Archaeology Newsletter

School of History, Classics and Archaeology

Spring 2012

Contents

A letter from the Chair 1

Staff Updates 2

Research Students 6

Research Projects 7

Research in Focus 12

Research Strands and Research Groups 14

Books 15

Conference and Field School Reports 16

Past Events 18

Forthcoming Events 18

Seminars 2011-12 19

A letter from the Chair the alumni careers sessions, hear a range of colleagues, and some very recent graduates. Others, who finished It is a pleasure to welcome you to this year’s archaeology their formal studies at Newcastle decades ago, came to newsletter. As always there is much to celebrate here at share their experiences and advice with current students. Newcastle and a great deal to reflect upon, but the aca- The event was a great success and something of an eye- demic year 2011-2012 may legitimately claim to have opener. seen the most momentous changes in life within the archaeology team in decades. Our students, at all levels, continue to enjoy a vigorous, hands-on and innovative teaching style. The team’s suc- It is only appropriate to begin with the passing of our cess in National Student Satisfaction surveys again led to great Emeritus Professor of Classical Archaeology Brian an interest across the University in our methods. Shefton FBA, who was active in the field of Greek Art Amongst other exchanges, we were selected as a best and Archaeology until well into his 90s. Brian was a dis- practice case study to explore how student engagement tinctive and brilliant scholar, generous with advice and can be enhanced across the Campus. Our colleague, Jane knowledge. Newcastle continues to benefit from his leg- Webster, received the Vice Chancellor’s award for teach- acy through the exceptional holdings of Etruscan and ing, one of only four such awards made across the entire Greek artefacts acquired during his long career and the university. With typical generosity, Jane invested her outstanding Shefton Collection of works on classical art prize in the purchase of museum quality replicas to aug- held in the Robinson library. These great resources con- ment our fine handling collection and in the development tinue to benefit our students, not least through the work of archaeology resource packs for schools. Jane has a of Newcastle’s lecturer in Greek Archaeology, Sally long-standing record of fostering interest in archaeology Waite and our Keeper of Archaelogy, Andrew Parkin, at school level, both through her work with the Young both of whom worked extensively with Brian. It remains Archaeologists Club and through the offer of placements intensely satisfying to introduce our incoming students to on her field projects, and it has been a pleasure this year these wonderful collections, as I discovered again when to see some of those she inspired as school children pro- co-running a new artefact handing seminar in Etruscan gressing successfully through degree level studies with us. archaeology for some of our new first year students. Commitment to education and to the building of another Kevin Greene and Lindsay Allason-Jones, both interna- generation of archaeologists also led to the establishment tionally renowned specialists in their fields, retired this at Newcastle of the Higher Education Field Academy, a year. I am delighted to say that both continue to be very training programme that gives school children an oppor- much involved in the life of the archaeology team, attend- tunity to participate in excavation and to experience uni- ing research seminars, contributing to teaching and super- versity life. Newcastle HEFA was inspired by the model vision, and thriving generally. Building on the strong developed by Carenza Lewis of Time Team to reach out reputation for the study of Roman material culture that to children who might not otherwise consider a univer- Lindsay and Kevin have built for Newcastle is new col- sity education; it has proven to be a tremendously suc- league James Gerrard. James joins us from Cambridge cessful vehicle for widening participation. Newcastle where he worked as a post-doctoral researcher on a HEFA was developed by Sam Turner and led in the field major Mellon Foundation-funded research project prior by Hannah Flint. to which he worked as a finds specialist for PCA in Lon- don. James exemplifies the combination of ‘muddy boots’ Developing our field education programme for both un- experience gained in extensive field archaeology, mastery dergraduates and graduates has been a significant priority of material culture and the capacity for advanced analysis this year and as you will see below, Newcastle has en- and major syntheses that we seek in our team. gaged in an impressive range of field activity. Negotiations at Faculty level have ensured that an increased level of During this time of change, the archaeology team remains funding will be committed on an annual basis to fieldwork very close, and is now perhaps closer than ever to New- training, while generous donations from alumni have al- castle alumni. This year witnessed several key events to lowed us to expand our technical field programmes for bring what has sometimes been termed the ‘Newcastle undergraduates and graduates alike. Mafia’ ever closer together. Our June reunion served as a reminder of just how diverse and influential Newcastle’s Where next? The scale of change in the UK HEI sector archaeology alumni can be. A special note should be next year, with the introduction of new undergraduate made of the Year of 1972, who turned up en masse. The fees and new rules on A-level grades and admissions will transformation of buildings and resources on campus have several implications for home students. It is difficult impressed many visitors, with the old department’s build- to determine exactly how these will play out across ar- ings being torn down and the colonisation of new spaces. chaeology as a discipline or Newcastle as a university. Our new headquarters lie in the much more architectur- Whatever happens, however, the archaeology team will ally distinguished Armstrong Building, now in the process remain committed to delivering the best teaching and of extensive renovation, while the new Great North Mu- finest research. seum places on display many items in the University’s archaeological collections that were harder to access Professor I P Haynes before. Our alumni also came out in force to support Chair and Head of Archaeology

Page 1 Staff Updates

Andrea Dolfini prehistoric settlement from the Neolithic to the Bronze Lecturer in Archaeology Age. If this seems quite a lot, the trick is that I enjoyed a research leave in semester 1. 2011 was a busy year for me. I ex-

tended my research on early Italian With regard to teaching, I offered last year a new post- metallurgy into the Neolithic, and graduate module (ARA8035 – Understanding metalwork), this was submitted to the Accordia in which students were taught specialist skills in the use- Research Papers for publication in a wear analysis (by optical microscopy) of ancient and his- thematic issue on the Italian Neo- toric metalwork. Response from students was excellent lithic (edited by R. Whitehouse and and we all had a great time examining, inter alia, wood- M. Pearce). I am currently working working traces on prehistoric copper-alloy axes and com- on a new model for explaining the bat marks on Late Bronze Age swords. Teaching material emergence of metallurgy in the cen- included mouth-watering original pieces such as the Am- tral Mediterranean. This research was presented (as an ble rapier and one of the Ewart Park swords! invited paper) at an international conference organised by the German Institute in Rome, and is now being written Finally, as School exchange coordinator I undertook a up for submission to the European Journal of Archae- general review of the School’s Erasmus agreements, ology. which resulted in new partnerships with Paris-Diderot,

Leiden, Rome-La Sapienza and Florence (the last three Moreover, I contributed to bringing to conclusion a dec- being now finalized). I am proud to note that some of the ade-long survey project unlocking the ancient landscape forthcoming exchanges involve some of the best Depart- of the Orbetello lagoon in central Italy. This will be ments of Archaeology in the world (yes, Leiden and shortly published as a volume (edited by N. Negroni Rome!), and I am confident that these will be up and run- Catacchio, M. Cardosa and myself), to which I contrib- ning later this year. uted three sections discussing survey methods and the

Chris Fowler The AHRC-funded project for which I am the lead co- Lecturer in Archaeology, Director of Research ordinator, Networks across the Border: Investigating Prehis- Degrees in Archaeology, Acting Director of toric Social and Cultural Networks through the Tyne-Forth Research Prehistory Forum, has continued to go from strength to strength from 2010 to present, with three more day meetings and a field weekend (see http:// research.ncl.ac.uk/tyneforthprehistoryforum/index.html for details). Richard Tipping, Rachel Crellin and I are soon to edit a volume of papers from the Forum’s contributors over the last three years. Along with Jan Harding and Daniela Hofmann (Cardiff University) I have also been editing The Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe, which should go to press in the coming year. As well as co- authoring the introduction, I have co-written a chapter on ‘Mortuary practices, bodies and persons in northwestern Europe’ with Chris Scarre (Durham University). Over the last year and a half I have been enjoying writing a book about Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age mortu- As part of the research for my book on the Chalcolithic ary practices in northeast England, which is now nearing and Early Bronze Age mortuary practices of northeast completion, teaching Prehistoric Britain, Themes in Later England (which is contracted to Oxford University Press) European Prehistory (cosmology, art, bodies and persons), I commissioned osteoarchaeological analysis of a range of Archaeological Theory and Interpretation, and Later European human remains from these burials curated in Tyne and Prehistory. These are exciting times to be studying British Wear museums. The osteoarchaeological studies were and European Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Early Bronze carried out by Michelle Gamble, who successfully attained Age archaeology and I have thoroughly enjoyed keeping her PhD on the palaeopathology of human remains from up with breaking research as I prepare for my teaching. It Chalcolithic Cyprus last year at Newcastle University. was also particularly nice this year to see our cohort of Michelle has also helped in selecting samples of human students joined by a number of enthusiastic Erasmus and bone from these remains for radiocarbon dating: both international visiting students. Next year we launch a new the osteoarchaeological results and the radiocarbon dates MA in Later European Prehistory, and I am looking for- will be published in articles over the next year or so and wards to running a module on Prehistoric Bodies for MA also provide important data for my book. The Faculty of students. Humanities and Social Sciences at Newcastle University kindly funded this research.

