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Posts from the ‘Medieval Archaeology’ Category

May 10

Dunwich-lepers-chapel

Dunwich 1287

Up until 1286 Dunwich was a thriving port in Suffolk, when two huge storms – The South England flood of February and the flood of Lucia 1287 - swept much of the settlement into the sea and silted up the Dunwich River. At the same time it is estimated that more than 50.000 lost their life in the Netherlands crating the Zuiderzee. Later the storms were followed by a series of new disasters leading to the demise of a city, which in its heyday was on par with London. Apart from a few ruins, tt now lies collapsed between three and ten meters below the surface of the sea.

Originally a Roman coastal fort and a Saxon settlement, Dunwich grew around the turn of the first millennium into a wealthy town. Growth depended on the introduction of new offshore fishing techniques and possibilities plus sea trade and ship-building. Before the Norman Conquest it was only one out of four towns listed as holding a regular market. In 1225 it held 18 ecclesiastical buildings plus a mint, a large guildhall and several large important houses. The population has been estimated at between 3000 and 5000. However the continuing storms pared with the regular silting of the harbour ended up in a reduction of the crown taxes from £108 to £14. Although the decline of the town was temporarily halted in the late 15th and early 16th century, the town de facto turned into a village, when the status of royal habour was transferred to Southwold after 1489.map of Dunwich 1250 2012. 211x300 Dunwich 1287

On land today the remains of the medieval town comprise the gateways and refectory of the Greyfriars monastery, the 12th century leper chapel and a tiny bit of the former churchyard of All Saints.

Muddy waters have until recently made any exploration near impossible. However a new technology, Didson acoustic sonar imaging combined with a detailed survey of all known archaeological data from the site, together with old charts and navigation guides to the coast,  has led to the production of accurate and detailed maps of the layout of the streets and the position of specific buildings as for instance the eight churches.

All this and much more can be ascertained from the final report from team, which surveyed the site for English heritage.

READ MORE:

Read the report:  5883 Dunwich, Suffolk: Mapping and Assessing the inundated medieval town.

A story of the city of Dunwich as well as more information about the project may be found at Dunwich.org

More information about the history of Dunwich can be found at The Dunwich Museum’s website

 

May 4

smededammen

Palisade in Jelling

Viking Palisade in Jelling will hopefully be dated

Just a few years ago Harold Bluetooth’s famous Jelling Monument (UNESCO World Heritage) was believed to be small and compact, basically consisting of the famous Runic Stones and the two huge mounds with the medieval church in between.

To the excitement of the archaeologists extensive archaeological excavations during the last decade have documented the size of a much grander military installation complete with a formidable rhombic palisade encircling an area 360 x 360 meters, 12,5 acres or of the size of 20 soccer-fields.

Inside the palisade, buildings of the so-called Trelleborg type has been excavated, plus new research based on the old excavations near the medieval church has helped to identify the remnants of what was probably a mead-hall located next to the Runic Stones (and not a former wooden church as was previously believed).

Jelling pfoto peter jensen 300x225 Palisade in JellingLast year the archaeologists began to dig for remnants of the palisade in a small pond situated on the South side of the present graveyard. And struck “gold”! Buried in the clay were the remnants of four posts with a diameter of app 15 cm and one of the planks, which had been used to wall it up. C14 analysis was carried out and the date was decided: definitely Viking.

This summer the hunt has intensified. More than 34 meters of the palisade was built in the damp underground of the pond and the hope is, that further findings of posts will allow the date of the palisade to be determined precisely through dendrochronology. The question is whether the palisade was erected at the same time as some of the other magnificent constructions from the end of the reign of King Harold: The Ravning Enge Bridge  and Trelle-borgene, the five magnificent ring-forts from around 980.

The Ravning Enge Bridge, which stretches 760 meters and is 5 meter wide, has been dendrochronologically dated to ca. 980 – 985. It was located across the small river “Vejle Å”, which runs app. 6-7 km South of Jelling. It is believed that the river was much more navigable a 1000 years ago.  Like the ring-forts, it seems the bridge was only in use for about 5 years after which it was allowed to decay.

