Archaeology Podcasts | Mesolithic Journeys with Schools Prehistory

Posted on 29 September, 2015 by Spencer Carter

…and not just for kids!

WolfBrother Kim Biddulph, director of Schools Prehistory, has launched a series of podcasts where she invites archaeologists and experts in teaching prehistory to review books about the Mesolithic period.

Episode 2 is now available »

Matt Ritchie, Forestry Commission Scotland’s archaeologist, Donald Henson, studying for a PhD in Public Perceptions of the Mesolithic at York University, and James Dilley of Ancient Craft and about to embark on a PhD as well, chat about the wondrous period of hunter-gatherers, wildwoods, and magic in the forest, as evocatively portrayed in Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver, published in 2005 by Orion Books.

GatheringNight Kim, yer own Microburin, together with Caroline Wickham-Jones (University of Aberdeen) will be exploring Margaret Elphinstone’s incredibly well-researched novel The Gathering Night (2009, Canongate) later in October, as well as pondering Doggerland, cold snaps, tsunamis… and a lost son.

♦ Spence

Lithics Workshop 2016 | Hosted by Elmet Archaeological Services

Posted on 22 September, 2015 by Spencer Carter

Microburin—in the guise of TimeVista Archaeology—is delighted to have been invited by Elmet Archaeological Services Ltd, a community-based enterprise, to deliver the latest in hopefully a number of Lithics Workshops. There’ll be plenty of Mesolithic. The next scheduled session is Sat 5 March 2016 at Wath-Upon-Dearne between Sheffield and Doncaster, England | Booking info »

Who it’s for

The workshop is aimed at anybody with an interest in British prehistoric archaeology and stone tool technology, whether actively involved in fieldwork, designing a project, or just generally interested by what they see in museums and in the media. This is an informal workshop with plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion.

Description

This workshop will use select prehistoric teaching artefacts—and a gun flint!—in hands-on sessions to explore the importance of flint and chert in prehistoric northern Britain, and what kind of insights archaeologists can deduce. Using mock-up flint assemblages—with tools and debitage—participants will also learn how to approach the analysis and recording of lithics. Case studies from north-east England will show the kind of narratives that can then be constructed.

Key Topics

Natural or human? | The nature of flint and chert, how to tell if it has been used or worked
Signatures in stone | Technology of knapping, nomenclature, attributes, form, function and symbolism
Keyholes to the past | Key lithic indicators and changes through time, material culture associations and typologies
Lithics matter | Important research questions, things we know and things we don’t, occupied spaces, human mobility and exchange
From field to desk | Good practices in field-walking and excavation, how to approach assemblage analysis and recording, cataloguing, principles of illustration and photography

Lithics Training by TimeVista

If your group or organisation, whether commercial or community non-profit, is interested in receiving similar training—for example, as part of your staff CPD or a field project—please get in touch with me at TimeVista Archaeology to discuss opportunities.

Skulls, Shamans and Sacrifice in Stone Age Britain | Mesolithic video

Posted on 20 August, 2015 by Spencer Carter

Mesolithic videos update

Having had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see an antler ‘headress’ in situ in the 2015 excavation season at Star Carr earlier this year (plus shed loads of flint, wood, antler and bone), here’s a short video from the dig team.

◊ Skulls, Shamans and Sacrifice in Stone Age Britain | Digging Diaries | 13-Jul-2015 Youtube (2min)

The Mesolithic settlement of Star Carr in North Yorkshire has fascinated archaeologists for decades. Nicky Milner and her digging team from York University are embarking on their final ever excavation on site to unlock the secrets of this mysterious landscape. They’ve been filming every moment of discovery to give us a glimpse into our ancient past.

Image | Prof Nicky Milner & Son at Flixton Island, 2014 (Microburin)

♦ Spence

Day of Archaeology 2015 | Over 1800 posts and growing

Posted on 25 July, 2015 by Spencer Carter

The wonderful Day of Archaeology was yesterday, 24 July, but the posts keep rolling out on Facebook and Twitter #dayofarch @dayofarch. It’s a fascinating insight into what archaeologists around the world are up to—in the field, in the lab, at an event. As ever, the success of the DoA is down to the hard work of the moderators. Now in its fifth year, this is an incredible database of the diversity of activities, people, projects, studies and outreach.

As last year, and while feeling a little under the weather (and oppressed by the endless rain), I managed to squeeze out a post (two in fact) about catching up on a mini-project and the results of fieldwalking with volunteers, plus analysis of previous collections and museum boxes that attest to 10,000 years of activity in the area.

DoA is open to absolutely everybody involved in archaeology so, if you’ve not submitted a post, have a think about doing it—perhaps you’ve been on a community dig, training project or finds-processing session? There’s still time.

DoA 2015 »
DoA 2014 “Come up to the lab and see what’s on the slab” »

♦ Spence

UK Mesolithic Sites and Finds Update | Cairngorms, Scotland

Posted on 11 July, 2015 by Spencer Carter

Mar Lodge Estate, Cairngorm mountains, Aberdeenshire | 2015 excavations by The National Trust for Scotland and archaeologists and environmental scientists from the University of Aberdeen, University of Stirling and University College Dublin with earlier than expected 14C radiocarbon dates | BBC News item 09-Jul-2015

Image | BBC Website.

I Love Museums | UK Campaign against yet more government cuts

Posted on 10 June, 2015 by Spencer Carter

I Love Museums is a campaign led by the National Museum Directors’
Council to show the public support for museums.

The Campaign

Our museums are facing challenging times. Local and national governments are making tough decisions about funding, and we want to show them how much museums matter by celebrating the public support for our wonderful cultural institutions. We need you to stand up and say ‘I Love Museums’!

Whoever is to blame for the financial and banking crisis, and as we all try to recover, it is clearer than ever that our Heritage – monuments, archaeology and museums – also underpins our recovery. Our heritage assets, and the beleaguered professionals who manage them:

Draw tourists and footfall – make us an attractive place to visit
Offer a valued sense of place and well-being – for residents and business investment
Bring communities together – across diverse backgrounds, cultures and generations
Drive creative learning and education – about our past, present and future – across science, natural history, human achievement (and our foibles)

What you can do

As a UK Resident, spend a minute to sign the petition
Write to or email your elected representatives, Councillors, MPs and MEPs – it’s easy using this free resource (only needs your postal code)
Add a twibbon to your Twitter profile picture
Follow @ILoveMuseums
Send a Tweet using hashtag #ILoveMuseums
#ILoveMuseums because @ILoveMuseums

Learn more about how to spread the word »

Thank you for your support. A few minutes of your time can make a huge difference.

♦ Spence
Archaeologist, lover of heritage and museums – and the people who make it all happen!

microburin

populating the mesolithic | stones tell stories | resonating places

Category Archives: British archaeology

Archaeology Podcasts | Mesolithic Journeys with Schools Prehistory

…and not just for kids!