Page 2 I have also been enjoying supervising research by Sophie Josie Cleveland’s Mlitt on the biographies of burial Moore on Byzantine mortuary practices, cosmology and grounds and sequences of mortuary practices in the Brit- personhood (led by Mark Jackson), Ndukuyakhe Ndlovu ish Early Bronze Age, and I have been supervising a num- on cosmology and southern African rock art (led by Aron ber of interesting undergraduate dissertations on British Mazel), David Cockcroft on round barrows in Late Neo- Neolithic and Early Bronze Age archaeology (along with lithic and Early Bronze Age Yorkshire, and Rachel Crellin one on Late Upper Palaeolithic cave art and another on on cultural change during the Late Neolithic and Early Mayan art!). I continue to organise the School’s research Bronze Age on the Isle of Man. Michelle Gamble was not strand in ‘Bodies and Identities‘, under the umbrella of the only PhD student I co-supervised to achieve her PhD which staff and postgraduate students (and even final year in 2010-11: Brian Albrecht successfully defended his the- undergraduates) have met regularly throughout the year sis on activities at Neolithic causewayed enclosures (lead in a series of seminars, reading discussion groups and supervisor Jan Harding). Congratulations to them both. coffee hours. Along with Jan Harding I have also started supervising

James Gerrard History moving the cemetery at Bradley Hill in Somerset Lecturer in Archaeology from the fourth to the fifth and sixth centuries AD and an 2011 was a busy year interim report in Medieval Archaeology on the excavations and my life was at the Brough of Deerness in Orkney. I’d hoped to return turned upside down there this year but my move from Cambridge means I’ll (in a good way) by probably be bidding the Northern Isles good bye for a my appointment to few years at least. Newcastle. I’m slowly finding my feet My other fieldwork at Lufton in Somerset continued to and enjoying the explore the environs of an unusual Late Roman villa com- challenges that my plex. Geophysical survey carried out by myself and the new job presents. South Somerset Archaeological Research Group is re- vealing a hitherto unknown multi-phase landscape. I ex- Most of my time has pect to undertake some excavations there this summer – been taken up with Let me know if you’re interested! writing my new book The Ruin of Roman Britain. I’m steadily slaying the dragon I’ve maintained links with one of my old employers Pre- and hope to have a draft completed for review by the Construct Archaeology Ltd. This has brought in some Cambridge University Press in early 2012. commercial consultancy but has also provided work placements for six Newcastle students in 2012. The op- The publication of A Roman Settlement and Bath House at portunity for under-graduates and post-graduates to un- Shadwell (A. Douglas, J. Gerrard and B. Sudds 2011, Lon- dertake genuine work experience with a commercial ar- don, PCA Monograph 12) marked a major milestone in chaeological unit in London is great and I hope that this is the understanding of a very peculiar corner of East Lon- something that will continue in the future. don. The volume was a long time in production and I’m very pleased to finally see it in print. Other publications in Finally, if you’re interested in pottery make a note of my 2011 included my short piece in Transactions of the London one day conference (7th June 2012) on Roman pottery in and Middlesex Archaeological Society on the Roman coins the fifth century. It will bring together experts from the from Colchester House in London (a site that is occa- museums sector, commercial archaeology and academia sionally interpreted as a late Roman cathedral); a paper in in an attempt to assess the importance of ‘Romano- The Archaeology of Late Antique Paganism on ‘Wells and British’ vessels and potsherds as Roman Britain disinte- Belief Systems’; a note in Somerset Archaeology and Natural grated.

Jan Harding Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscape in Northampton- Senior Lecturer in Archaeology shire: Volume 2, Supplementary Studies’). The report can be downloaded for free from the English Heritage web It has been another busy site. I have also finished the report on my extensive field- 12 months. The year saw work at the Thornborough monument complex in York- the publication of the sec- shire’s North Riding. The volume will include a detailed ond and final Raunds Prehis- description of this landscape’s remarkable archaeology, toric Project volume by Eng- especially its three giant henges, along with more general lish Heritage — a volume discussions of monumentality, religion and pilgrimage, the which brings together the inter-relationship between sacred space and domestic large number of specialist space, and prehistoric social organization. It will be pub- reports (Harding, J. & lished by the Council for British Archaeology, funded by Healy, F. 2011. ‘The an English Heritage grant, in early 2012. Work has also Raunds Area Project. A continued on editing the ‘Handbook of Neolithic Europe’

Page 3 along with Chris Fowler and Dani Hofmann. We hope lithic scatters with Prof. Clive Ruggles (Leicester Univer- this Oxford University Press volume will be exciting, in- sity) and Dr. Clive Bond (Winchester University) respec- novative and student-friendly, bringing together over 60 tively. I was also meant to be speaking at ‘Der Aufbruch papers on a wide range of subjects from across the vast zu Neuen Horizonten. Neue Sichtweisen über die Eu- and diverse area of Europe. My own contributions to the ropäische Frühbronzezeit’ at Halle(Saale) University, Ger- volume will be titled ‘Defining the Neolithic in Europe: many, but my flight was cancelled (a strike by German diverse and contemporaneous communities, c. 6500-2500 pilots!). BC’ and ‘Henges and related enclosures’. Unfortunately, I was not able to undertake fieldwork During the year I gave two conference papers: I contrib- over the last year. I was hoping to follow-up my investiga- uted to ‘Lithic scatters, a European Perspective’ at the tions at Thornborough by starting a new project at the European Association of Archaeologists Conference in Oslo, nearby monument complexes of Nunwick and Hutton Norway; and also to the ‘Ancient Conceptions of the Moor/Cana Barn, but the funding was not forthcoming. I Heavens — Archaeoastronomy in Europe’ day-school at intend to resubmit the grant applications, so fingers- Oxford University. These themes are actually two of my crossed I will be working again in Yorkshire during the future research priorities as I’m currently preparing grant summer of 2012. applications for new projects on archaeoastronomy and

Ian Haynes of my PhD students, Alan Biggins and Ian Leins, on suc- Chair of Archaeology cessfully completed their doctorates this year.

It has been another packed On the research front, I have directed two major pro- year, full of memorable mo- jects this year. Work at Maryport on the Cumbrian ments. Undergraduate teach- Coast with my colleague Tony Wilmott led to a funda- ing has been as enjoyable as mental reassessment of the story of the Maryport Altars, ever, and has become a still the largest cache of Roman altars discovered in Britain. larger part of the programme, Work in Rome beneath the Pope’s Cathedral, San Gio- with a significant increase in vanni in Laterano, with Prof Paolo Liverani of the Univer- contact hours across most sity of Florence continues as part of the ongoing Lateran modules. This has, in turn, Project. The extensive scavi beneath the basilica have so allowed us scope to experi- much to offer to our understanding of the transformation ment with a broader range of of Rome under two very different emperors, Septimius teaching methods. Particular Severus and Constantine. The implications of both trans- favourites of mine this year formations remain of enduring fascination. On campus, I were the Saturnalia event, in full-costume, that we ran for continue to draw energy and inspiration from our super second year students and the launch of a new training research culture where interdisciplinary exchange is truly programme recording Newcastle St Nicholas’ Cathedral. woven into the institutions academic life. It is a pleasure MA teaching is as always tremendously enjoyable: our to see the extraordinary vivacity of our research semi- study exchange with the University of Amsterdam was at nars, not only the Roman Archaeology series, which I once academically stimulating and great fun, while the have always enjoyed, but also the superb programmes of celebrated dining seminar reached new heights of fourth- archaeology, interdisciplinary and post-graduate forum century authenticity. Our doctoral students continue to seminars which continue to draw large numbers of par- thrive, and it is a particular pleasure to congratulate two ticipants from across the University and beyond.