The excavations are part of a huge interdisciplinary research project, in which old knowledge is carefully sifted and reevaluated in view of the new findings. The plan is to publish a comprehensive review of the site in its historical and geographical context in 2013.

The project can be followed at the dedicated website “The Jelling project”

Visitors to Jelling may start at the website “Royal Jelling”.

The reconstruction is from Vejle Museum, which is responsible for the archaeological excavations in Jelling

arkaeologi aktuelt jellingX 1024x414 Palisade in Jelling

 

Feb 8

king_alfred

Bring up the Bones I

Alfred the Great is next on the list of kings waiting to be exhumed…

First the hunt went for Richard III. Now that the results have shown to be so captivating to the general public, the endeavors for universities and local communities elsewhere to repeat the success are gathering momentum.

At the University of Bristol scientist are right now working to identify the bones of Canute the Great (Knútr) originally laid to rest in Winchester Cathedral. Until now his bones with those of Queen Emma, his son Harthacanute (Hörthaknútr) and other kings have been kept in a series of bonecaskets. Here they were collected after Roundheads ransacked the cathedral during the English Civil War in the 17th century. Her the possibility is to compare DNA with that of Sven Estridsøn (Sveinn Ástríðarson) – his sisters son – who was buried in Roskilde Cathedral in 1074/76. A few years ago his remains were intensively studied and his face reconstructed. Another source for identification would be comparing the DNA of the jumbled skeletons in the bonecaskets with those of Queen Eadgyth 910 -946), wife of Otto of Saxony. Unfortunately extraction of DNA from her remains has sofar not met with success.

Eadgyth – or Editha in German – was the daughter of Edward the Elder and the granddaughter of Alfred the Great (849-899). Hence she is also considered a key to the hopeful future identification of the remains of this king. His remains are believed to lie in a grave in Winchester and a team from Winchester University is reportedly seeking permission to dig up the spot at St Bartholomew’s Church, near the remains of the Hyde Abbey in the Northern part of present Winchester.

kong sven estridsen 241x300 Bring up the Bones I

Svend Estridsen, Danish King

During Saxon times, Winchester became the capital of Wessex. King Alfred 871-899) laid out the Saxon street plan, a cross shape street system and built fortifications and was later buried there.Originally he was buried temporarily in the Old Minster in Winchester in order to be moved later to the New Minster, which might have been built especially to receive his body. Later the New Minster moved to Hyde, a little north of the city and in 1110 the monks transferred to Hyde Abbey along with Alfred’s body and those of his wife and children. Soon after the dissolution of the abbey in 1539, during the reign of Henry VIII, the church was demolished, but the graves were left intact. The royal graves were probably rediscovered by chance in 1788 when convicts from a prison nearby were digging in the Governor’s garden. Apparently the coffins were stripped of lead, bones were scattered and lost, and no identifiable remains of Alfred have subsequently been found. Further excavations in 1866 and 1897 were inconclusive. As late as 1999 the Hyde Community Archaeology project carried an extensive excavation at the site of the Abbey in order to study the archaeological remains and find the bones of Alfred; alas with no success. Nevertheless archaeologists apparently wish to have another go.

Why we bother
Some may wonder why we bother? But this is a question with an easy answer. Unfortunately we cannot time travel and thus take part in bygone events. Neither may we exchange any words with are ancestors or forebears. However, what we are able to under lucky circumstances is recreating the face of persons long dead.

Such cranio-facial reconstruction had its origins in the 19th century. However not before 1964 did Russian scientists use the techniques to recreate historical person. Recently the techniques have developed significantly. Especially with the introduction of 3D computer-models the technique has become more advanced. Today such reconstructions have become part and parcel of the work of curators and museums.

