grid references……………………………………………………………….……………….23 Activity 2.4: Finding a grid reference……………………………………………………………….…….24 Drawings……………………………………………………………….……………………………………….24 Plans……………………………………………………………….…………………………………….25 Activity 2.5: Introducing plans……………………………………………………………….……………..25 Scale……………………………………………………………….…………………………………….25 Activity 2.6: Drawing a scale plan………………………………………………………………………….26 Elevations………………………………………………………………………………………………26 Activity 2.7: Drawing a section of wall at scale…………………………………………………………27 Photography………………………………………………………………………………………………….28 Activity 2.8: Photographic survey of your chosen building………………………………………….29 Writing a report…………………………………………………………………………………………….29 Activity 2.9: Write a building report……………………………………………………………………….31 What to do with your reports and research……………………………………………………31 Activity 2.10: Host an exhibition or event………………………………………………………………..31 iv Section 3: (Built) Heritage at Risk………………………………………………….32–37 Buildings at risk………………………………………………………………………………………………32 Activity 3.1: Buildings at risk…………………………………………………………………………………32 Condition monitoring…………………………………………………………………………………….34 Activity 3.2: Spot the rot! ……………………………………………………………………………………35 Activity 3.3: Lego condition monitoring…………………………………………………………………..36 Activity 3.4: Campaign for a local building at risk……………………………………………………..37 Activity 3.5: A new lease of life……………………………………………………………………………..37 Section 4: Recording a Church……………………………………………………….38–49 Why record a church? …………………………………………………………………………………..38 Handy hints when looking at churches…………………………………………………………39 About church window……………………………………………………………………………….39 Some examples of ancient churches…………………………………………………………….40 Church terminology……………………………………………………………………………………….45 Activity 4.1: Church glossary games……………………………………………………………………….45 Activity 4.2: Label the church……………………………………………………………………………..…45 Activity 4.3: Pre-Reformation and Reformation churches……………………………………………45 Activity 4.4: Church visit………………………………………………………………………………………46 Comparing places of worship…………………………………………………………………………47 Activity 4.5: Match the plan to the religious building…………………………………………………48 Stained glass windows……………………………………………………………………………………48 Activity 4.6: Art inspired by stained glass………………………………………………………………..49 Redundant churches………………………………………………………………………………………49 Activity 4.7: Design a new use for a redundant church……………………………………………….49 Section 5: Graveyard recording…………………………………………………….50–59 Why record a graveyard? ………………………………………………………………………………50 Activity 5.1: Draw a sketch plan of a graveyard………………………………………………………..51 Activity 5.2: Create a measured plan of a graveyard………………………………………………….52 What information can be found on a gravestone? ………………………………………..57 Activity 5.3: Recording a gravestone………………………………………………………………………57 Activity 5.4: Make a rubbing of a gravestone…………………………………………………………..58 Analysing your findings and designing future work………………………………………..59 1 Section 1: Introduction to Buildings Archaeology Learning objectives After this section, your YAC members or pupils will be able to: • describe what buildings archaeology is and why it is important • identify different types of buildings • explain more about why buildings are important and which buildings are important to them • understand that buildings change through time and that these changes can help to tell stories • describe some of the processes and techniques involved in buildings archaeology • begin to use these processes and techniques to make their own observations and records of buildings • explain how special or important buildings can be protected by law What is buildings archaeology? Buildings archaeology allows archaeologists to discover and tell the (hi)story of buildings that are still standing today. Buildings archaeology involves making observations of a building or structure and using these observations to tell the structure’s history. This can include looking at the fabric of a building, as well as its functions. Buildings archaeology considers both the outside (exterior) and inside (interior) of buildings. Buildings archaeologists observe and analyse materials, building techniques, use and changes. Buildings archaeology techniques can be used to observe and record all types of standing