Mark Jackson Stage 3 and MA students. I also gave a lecture on Dark Lecturer in Archaeology Age ceramics to Prof Jim Crow’s students in Edinburgh; he then visited Newcastle and gave my students a splen- I enjoyed meeting a great new did master class on his work on the Water Supply of group of MA students last year Constantinople. including several from the USA, Greece, Finland and Australia as During the Easter vacation Alex Turner and I spent a well as the UK. While Prof very full week in Turkey surveying at Kilise Tepe, and Haynes was on research leave then returned for the Byzantine Symposium. In May, I was in Semester 1, I lead the under- invited to speak about our work at Kilise Tepe at a re- graduate module on the Ar- search seminar in Oxford. Hugh Elton visited in May to chaeologies of the Roman Em- work on the Gough Archive and led a seminar for our pire with Dr Thea Ravasi, to MA Roman Frontiers module. which we added a new Later Roman element. Semester 2 At the end of semester 2, I travelled to Antalya, Turkey was a busy teaching term with with 10 students who worked with our PhD student Ka- Byzantine modules for both tie Green on the Pisidia Survey Project directed by Dr L. Vandeput. After this I travelled to Kilise Tepe and met

Page 4 two more groups of Newcastle students who came out Turkey and found recently submitted some excellent MA to join us for nearly two months at the site. dissertations. I was absolutely delighted that our masters students Maria Duggan and Vicky Manolopoulou secured In August, Sophie Moore and I worked at Çatalhöyük on funding to enable them to commence PhDs with us in the late burials which date from the Roman period September. through to the Second Millennium AD. I returned from Sam Turner ongoing research on Wearmouth-Jarrow to ICOMOS as Senior Lecturer in Archaeology part of the technical evaluation of the World Heritage Site bid. I’ve published papers in journals including Journal I’ve had a busy year working on of Mediterranean Archaeology and Études Rurales as well as research in Britain and Europe two co-edited books on Early Medieval Northumbria and including projects in and around Life in Medieval Landscapes. As usual I’ve been teaching Newcastle, in Devon, France and medieval and post-medieval landscape history and early Ireland. I’ve acted as Principal In- medieval archaeology for undergraduates and MA stu- vestigator on grants from inter alia dents. We’ve recently been successful in winning re- English Heritage, English county search funding from English Heritage and the European councils, the French ministry of Commission for new projects beginning in 2012 ... more culture and the AHRC. I gave pa- on these next time ... pers at conferences in London and Manchester and presented our Sally Waite study trip in which we manage to take in a remarkable Lecturer in Greek Art and Archaeology amount of Greek archaeology, including the Akropolis, Kerameikos, Agora and National Archaeology Museum, This year I have been teaching an as well as the spectacular new Akropolis Museum. undergraduate module in Classical Art from Greece to Rome alongside I have begun work on the Shefton archive and research the graduate seminar in Greek Ar- project. The main aim of this project, funded by Renais- chaeology for the MAs. I am also sance North East and the Catherine Cookson Founda- supervising two PhD students, one tion, is to up-date the documentation of the Etruscan working on the Athenian festival material in the Great North Museum. I was fortunate calendar frieze the other on the enough to work with Emeritus Professor Brian Shefton at development of warrior departure the beginning of this project. scenes in Attic pottery. We soon depart for Athens for our annual

Jane Webster component of Louise’s research on oral history and Senior Lecturer in Archaeology memory.

2010-11 was an eventful year. In May 2011 I arranged a month-long visit by Professor Three new research students Paul Mullins, funded by the HASS Visiting Fellowship started work with me over the scheme. Paul teaches at Indiana IUPUI, and re- year: Louise Tolson, Michael Smith searches 19th century bric-a-brac and African American and Denise McGuire. Louise and archaeology. During his visit, we jointly hosted a mini Michael both did their first de- conference on oral history and 19th century archaeology, grees in History and Archaeology which we are currently writing up as a volume of papers here at Newcastle, and it was bril- for the journal Historical Archaeology. The spring brought liant to see both of them gain other conferences too, including the excellent TRAC AHRC funding for further re- conference hosted by Newcastle Archaeology during the search. I also supervised some Easter vacation (I was very pleased to be asked to chair really excellent undergraduate two sessions there), and the prestigious ‘Arts of Roman’s dissertations in 2010-11. Some of these dissertation stu- Provinces’ seminar group visit in May. This visit was dents, and other former graduates, have been helping me funded by the Getty Foundation, and brought an interna- to develop new materials for use in our Dissertation Re- tional group of rising young classical archaeologists to search Training module in 2011-12. I am really grateful Newcastle to visit our excellent Roman sites and mu- to them for their help. Another former graduate, Jennifer seum resources, and to discuss their work with myself Whittle, helped me to develop some new teaching mate- th th and Ian Haynes. rials on 18 and 19 century dining. She is now doing an MA in Historical Archaeology at Leicester. Over the One of the personal highlights of my year was to win a course of the year I also added lots of new things to my th Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, which I 19 century artefacts collection: a unique resource which collected at the July Graduation ceremony. The award is used in undergraduate teaching and also forms a vital

Page 5 itself is lovely (it’s on my desk!) but I also received £5000, project looking at early medieval settlement around the which I am using to fund a little project developing ar- Roman baths complex at Cassinomagus. Our student chaeological resources for use in GSCE History teaching. team was excellent here too. We had a brilliant time - My research assistant on that project is Ben Dyson: yet and I say that as someone who HATES digging in the heat another former Newcastle undergraduate and MA stu- (how do Mark and his students do it?) – thanks in no dent. The loveliest bit by far of the VC award concerned small part to the hospitality of Sam’s family. our students and alumni: both those who commented on my modules and teaching, helping me to prepare my award submission, and those (led by Anna Ward) who contributed to the memory book I was given at the graduation ceremony. Anna put this together via the magic of Facebook (as she put it ‘we knew you’d never look there!!’) and it is one of the nicest things I have ever received. Thank you!!!

July 2011 brought the final season of excavation at Bolli- hope, after 13 years. It was a vintage year: Rob Young and I had a fantastic group of students with us, staying at a field centre in the remotest reaches of Weardale. We worked hard, and we played hard too. Best to pass over the amount drunk and the range of uses made of the pool table...... but a new generation of students now knows a) how to make cheesy mash, and b) how to sniff a chain (don’t ask, or I’ll have to tell you). We excavated an 18th century house, and it proved to be a fascinating and very What else happened in this eventful year? I was delighted complex building. We have walked past the house site at Stage 2 student Wendy Malkin’s success in gaining a every day of the dig for many years: uncovering it – with Vacation Award Scholarship to work with myself and its beautiful flagstone floor, bread oven and intact wall Michael Smith on using newspaper reports to pin down plaster – was a great experience. Before we filled it back 18th century slave ship wreck sites. Wendy’s poster in (which nearly broke my heart, and all our backs) we (summarising her project) is excellent: it is on the wall turned the house into a home for an hour one last time, outside my office, along with Michael’s poster from his eating homemade bread and jam whilst sitting on the flag- own Vacation Award three years ago. The recent presen- stones. The last day of the last Bollihope was also the day tation event – where Alex Sangster did an excellent job our son Adam finished primary school: much blubbing convincing us all that sightseeing and sunbathing in Turkey was done. counts as research (!!) - was a great showcase for the Vacation Scholarships: I hope many more Stage 2 stu- The picture (right) shows our bread-and-jam ceremony dents will think about applying this year. I also look back at Bollihope. It was a lovely moment, and I particularly fondly on Cake O’Clock – my regular tea and cake hour like this shot because it depicts current students (both with our PhD students – and giving the keynote paper at UG and PG), former students, sixth formers on taster the Scottish STAG (Theoretical Archaeology) conference placements, international students and public volunteers: at Glasgow: I will be looking to build more links between the Bollihope community at its best. I hope very much to the PGs here and there this year. The Newcastle Univer- take that same community spirit – and the same type of sity Young Archaeologists Club branch run by myself and community outreach project – to our new site at Der- Hannah Flint also had a great year. Hannah’s ‘Christmas wentcote Steelworks near Consett. We start work here in the Trenches’ party was the stuff of legend (one does- in July 2011, in collaboration with English Heritage, look- n’t often get to make a gas mask using a plastic bottle and ing at the 18th century cottages associated with the forge. some sticky tape) and the building of Boxhenge – our After Bollihope, Rob, Adam and I went on to Chassenon cardboard version of Stonehenge - will also never be for- in France, where Sam Turner and I (well, Sam does all the gotten. hard work, and I swan about supervising the odd test pit and hoping no-one asks me to speak any French) have a Research Students Maria Duggan vey around the ancient city of Ped- nelissos. I had a very busy, but enjoyable summer last year and took part in a number of field projects. In August I went to Chassenon with Dr Jane Webster and Dr Sam Turner. In July I returned to Turkey with Katie Green as part of The project involved digging test-pits the Pisidia Project led by Dr Lut Vandeput of the British in the region of this Roman site and Institute at Ankara where we carried out a ceramic sur- produced not only Roman sherds, but