We want to meet them! That’s why…

Read about modern techniques for crania-facial reconstruction

 

Nov 30

drumclay-crannog-bone comb

Drumclay Crannog

Log boats, wooden vessels, leather shoes and decorated dress pins excite the media. But is it something new?
Log boats, wooden vessels, leather shoes and decorated dress pins: These are just some of the finds, archeologists are right now digging out of the earth at Drumclay Crannog in Northern Ireland. Added to these should be pieces of a medieval board game and 1000-year old combs.

Not so remarkable, might the seasoned medieval archaeologist exclaim. Nevertheless the many pieces show a number of international links. For instance the style and design of the antler and bone combs suggest influences from northern Europe and indicate that the Fermanagh settlement had links to Scandinavia more than a 1,000 years ago. The artefacts uncovered so far date back to 900 AD but there are still a number of layers of settlement yet to be excavated. However, the most interesting part of the excavation has to do with the fact that it is the whole crannog, which is being peeled layer for layer. Thus it enables the archaeologists to find out much more about diet, economy, agriculture and social structures.  It shows people lived in houses with walls were with heather and other plants. They would have been the size of a large modern living room with cooking and sleeping being done in the same space.

Archaeologists believe people may have lived there from 600 AD to 1600 AD.  It was probably the home of a chieftain, with perhaps four or five houses inhabited at any time. Parents, grandparents, children and servants would all have stayed on the crannog.

A crannog is an artificial island usually built in lakes, rivers and estuarine waters of Scotland and Ireland. Crannogs were widespread in Ireland with an estimated 1200

fermanagh crannog 29112012 300x168 Drumclay Crannog

examples. However, the Drumclay Crannog, which is an artificial island built in a lake, is the first of its type to be excavated in the North of Ireland since 1870.

Archeologists and Entrepreneurs
The road towards a successful conclusion to the excavation in December has however been extraordinarily bumpy.

The dig is a so-called “rescue-dig”, fostered by the plan for a link-road, the Cherrymount, around Enniskillen. The road was planned by the in 2007, although it was known

to pass right through the registered crannog. In connection with the planning project the site was surveyed by archaeologists; they proposed to divert the road in order to protect the crannog. However, the construction went ahead. In 2011 the constructors reached the crannog, which was investigated through a single 3 x 3 trench. At this stage (March) it was proposed to preserve the site in situ underneath the road. Unfortunately this proposal was somehow “edited” with crucial pages related to the proposed engineering solution. Accordingly a series of stakeholders seriously mistook the situation and each other.  In April this resulted in a lowering of the water-levels, leaving the site drying out and exposed. At this point an excavation methodology was devised to attempt to mitigate the damage. However, no consultation of wetland archaeologists took place at this point. At this point the excavations were conducted by the archaeologist appointed by the road company and a crew of hired archaeologists. Come July they started working at which point the Northern part of the site had been completely removed.

According to the archaeologist, Robert M. Chapple: “A significant number of experienced members of the crew were concerned at the level of recording on site, the lack of a clear and coherent environmental sampling strategy and the absence of timber recording sheets. According to them there was no suitable storage facility on site for the significant quantity of organic artefacts emerging from the site. In addition construction traffic continued in and around the fragile site.” Robert Chapple went on the air in a number of radio-programs, which was followed up by a reportage done by BBC. Later a facebook site was constructed called “Cherrymount: a crannog in crisis.“

After a series of consultations the minister, Alex Attwood issued a statement end July in which he instructed construction traffic to cease in and around the crannog. Currently there is an after-play concerning whether such excavations should be conducted by archaeologists appointed by the entrepreneurial company or whether it ought to be done by archaeologists paid by the company, but appointed by museums and under their jurisdiction (which is the case elsewhere, e.g. Denmark). Further the question remains who should be allowed to publish the results: the original crew or the new people, who has been digging this autumn?

Finally one might raise the question whether the finds really are that spectacular? Maybe the whole sorry story just needs a happy ending? To decide that, however, we have to wait until the finds are contextualized and published.