Page 6 unexpected amounts of medieval pottery. and was originally spotted by Dr Kevin Greene’s parents!

Later in August and September I went to Mothecombe in In October I started my PhD project studying post- Devon for the final year of Dr Sam Turner’s project with Roman imported pottery to the Atlantic Seaboard. I re- Dr Steve Roskams of York University and Andy Agate. cently presented a paper on the project at the ‘Arthur’s This site has produced sherds of pottery imported from Britain Revisited’ day organised by Dr Scott Ashley which the east Mediterranean dating to the 5th/6th century AD, was lots of fun.

Frances McIntosh on the collection will form the new museum catalogue

In the summer of 2011, prior to which will form part of English Heritage’s collections starting my PhD, I worked with Dr. online project. I am also aiming to raise the profile of this Mark Jackson on his project at important collection, and to this end attended the Roman Kilise Tepe in Turkey as the Finds Archaeology Conference 2012 where I presented a Officer which was a great learning poster on the material and my project. experience. This year I am Chair of the PGF and so have been in- In the first six months of my PhD I volved in organising events for that, including the upcom- th have been busy getting acquainted ing conference on 25 May on Rememembrance. In my with the material in the Clayton year out I wrote 3 articles which have now been pub- Collection, stored either at lished, two in the 2012 volume of Archaeologia Aeliana and Chesters or Corbridge. My work one in the 2012 volume of the British Numismatics Journal.

Sophie Moore practice can contribute to the wider understanding of the 9th -11th centuries, how we can identify mid-Byzantine Sophie Moore is currently in the 3rd year of her PhD, graves and cemeteries, and finally whether or not it is working on mid-Byzantine mortuary practice in Anatolia. possible to address ‘experience’ at both individual and The core case studies for her thesis are two unpublished societal levels through examining mortuary practices of cemeteries, the burials at Çatalhöyük and those at historic periods. Pınarbaşı, both in Central Anatolia. She aims to submit her thesis in December 2012. Sophie is attempting to address three questions within her thesis; how the study of mid-Byzantine mortuary

Michael Smith newspaper reports which the British Library have recently granted permission to reproduce in an online data- The British Slave Shipwreck Database (BSSD) is a collabo- base (forthcoming) aimed at researchers working on the rative project which has attempted to map the locations archaeology and history of slave ships and their wrecks. of 615 wrecks of slaving vessels which were registered in The information contained in this database is also being Britain and listed as wrecked in the Transatlantic Slave used to update the National Monument’s Record for Eng- Trade Database (http://www.slavevoyages.org). Utilising land and will be sent to Welsh, Scottish and Irish heritage digitised historic newspapers owned by the British Li- institutions. This project would not have been possible brary and archival sources from the National Archives without the input and supervision of Dr Jane Webster, this project has succeeded in finding some form of loca- the research work of Wendy Malkin and aid from Serena tion information for 407 of the 615 documented slave Cant of English Heritage. shipwrecks. The database now contains 815 digitised

Research Projects

Barrowburn: A Medieval fulling mill on the River Coquet (Richard Carlton – Visiting Fellow)

In July 2011 the author directed an excavation for Co- quetdale Community Archaeology on the suspected site of a medieval fulling mill on the River Coquet about 10 km upstream from Alwinton. The aim of the work was to determine the character of the remains and establish whether they formed part of the site of a medieval fulling mill known from documentary records to have been present at Barrowburn in the 13th century, the remains of which were last seen over a century ago.

Page 7 Excavation uncovered a masonry structure identified as a wheel pit for a wheel of circa 3.4 metres in diameter; downstream was a lightweight timber structure with an underwater planked floor, while above it was further timberwork, perhaps the remains of a flow control gate. Some 60m upstream, a large timber structure was uncovered on the riverbed, also comprising an underwater planked floor, thought most likely to have been the base for a sluice system.

The structural remains uncovered, together with dating evidence associating them with the later 12th and 13th

centuries, are sufficient to identify the remains as those of the fulling mill known from documentary records, making it an early example of its sort.

These remains are significant because very few medieval mills have been excavated in Britain, only a handful incor- porating the remains of wheel pits, of which this may be the best-preserved masonry-lined example ever found, as well as one of the earliest of low breastshot configura- tion.

Buzim Castle Excavations, Croatia formed the frontier zone ('krajina') between the north-west Bosnia three great imperial powers, Austria, Venice and the Ot- (Richard Carlton – Visiting Fellow) toman sultanate. This provides a case study for compari- son with other frontiers where militia settlers or levies played a prominent role, notably the 16th-century Anglo- Scottish Borders.

Excavation of over 3 metres of deposits in 2011 identified various phases of Ottoman and medieval activity, below which was revealed an Iron Age occupation deposit, comprising a deposit rich in pottery, charcoal and pieces of actual burnt timber.

In August 2001 Richard Carlton worked with Alan Rush- worth of Newcastle, Mirsad Sijaric of The Zemaljski Muzej, Sarajevo and members of the local community on further excavations at Buzim Castle in north-west Bosnia. This work forms part of a wider study into the Krajina region, established to examine the development and characteristics of borderland society during the late medieval-early modern periods when northern Bosnia and

Chassenon, Charente, France Newcastle team were investigating medieval and later (Sam Turner) settlements in the surrounding countryside by digging test -pits and surveying historic buildings. We were able to 14 staff and students from Newcastle travelled to west- show that these methods work very well in rural France, ern France in July to work as part of a projet collectif de and began to uncover the medieval settlement pattern of recherche around the famous Roman rural sanctuary at the region for the first time. We hope to return in 2012. Chassenon. Led by Sam Turner and Jane Webster, the

Page 8 Experimental Pottery Kiln Project at Bede’s World, Jarrow

April 2012 saw the start of a pioneering project involving students from Newcastle University to build an experimental Greek pottery kiln at Bede’s World in Jarrow.

The project aims to fire ancient Greek fine pottery using a replica kiln, built using traditional methods, and to test various aspects of construction, maintenance and the firing process (temperature, fuel use, kiln atmosphere etc.).

Production and firing of the kiln is being directed by Gra- ham Taylor, a professional potter who specialises in making replicas of ancient ceramics. Bede’s World has kindly provided space and material for the kiln to be built. It is hoped that the initial construction of this kiln will lead to further experimental work and the production of other types of ancient pottery using traditional methods.

Higher Education Field Academy - North East (Sam Turner)

Sam Turner and Hannah Flint set up this project in 2011 to encourage local school pupils to consider going on to university. The idea comes from an existing project led by Carenza Lewis at Cambridge, which aims to engage school pupils by involving them in real research. In 2011 we used test-pits to investigate the growth of medieval and later settlements at four different sites in Sunderland, Gateshead, Northumberland and North Tyneside. We hope to carry on next year.

Historic Seascape Characterisation: Irish Sea, English Sector (Sam Turner) The results and project report are available to download

freely from the Archaeology Data Service (doi This project was successfully completed by Caron New- 10.5284/1000422). man in 2011. Caron produced a GIS database of historic character areas in the Irish Sea that will be used to guide management and planning of the maritime environment.

Kilise Tepe Survey vated areas of the site prior to further fieldwork in the (Mark Jackson and Alex Turner) summer.

At Easter, Mark Jack- The work was sponsored by the HaSS Faculty, Newcastle son and Alex Turner University and the RM15 kindly loaned to us by Françoise (Newcastle University) and Geoffrey Summers (Kerkenes Dağ Project). We and Emre Şerifoğlu were very grateful to the Ministry of Culture and Tour- (Çanakkale Onsekiz ism for permission to conduct the survey early in the Mart University), con- year when the ground was still moist enough for the ducted a resistivity technology to work. survey of the majority of the unexcavated The survey highlighted in particular very clear wall lines, surface of the mound in particular a range of rooms to the south-east of the at Kilise Tepe using a Church. These results were integrated into our GIS so Geoscan RM15. that we can explore them with the rest of the spatial data gathered from the site. The aim was to clarify the layout of Byzantine buildings in the unexca-

Page 9 The Lateran Project established above ground level. We also evaluated exist- (Ian Haynes and Paolo Liverani) ing mapping for different sections of the scavi. Colleagues worked on digitising existing plans, geo-referencing them Many old excavations lie exposed beneath the streets of and then testing their integrity against surviving remains. Rome, but the scavi beneath the great basilica of San Gio- With the initial phases of survey control and planning vanni in Laterano are of particular interest. The scavi are completed, team members began work on designated of fundamental significance for the study of Constantine’s study areas within the scavi. Work in these areas will transformation of Rome and the subsequent development continue during 2012. In an attempt to take survey and of the Lateran Patriarchy. In addition to rendering acces- structural analysis to a new level, the Project team has sible the earliest phases of the basilica and the Lateran proceeded by undertaking photogrammetric survey Baptistery, the scavi contain what is believed to be the around the apse of the Constantinian basilica and the Nymphaeum of Pope Hilarus and parts of the famous domus buildings beneath the Castra Nova, as well as of a Oratory of the Santa Croce. Other earlier features of range of water features developed in Late Antiquity importance within the scavi include elements of the bar- around the site of the Baptistery itself. These work pack- racks and principia of the Castra Nova Equitum Singularium, ets have been underpinned by the analysis undertaken by constructed under Septimius Severus, a substantial bath study groups tasked with analysing key structural se- complex and market building. Still earlier structures ac- quences within the complex. This season saw extended cessible for study include sections of palatial housing in structural analysis of: A. The early town-houses on site use up until the second century AD. (buildings in use into the second century AD) and their relationship to the construction of the Castra Nova B. The The Lateran Project is the first attempt to undertake a use of the Castra Nova site by the builders of the Con- fully-comprehensive survey and analysis of the complex. It stantinian basilica. C. The development, through to the is funded by the British School at Rome and Newcastle thirteenth century, of further water features over part of University. This year we installed full survey control the second century AD bath complex. The latter work throughout the 4450 m2 of the Lateran scavi and inte- included examination of the probable Nymphaeum of grated this control with control stations/reference points Pope Hilarius.

The Lufton Villa Project (James Gerrard)

The late Roman villa at Lufton in Somerset is an unusual building with a large octagonal bath house. For the last two years we have been working with the South Somer- set Archaeological Research Group to explore the villa’s hinterland. Our work has seen geophysical survey carried out over a large area and this has revealed a complex and multiphase landscape that includes a previously unre- corded nucleated settlement of late prehistoric or Roman date. Work will continue in 2012 and we hope to undertake some small scale excavation to clarify the chronology of this settlement and landscape. The Maryport Project The results of the excavations overturn long-standing (Ian Haynes and Tony Wilmott) theories about the celebrated altar finds and demonstrate

that they were not interred as part of an annual ritual, as At the behest of the Trustees of the Senhouse Museum has long been maintained, but as part of the construction and with access granted by Hadrian’s Wall Heritage, ex- of one or more substantial timber buildings. Rather than cavations took place at the site of the 1870s Altar Finds the focus of cult activity at the site, these altars essentially near Camp Farm, Maryport from 31 May to 20 July, 2011. provided ballast for pile foundations. The location of The Project Team consisted of a core of professionals, such a substantial late Roman building, or buildings, at working with graduate and undergraduate students from this, the highest point in Maryport, is of considerable in- Newcastle University and local volunteers. Funding for terest. Work on the site also allowed the team to study the project came from the Trustees of the Senhouse Mu- the methods used by antiquarian excavators and demon- seum and Newcastle University. strated that Roman material had been recovered from

the site and incorporated into private collections long The team opened and excavated an area of 358 m2. before the famous discoveries of 1870. The excavation Over 300 contexts were documented. Sixty three small also allowed for investigation of a curvilinear ditch and finds (from Roman to C19th) were registered, 166 yielded dating evidence for its use. Earlier phases of Ro- sherds of Roman pottery recovered and analysed (a fur- man period activity were identified, though these were ther 444 sherds of post-medieval pottery were also re- generally heavily truncated. covered), 41 environmental samples taken, of which 34 were wet sieved.

Page 10 Mothecombe, Devon After four seasons of excavation we were sad to leave (Sam Turner) Mothecombe for the last time, but we’re excited to see the final publication which should be out within a year or In summer 2011 we spent our final season on the Dark so! Age beach-market site at Mothecombe along with our partners from the University of York. Around 15 students joined Andy Agate (Research Assistant in Archae- ology), PhD student Maria Duggan and Sam Turner to finish excavating two post-Roman houses and earlier features that underlay them.

We also explored archaeological features relating to the long-term management of sand dunes and watercourses in the field behind the main site.

Northumberland Park, Tynemouth as the site of St Leonard’s Hospital, an establishment (Richard Carlton) founded before c.1220 and known from documentary references as early as 1293.

At that time tiled and stone paved floors were found along with two stone coffins, a limestone brass matrix and worked stones and skeletons. The excavations carried out in June 2011 uncovered building foundations and traces of ditches, as well as several skeletons. More work is proposed on the site in 2012.

worked with The Friends of Northumberland Park, Tyne- mouth on an archaeological excavation to explore the presumed location of the medieval hospital of St. Leo- nard. The evaluation followed a desk-based assessment and a geophysical survey of the site which were used to determine the final location of the evaluation trenches. The hospital site was discovered during work to create Northumberland Park in the 1880s, and soon recognised

The Pisidia Intensive Surface Survey (Katie Green)

Over the course of the 2011 season a team from New- castle University led by Katie Green (PhD Student, New- castle University), undertook a systematic surface survey of 10 Survey Units. This fieldwork was carried out to complement other aspects of the Pisidia Survey Project and to facilitate the investigation into how the complex landscape of the region has developed through time by studying surface artefacts and the environment in which the artefacts were found.

Wearmouth-Jarrow The project has carried on with field survey and archival (Sam Turner) research, and we plan to finish preparing our results for publication in 2012. The bid for WHS status for Bede’s monastery of Wear- mouth-Jarrow was submitted to UNESCO early in 2011. Sam Turner, Alex Turner and Sarah Semple (Durham University) won another year’s funding from English Heri- tage to continue their research on the sites and their landscapes, which has been helping to inform the bid and the future strategy for managing the sites.