Drumclay, Cherrymount, a crannog in crisis
Paper presented to the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland,
Holiday Inn Express, Belfast 2nd November 2012
Matthew Seaver, Jean O’ Dowd, Robert M Chapple

 Drumclay, Cherrymount, a crannog in crisis

Video on the excavation

Nov 21

Truels Arnvissons map of Old Uppsala 1709

Uppsala 500 – 600

New archaeological excavations at Uppsala demonstrates the existence of an elite settlement near the famous royal mounds

Uppsala is much more than an impressive royal burial-ground from the Swedish Iron Age. In connection with the construction of a new railway archaeologists are currently excavating more than 70.000 m2 north and east of the famous mounds. A little while ago they closed the digs off for the winter and unveiled some of the more remarkable findings so far.

What has been discovered are amongst other things the traces of a very compact settlement dating from the 6-7th century, seemingly unique for its time. According to the archaeologists the houses were large and built close to each other. In the houses were found traces of metal- and textile-working as well as a remarkably large collection of amulets and traces of sacrificed animals in potholes.

The new finds are sporadically reported as news, but it seems as if they complement what is otherwise known about the beginnings of this remarkable place, steeped in mythology. Here medieval chroniclers could report that not only ancient Swedish kings were said to have been buried in the mounds, but also their ancestor, the heathen god Frej. Other chroniclers (Adam of Bremen) could tell how a golden temple had stood betwixt the mounds and been the scene for human sacrifices and other unspeakably heathen acts.

Old Uppsala sunset 300x225 Uppsala 500 600Archaeology
However, more pertinent than the myths are the results from the archaeological excavations, which have been going on since the mid-19th century. From these it appears that the mounds were erected around 500 – 600 on a ridge, meant to be seen from afar. Unfortunately the rich burials were set aflame as part of the rites and the remains are fragmentary. Nevertheless it is believed that the buried individuals were laid to rest on bearskins and gifted with an exotic selection of paraphernalia – drinking-horns, helmets, weapons and jewelry as well as sacrificed animals such as dogs, horses, cattle and sheep. Amongst the finds in the eastern mound were also the bones of a falcon. It is generally believed that the fragments mirror the treasures found at Valsgärde, which may be seen at the Gustavianum – University Museum in Uppsala ; and which mirror the treasures found at Sutton Hoo…

New finds
The new archaeological excavations seem to have found (part of a )settlement next to the graves of the elite warriors, who were presumably buried in the mounds (and elsewhere southwest of the large mounds). Apart from mythological kings, it seems that real people actually lived there!

Next year excavations will continue. The results are planned to be published scientifically and on the net in 2017. It is expected to give a better understanding of the history of the place reaching from at least 500 – 1164, when Uppsala was created an Archdiocese and the city moved to the South.

SOURCE:
Utgrävningar i Uppsala visar fornnordisk kult

Arkeologi i Gamla Uppsala

 

Nov 12

Medieval Rowing Boat from Vordingborg in Denmark

Medieval Rowing Boat

Moat at Vordingborg Castle “coughed up” a medieval rowing Boat

Around 1160 the Castle at Vordingborg in Denmark was built on top of a manor dating from the 11th century. This castle was circular and surrounded by a moat. All in all it covered an area 30 x 40 meters. The next 200 years the castle was continuously expanded until a total renovation took place during the reign of Valdemar Atterdag (1320 – 1375). This radical remodelling resulted in a layout measuring app. 185 x 240 meters. It consisted of a castle with a bailey surrounded by a 740 meter long curtain wall, encircled by a 35 meter broad moat at the front. It played an important role in the constant warring between the Danish Crown and the North German Hanseatic League

The castle, though ruined, is still an impressive edifice. 2011 the Castle was endowed with more than $13/€10/£8 mill in order to renovate the castle and build a new visitor-centre. Part of this project is a reconstruction of the moat; naturally extensive archaeological excavations accompany this. The other day the archaeologists struck – if not gold – then something much more rare: a medieval rowing boat. Approximately 6 meters long it dates to the late 14th century and must have been used as a small fishing vessel in the moat. It carries signs of extensive use.