Page 11 Research in Focus

Çatalhöyük by Sophie Moore indications of shrouding. This group of graves also contains three features which include tiles. This lack of other During the summer of 2011 Dr Mark Jackson and Sophie positively diagnostic features might reflect Early Christian Moore attended the Çatalhöyük project to conduct a practice. This group is likely to date between Late Antiq- desk-based assessment of the post-Chalcolithic material uity and the Late Byzantine period. in the 4040 area. Time constraints meant that the scope of the work was limited to an attempt to create a typol- Group III burials are all single inhumations in narrow ogy of burials. grave cuts, either pit graves or mudbrick-lined graves. The group is identified largely on body position, individu- The results of this study will be presented in full within als are inhumed with their heads to the west end of the the forthcoming site report volume, however they can be graves lying extended on their right sides to face south. summarised as follows: The burials were divided into There are no grave goods in their primary contexts three groups. Group I burials have sharply defined within this group. The placement of the bodies in the straight-sided grave cuts lined with wood or tiles contain- grave cuts suggests that they were tightly shrouded. ing supine extended individuals. These graves are clus- These burials are likely to be Early Islamic. tered in the north of the 4040 area. Fourteen group I burials contained artefact assemblages dating to the 1st or Although only a small proportion of the burials covering 2nd century AD. the entire site were examined this season, the work con- ducted during August 2011 was a strong beginning. In Group II burials have very few positively diagnostic fea- coming years osteological work under the guidance of Dr tures other than they are aligned E-W with the crania at Michelle Gamble and a small field survey are both planned the west end of the graves and clustered in the South to extend our knowledge of the late material at Çatal- East corner of the 4040 area. The interments have no höyük. grave goods and are, in general, pit graves with a few

Kilise Tepe Excavations by Mark Jackson Our particular goal this year was to refine the chronology of the final phase of the use of the site which seems to have been abandoned during the early Byzantine period and to develop our understanding of the use of domestic buildings at the site.

In July and August a large team from Newcastle joined our colleagues from Cambridge and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Universities to conduct the final season of excavation at the multi-period site of Kilise Tepe. While our colleagues worked on the Bronze and Iron Ages, the Newcastle team focused on gaining further evidence for domestic buildings from the Byzantine and Hellenistic phases of the site.

Our Newcastle students worked with men and women from the village of Kışla, both on site and at the former village school which was our dighouse as in previous years. Jaime Levell (MA. Rom & Byz) continued excavations SE of the church and immediately south of Jaime, Sophie Moore (PhD student) worked with Alex Sangster (Stage 2, VV14), James Dunn (Stage 2, VV14) and Lauren Proctor (2011, V400 graduate) who excavated four rooms of a Byzantine domestic complex identified in the spring by the geophysical survey.

This building measured ca. 10m (E-W) x 12.6m (N-S)

Page 12 Lalor (2011, VV14 graduate), Frances McIntosh (PhD student) and Mark Jackson.

Alex Sangster and Fran Lalor had grants from the New- castle University Vacation Scholarship Fund and the Brit- ish Institute at Ankara (respectively) which enabled them to develop new understanding of the Hellenistic material sealed below the Byzantine phases of the site.

We were joined by County Archaeologist for Tyne and Wear Dave Heslop who worked on all the Ground Stone excavated between not only 2007-2011 but also 1994- 1998 as well as Dr Margaret O’Hea from Adelaide Uni- versity, Australia who continued her work on the glass. with additional structures constructed on the east side. Frances also managed the finds operation for all the small Tom Sutcliffe (2011, VV14 graduate) was draftsman for finds from the 2011 season and managed to find time to the Byzantine team and in addition to much planning on work through the Byzantine metalwork from previous site also digitized all the Level I plans into our GIS. Espe- years. We spent time with the rest of the Kilise Tepe cially striking among the range of artefacts found in these team and villagers for trips to local archaeological sites, rooms were further examples of the repertoire of local swimming in the river and of course regular football painted pottery including a jar painted with fish which was matches on the village’s new flood-lit pitch. cleaned with acid and painstakingly reconstructed by Fran

The Higher Education Field Academy by Hannah and 7 home schooled children. Feedback from the partici- Flint pants has been positive with pupils enjoying the opportunity to take part in archaeological research with univer- The Higher Education Field Academy (North East) was sity students. For example, teacher’s comments included: established in early 2011. The project has used the “The enthusiasm of the students involved was clear and model set up by Carenza Lewis at the University of Cam- this really rubbed off on the learners and helped them bridge, and aims to: take it seriously and get genuinely excited by their finds.  raise the aspirations of 13-17 year-olds, and en- Really well done, this was one of the best university courage them to think about going on to higher events I have attended!” (Helen Lawrence, Houghton education Keiper School).  help local communities find out more about the origins of their villages and settlements  contribute to academic research on historic settlement at Newcastle University

The HEFA project involves taking pupils from local schools into the field for two days to excavate 1m2 test pits. A third day is spent in the Wolfson lab where the school children learn about post excavation work, take part in a careers discussion and then visit the GNM. In the 2011 season, four field schools were held in the North East region: Great Whittington, Houghton le

Pupil feedback has also been positive: “I thought the course was a very good opportunity to find out more about archaeology and life at university. The course made me think more about my future and I am now considering taking up archaeology as a hobby.” ( Charlotte Oxley, Venerable Bede, Year 9 ) “I really enjoyed myself, thank you!” (Amy Robinson, Wellfield Middle School, Year 8). Spring, Derwentcotes Steel Furnace and Earsdon, with a total of 94 participants from 8 schools in the North East At Houghton-Le-Spring, the local community group also Page 13 participated along with the school children by excavating a test pit as part of the project. Councillor Sheila Ellis and the Friends of Rectory Park (numbering about 8 in total) excavated a 1m2 test pit over the two days as well as mixing with the children and students. This gave that excavation a real community feel. “The Friends had a great and worthwhile experience” (Councillor Sheila Ellis, Houghton). AimHigher, who were responsible for organizing the school groups attending the HEFA excavations also had positive things to say about the project: “Thanks for all the hard work with the test pits and the lab work, I hope you found the work with schools interesting…” (Maggie Stewart, Aim Higher Manager, Sunder- schools, bond as a team. Their enthusiasm despite the land). cold and damp weather to execute the tasks with preci- Student volunteers who work with the project have also sion and ensure their ‘booklet’ was filled in correctly was admirable. The joy and pride they demonstrated whilst producing drawings to scale of stones and roots in the soil and their determination to find that elusive artefact whilst sieving dirt. I too was extremely proud and impressed at how vigilant and excited they were in identify- ing finds ranging from charcoal to metal slag and broken ceramic pipe to glass whilst trowelling.’ (Alison Devine, Newcastle University Student, Earsdon 2011).

The results from the 2011 project are currently being written up for publication in the journal Medieval Settle- ment Research. given positive feedback ‘ The project is impeccably organised, professionally executed and instills self-belief within We are currently waiting for news on funding so that the all that are involved. It is also a great accolade to the project can continue into 2012. Schools in the region University as to how well equipped I felt to partake and have been expressing interest, and there is potential for a allowed me to apply my practical skills and knowledge in lot more work to be done in the North East and even the field leading a team...However the real joy came from expanding to Cumbria and the North West. observing the young people, consisting of two different Research Strands and Research Groups Bodies and Identities Research Strand The strand meets regularly for research meetings which take various forms including: discussion of a recent publi- This research strand was instigated in 2009 as a discus- cation selected by a strand member; general discussion sion forum for researchers examining past bodies and led by a strand member; discussion of a guest scholar’s identities. It emphasises a comparative approach to bod- work with that scholar; a research seminar in one of the ies and identity and considers interpretative approaches School’s seminar series or as a special seminar; discussion developed in different disciplines and with respective to of one or more research proposals; ‘coffee hours’ to differing time periods and regions of the world. Both staff discuss recent developments in this field of research. and postgraduate students participate in strand activities.

Landscapes and Monuments Research Strand cally speaking, we have enjoyed contributions on Britain, Europe and the Mediterranean, western Asia and east Since the last Newsletter the strand has met over a dozen Africa. Members of the strand have also submitted some times for seminars and lectures, reading groups and to excellent research grant proposals – some reviewed and work on grant proposals. We are a truly interdisciplinary developed by the group – and as a result we will begin group that brings together staff and postgraduate stu- several new collaborative projects and postdoctoral fel- dents from across the School with the aim of exploring lowships in the next few months. current thinking and encouraging new research. This year we have ranged across the field of historic landscapes with topic including art, common rights and warfare in You can find info on recent and forthcoming meetings the last century via medieval pilgrimage and classical cities here: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/historical/research/groups/ to inhabiting the landscapes of the Neolithic; geographi- landscapes.htm Everyone is welcome to join us!

Page 14 Material Culture Research Strand der's biology-influenced approach to material culture in his new paper, Hodder, I. 2011 Human-thing entangle- During my leave, the Strand meetings were kindly coordi- ment: towards an integrated archaeological perspective. nated by doctoral student Rachel Crellin. Last term we Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 17, 154-177. had two sessions where we discussed new theoretical Debate was intense in both sessions indicating a variety approaches to material culture. At the first session a of opinions and the strong enthusiasm for the subject. small group enthusiastically debated the first chapter For the next term we are planning to consider the rela- from Conneller, C. 2011. An Archaeology of Materials. Lon- tionship between material culture and memory as a pre- don: Routledge. Our second meeting was very well at- cursor to the forthcoming PGF conference on the theme tended with intense debate over the merits of Ian Hod- of 'Remembrance'.

Med.LA.B The new academic year has got off to a cracking start with Med.LA.B contributing to a series of day confer- 2010/2011 was the inaugural year for MedLAB , an inter- ences on the theme of 'medieval transitions'. These were disciplinary research group focusing on Early Medieval, organised jointly by Med.LA.B with the archaeology de- Late Antique and Byzantine studies. As inaugural years go partments at Durham and York. We have a number of it was highly successful with some excellent discussions of events planned for the coming year, continuing to split both recently published papers and the research plans of our time between formal papers and more informal dis- members of the group. cussion of current and planned work.

A number of medievalists from outside Newcastle univer- MedLAB is open to all interested researchers at Newcas- sity came to speak to us with highlights including Dr Ros tle University including staff and postgraduate students Faith and her paper on livestock, the hundred and the hundred court, Søren Sindbaek’s paper on Viking Age Visit http://www.ncl.ac.uk/historical/research/groups/ Settlement and kingship: revisiting the fortress of Aggers- med.la.b.htm for further information. borg and Roberta Gilchrist’s presentation of her recent work on heirlooms.

The Prehistoric Forum graduates can collectively take responsibility for planning, managing and implementing the project. We are an informal group of undergraduates, postgradu- ates and staff who meet regularly to share our interest in The Prehistoric Forum is largely, but not exclusively, con- the prehistoric world. Our programme of events includes cerned with the European Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze short presentations on current research, book reviews, Age and Iron Age, and all our welcome to our events, TV viewings, and at least one fieldtrip. We are also in the irrespective of background. Its co-ordinator is Dr Jan early stages of organizing a fieldwork project at the Neo- Harding ([email protected]). lithic monument complex of Hasting Hill on the outskirts of Sunderland. The idea is that undergraduates and post-

Ure-Swale Archaeology Forum tivity and communication is currently organized using a Newcastle University Research Tools VR site. The Ure-Swale Archaeology Forum consists of a group of archaeologists, heritage organizations, community groups In July 2012 we will host a workshop at Newcastle Uni- and non-professionals who share an interest in, and con- versity, funded by the School of Historical Studies Promot- cern for, the prehistoric and historic archaeology of the ing Networks: Research Events Scheme: it represents a first Ure-Swale river catchment in Yorkshire. The forum’s step in the production of a Research Framework for the planned activity will couple research — including field- Ure-Swale area. work, documentary histories, and the creation of exciting research agendas — with the improved public promotion Please contact Dr Jan Harding ([email protected]) if and better management of the region's archaeology. Ac- you are interested in participating. Books Two new books co-edited by Sam Turner have just been The second, edited with Bob Silvester, is a collection of published. essays on medieval landscape in memory of the late Prof. Harold Fox. Titled Life in Medieval Landscapes, it was The first, Early Medieval Northumbria, was edited with Dr launched in Newcastle at the Medieval Settlement Re- David Petts of Durham University. It grew out of a con- search Group’s Winter Seminar in December 2011. ference organised a few years ago at Newcastle.

Page 15 Barrasford & Gunnerton: An Archaeological and erts, Peter Ryder and members of the Chollerton Parish Hirstorical Study of Two Townships in Chollerton History Society. Parish, North Tynedale by Richard Carlton et al.

In September 2011 an historical village atlas of Barrasford and Gunnerton in North Tynedale was published by The Chollerton Press. This was the result of detailed research carried out by the authors along with members of the Chollerton History Society over a period of two years, including research on historic maps, documents and pho- tographs, excavation and oral history. The aim in compil- ing this atlas was to provide a summary of what is the present state of knowledge and the available data which can be studied as a starting point for those wishing to further explore the past of Gunnerton and Barrasford. This work was funded by Heritage Lottery and carried out by Richard Carlton with Alan Rushworth, Ian Rob-

Bosnia and the Destruction of Cultural Heritage 1995 war, which will be the first to give the first comprehensive overview and analysis of the destruction and re- Richard Carlton continued to assist the principal author, sponses to it. Richard has co-written two papers in the Helen Walasek, with the production of a volume (to be book which we completed following further fieldwork published by Ashgate in 2012) on the destruction to the carried out in eastern Hercegovina in summer 2011. cultural heritage in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the 1992-

TRAC

Frances McIntosh and Maria Duggan (1st yr archaeology PhD students) new edited book has just been published. They edited this volume with Darrell Rohl of Durham University.

The volume presents selected papers from the proceedings of the international Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference (TRAC), which they co-organised at New- castle in 2011.

Visit http://www.oxbowbooks.com/bookinfo.cfm/ ID/92912 for further information.

Conference and Field School Reports

44th Spring Symposium of Byzantine 'Experiencing Byzantium' aimed to spotlight an important Studies: Experiencing Byzantium and innovative area of research which is only beginning to be considered in Byzantine Studies, that of the affective and emotional experience of the Byzantine people. The symposium was organized jointly by Mark Jackson and Claire Nesbitt (Durham University).

We were delighted to welcome high calibre speakers from a wide range of UK and international institutions. Many of the communications were delivered by postgraduate students, including several from Newcastle, who found the symposium a friendly and encouraging forum to present and gain feedback on their research. The papers gave us tremendous insight into the experience of the For the first time in 44 years the annual Spring Sympo- Byzantine individual through research case studies; they sium of Byzantine Studies came to Newcastle University took us through time and space to places both real and from 8th – 10th April 2011. The theme of the symposium imagined in the Byzantine Empire and beyond, from the

Page 16 heart of its empire in Constantinople to the edge of the perfect venue for an exhibition of images from Newcas- Scandinavian world. We heard in eloquent lectures, and tle’s Gertrude Bell Photographic Archive arranged by even through song, what it was like to experience the Newcastle PhD student Sophie Moore. The symposium world of Byzantium. The weekend stimulated much con- dinner was hosted in a medieval building at the Blackfriars versation and fostered many new networks and relation- Restaurant. Several delegates commented that they had ships. visited and enjoyed shows on Friday at the Northern Stage and the John Martin exhibition at Laing Art Gallery, A wine reception, generously sponsored by Ashgate both of which complemented the Symposium. The Press, at the Great North Museum Hancock showcased weather was glorious all weekend. one of the region’s flagship museums and provided the

‘Roman Pottery in the Mediterranean’ School in of Roman pots but also lots of other finds from the mu- Aix-En-Provence seum stores in Arles and Marseille. The sessions were organised by leading figures in pottery research in the Frances McIntosh and Maria Duggan attended this pot- Mediterranean. tery course in October 2011 where they got to see lots

Theoretical Roman Archaeology Friday morning allowed the delegates time to visit the Conference, Newcastle April 2011 GNM Hancock Museum and go on a guided tour of His- toric Newcastle before the sessions started at 2pm. Between 14th and 17th April 2011 Newcastle hosted the 21st TRAC, welcoming c.165 delegates from at least 12 There followed 2 full days of sessions varying from ‘No different countries. girls allowed’ to ‘The devil is in the detail’ to ‘Oh the Hu- manity’. Topics covered included the Roman army, identity studies, pottery and its uses, anthropological archaeology and a study on Collingwood. There was plenty of time for questions and discussion, both within the sessions and in the social events in the evening. We received c. 25 posters which added an extra dimension to the conference.