Read the article in

Medieval Histories 2012 11:2

Sep 18

Black-Death
1 Comment

Black Death Network

Although the Black Death has for long had a good grip on the imagination of scholars, researchers and the wider public much is still unknown about both the context, the cause and the wider ramifications of the plague, which ravaged Europe in the 14th and 15th century.

A new interdisciplinary network has recently been formed in order to further new interdisciplinary research studying concrete regional and local cases. In a presentation Rainer Schreg, one of the initiators of the network, explains the background for the project:

“The 14th century was a profoundly tumultuous period in European history. Climatic deterioration in the first quarter of the century triggered harvest failures and human famine in a population that had already exceeded the carrying capacity of agricultural production. Human famine was compounded by the widespread loss of cattle and sheep as epizootics spread across the continent. In many parts of Europe, continuous warfare and the consequential increased burden of taxation further stretched agricultural production to breaking point. Later – in the middle of the century – the Black Death swept through Europe killing 30–60% of the population. These calamitous events had profound social and economic repercussions that resonated far beyond the immediate aftermath of the population crash in the late 1340s and early 1350s. Understanding the 14th-century crises needs: a broad interdisciplinary approach, bringing together humanities and sciences; a comparative approach to enable the examination of different landscapes with their distinct historical and ecological background. An ecological perspective on a local or regional scale may help to understand the specific causes and effects. It may help to overcome deterministic interpretations and to deal with the complexities of the 14th centuries crises and the human responses to them.”

Some of the scholars involved are

  • black death coffins 300x180 Black Death NetworkHistorians working with specific local cases
  • Medieval Archaeologists looking at shifting settlements and land use patterns
  • Zooarchaeologists and archaeobotanists
  • working with the changes in diet, land use practices etc.
  • Physical Anthropologists working with the skeletal remains of plague, the study of DNA as well as stress indicators of the disease. And the analysis of stable isotopes, which can be used to detect climatic change, while others (e.g. Strontium) have the potential to track the movement of people and livestock.
  • Geoarchaeologists studying the effects of heavy weather and land use practices of the countryside.
  • Entomologists detectning micro-and macro-environmental changes as well as the proliferation of fleas (carriers of the plague)
  • Dendrologists and meteorologists studying the weather conditions and climate changes

Some of these disciplines have contributed important research, while others are just entering the field. Basically it is to relate the knowledge of the different subjects together. The Black Death Network grew out of a session of the Conference of the European Association of Achaeologists (together with Medieval Europe Research Conference MERC) 2012 in Helsinki, Finland.

The work of the network can be followed at a dedicated blog: The Black Death Network

There is also a dedicated Facebook Page 

 

Sep 12

230px-Richard_III_earliest_surviving_portrait

Sworn to Secrecy

Richard III’s bones may have been found in Leicester car park…

Yesterday the archaeologists uncovered human bones at the Leicester car park, where the hunt for the grave of Richard III has been going on for a couple of weeks.

Initially the archaeologists were able to identify the cloister walk of the medieval friary. From here it became possible to identify the remains and the layout of the walls of the church itself. On top of that the archaeologists were able to determine the layout of the garden, which a burgher at later state had laid out on top of the old demolished church. In this garden the architect Wren witnessed a pole at the center, which was placed to commemorate the actual grave of Richard III. Where and exactly what the archaeologists have uncovered is as of now not disclosed.

philippa Langley 266x300 Sworn to Secrecy

Philippa Langley

Philippa Langley, who has been the driving force behind the sensational excavations in Leicester, spoke earlier today to “This is Leicester” explaining that she was “sworn to secrecy” about is the actual character of the findings. Exactly why Philippa Langley as of now is “sworn to secrecy” is currently not known. But it stands to reason she would not be “sworn” to keep her mouth shut if there was nothing to keep it shut about!

We shall see! According to “This is Leicester” the city as well as the University and the team of archaeologists have called for.

Read more about the background for the excavations in the article  Richard III and follow the links there for further information.

Check out other articles about Richard III: Middleham Castle, Book of Hours and Bosworth Boar