The Friday evening plenary lecture by Lindsay Allason- Jones was very well received, with lots of food for thought (and laughter!). The pub quiz on the Saturday saw well established scholars trying to determine which emperor was which, and which baker was born in New- castle.

Our Retrospective Session was the chance for the old The first afternoon saw us on a coach trip out to Ha- guard to discuss with the ‘bright young things’ how TRAC drian’s Wall, a must see for any Roman archaeologist had changed over its 21 years, and where it should go in visiting the North East! Lindsay Allason-Jones kindly the future. Eleanor Scott the founder of TRAC was here showed us around Cawfields and MC42; our sacrifice to to lead this session and some positive things, as well as the weather gods paying off. Next Andrew Birley kindly things to work on, were discussed. Overall, we feel it was gave us a tour of the excavations at Vindolanda and then a successful conference, with the proceedings due out in we were lucky enough to see the newly opened museum. time for the next conference in Frankfurt in April 2012!

Traditional Pottery Making from the ethnographic research can help to safeguard traditional Ethnoarchaeological Point of View: ceramic production technologies? To that end a field trip Scientific Research and Safeguarding of took delegates to Zlakusa, a thriving centre of calcite- Intangible Heritage tempered cooking wares in south-west Serbia.

Richard Carlton attended a conference held at the Na- tional Museum of Serbia in Belgrade concerning traditional pottery making technologies in Europe, the present level of research in the subject and the extent to which the results of ethnoarchaeological research is applied in archaeology.

The conference also sought to explore the role of crafts- men and how ethnoarchaeological, archaeological and

Page 17 Past Events ArcSoc Spring Fling – 9th March 2011 pagne reception was followed by a delicious three course meal and some relaxing live music. There was movement On Wednesday 9th March 2011, members of the archae- towards the dance floor once some old favourites were ology department and society enjoyed an evening of food, played and a thoroughly good time was had by all. music and dancing at As You Like It in Jesmond. A cham-

Night in the Museum The 2010 Night in the Museum was a tremendously successful event and the feedback ArcSoc had for that event was so positive it would've been a shame not to do a repeat event the following year. The ceilidh was certainly going to make another appearance, as was the famous Rob Collins quiz, but there were whispers of an archaeology themed pantomime making its way into the night. Luckily, Megan Holloway, a talented actress herself, is a member of the ArcSoc committee and took on the role

fun! These nights are a wonderful way of relaxing with your fellow students and getting to know your lecturers, all the while reinforcing that archaeological community spirit.

of directing an equally talented cast of 'actors' to star in 'Indiana Joan and the Raiders of the Lost Park' (props all round for amazing performances!).

If you've seen an Indiana Jones film you'll have an idea of what it was like, just replace the multi-million pound budget with one of about twenty-two quid. It was a lot of fun to watch, and I think the night as a whole was a lot of

Forthcoming Events Romano-British Pottery in the Fifth Century It will bring together experts from the museums sector, commercial archaeology and academia in an attempt to The School of History, Classics and Archaeology will be assess the importance of ‘Romano-British’ vessels and hosting a one day conference next year (7th June 2012) on potsherds as Roman Britain disintegrated. For further Roman pottery in the fifth century. details contact [email protected].

Subterranean Archaeology in Italy. The Lateran carefully investigated. More recently, ground breaking and beyond projects such as the four volume series dedicated to subterranean architecture (F. Ghedini and G. Rosada, Quarta In the past decades the role of subterranean spaces in Dimensione, 1993-2003), have contributed to our under- public and private Roman architecture has been widely standing of the ancient use and perception of under- acknowledged and debated. Starting from the pioneering ground space, urban and landscape planning in Roman conference promoted by the Ecole Française de Rome in Italy. 1973 (Les cryptoportiques dans l'architecture romaine), a rich body of scholarship on individual buildings and sites This workshop seeks to examine the potentials and prac- has been subsequently published, and civil, private, reli- tical problems of underground archaeological research. gious and funerary underground structures have been The presence of later, often historically and artistically

Page 18 valuable, structures and paintings as well as multi-layered on research methods and to discuss innovative and non stratigraphy, environmental and soil conditions can affect invasive techniques applied to research, recording and the way archaeologists operate underground and repre- conservation in subterranean environments in Rome and sent a challenge to research and conservation in situ. beyond. Working underground can also present particular challenges with regard to safety, communication and equip- The conference will also present the preliminary results ment use. Nonetheless the latest improvements in non of the Lateran research project, which is currently car- destructive analysis and GPR data acquisition have the ried out by Newcastle University in collaboration with potential to enhance researching in underground spaces. the Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Collecting information can be done faster and more Scienze dell’Antichità and CNR-ITABC. accurately now than ever before, with a significant improvement in the degree of detail achievable today. The workshop is jointly organized by the British School at Rome and Newcastle University. Visit https:// This workshop thus brings together archaeologists, geo- sites.google.com/site/hiddenromeworkshop/ or contact physicist, speleologists and conservators to foster debate Prof. Haynes for further information.

Seminars 2011-12 Archaeology Research Seminars ences of home in Iron Age Greece.

6th October 2011: James Gerrard (Newcastle) Late Ro- 2nd February 2012: Josh Pollard (Southampton) Between man London: some themes and problems. the monuments: rethinking inhabitation of the Avebury landscape. 3rd November 2011: John Creese (Cambridge) Being and belonging: the politics of seventeenth-century Wendat 2nd March 2012: Stephanie Wynne-Jones (York) House bodily transactions. power and hospitality on the Swahili coast.

1st December 2011: Matthew Fitzjohn (Liverpool) Pro- 26th April 2012: Mark Van der Linden (Leicester) Behind prioception, pollution and pulmonary disease: experi- the wave: possible delay in the neolithisation of the western Balkans.

Interdisciplinary Research Seminars 12th January 2012: Chris Rogers (Newcastle) Debunking the Tragedy of the Commons – sustainable management th 24 November 2011: Victoria Thompson (Newcastle) of common land in England and Wales. Myredah Me Worhte: Some Irish Aspects of Viking-Age Sculpture in Northern England. 19th April 2012: Letty Ten Harkel (Oxford) Urbanisation and material culture: the case of Viking Age Lincoln.

Roman Archaeology Seminars archaeology of the emperors' building stone. th 13 December 2011: Philippa Walton (UCL/BM) Rethink- 11th October 2011: Nick Hodgson (TWAM) 'Wishing to ing Roman Britain using numismatic evidence. subjugate the whole of Britain, he invaded Caledonia': the British expedition of Septimius Severus, AD 208-11. 31st January 2012: Lacey Wallace (Cambridge) Diverse Communities in Early Roman London. 19th October 2011: Ian Haynes (Newcastle) and Tony st Wilmott (Newcastle/EH) Excavations at Roman Mary- 21 February 2012: Andrew Gardner (UCL) Caerleon port. and the Roman garrison of Wales: excavations in Priory Field 2007-10.

25th October 2011: Meike Weber (Reading) Compare the 6th March 2012: Simon James (Leicester) Soldiers on the (Samian) market.com! - Analyzing Samian supply patterns streets: the city of Dura-Europos versus its Roman garri- across the Northwestern Roman provinces. son?

8th November 2011: Andrew Birley (Vindolanda Trust) 24th April 2012: Thea Ravasi (Newcastle) Hadrian's Villa. Excavations at Vindolanda: the 2011 Season. 1st May 2012: Mike Bishop (Armatura Press) Legionary 15th November 2011: Caroline Pudney (Cardiff) A penny fortresses, neogeography, and the perplexed exercitolo- for your thoughts: changing perceptions of late Iron Age gist. and early Roman coins.

30th November 2011: Professor Valerie Maxfield, The

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All articles and images provided by the staff and students of Newcastle University, except Kilise Tepe images which were supplied courtesy of Bob Miller.

Edited and designed by Liz White.