Day of Archaeology 2014

So today is (one of two) the Day of Archaeology 2014! Fittingly I have actually been on a dig all day today. As part of the celebrations it was suggested that archaeologists all over the world would write about one day of their life. Below is my contribution, which also will be published on the Day of Archaeology 2014 blog.

Confessions of an Archaeologist

Southampton 09/07/2014

Hello!

My name is Laura Johansson and I am an archaeologist. I am originally from Pargas, Finland, but moved to the UK in 2010 to do my undergraduate in archaeology at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David. My interest in archaeology stretch back to my early teenage years, and since my passion for archaeology has only grown.  My real passion though is for maritime archaeology and I am currently studying for an MA in Maritime Archaeology in Southampton. University will start back up in September, but up until then I am employed as a full-time archaeologist for Southampton City Council Archaeology Unit and on annualised hours as a museum guide for The National Museum of the Royal Navy, which is based in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

I’ve chosen to write an account of one of my days at the Medieval Chantry Dig in Southampton, working for the SCC Archaeology Unit. We are currently clearing out any archaeology from an area where the Drew Smith Group is planning to build a new set of flats. As mentioned before, this site has previously been the location of a medieval chantry which was connected with St. Mary’s Church, located just across the road. In this case there is  a substantial amount of documentation connected to our site, which has allowed us to understand what the different medieval features on the site may be. However, there are also several Saxon pits, containing a substantial amount of animal bones.

On this particular day I had just started digging a new feature. So far the theory is that the feature is a pit of unknown date which is being cut by a ditch which seems to be running across a large part of the site. This job is my first paid full-time position in commercial archaeology (yay me!) and it is refreshing to get to work in a different side of archaeology (previously I have mainly participated in digs organised by universities). Surprisingly (to me) it is quite different! I was told today that in contemporary British Commercial Archaeology we no longer use trowels for other things than cleaning the mud out of our boots. However, (if archaeology was a religion) I did feel like a sinner in church as I was shovelling out the layers of my pit

Unfortunately I can’t really tell you anything interesting about my feature as I don’t know much myself. The dig started in the middle of April this year and we are now running on the last few weeks. Unfortunately time is against us and we are having speed up the process a bit (we are like digging machines!), but fortunately it looks like there is not too much left to do. Hopefully the weather will be with us these last few days as we otherwise will be sat in the office doing finds washing (which isn’t too bad either!).

It has always been my intention to pursue a degree in archaeology after university. My interests are quite wide, but my expertise lies mainly within British and Finnish archaeology. One of my greatest passions is to promote archaeology to the wider public, which is something I am hoping to continue to do in the future. Among other things I am planning to partly base my MA dissertation project on public outreach so we shall see how it goes! Wish me luck!

Laura

Acknowledgements: I would like to thank Drew Smith Group, Dr Andy Russel and Emma for their kind contributions to this piece.

Archaeological Sites Destroyed in Finland

As continuation onto yesterday's post about the battle between maritime archaeologists and treasure hunters, I wanted to make people aware that destruction to archaeological sites does not just happen underwater.

Finland. Source

An article published by Yle News (the Finnish version of BBC) states that some well-known archaeological sites in Finland have been subjected to vandalism. One person or several people have been digging holes around the sites without permission. These holes does not seem to be the work of professional archaeologists.

The unfortunate side of archaeology is that it is destructive. Once something has been dug then there is no way of putting it back as it was, consequently important knowledge is lost and the archaeological record is flawed. People should be aware that it is illegal to dig on known archaeological sites (both terrestrial and maritime) without permission.

Hakoinen Castle in Janakkala, Finland, was one of the sites subjected to vandalism. Source

If anyone would be interested in becoming an archaeologist, there are a range of different courses available all over the world. Many universities offer archaeology as a degree subject, but you can also find smaller organisations organising courses in archaeology in your local area and probably for a cheaper price.

L

Corfe Castle, Dorset

Corfe Castle is a beautiful castle located in southern Dorset, in a village of the same name. The site was originally thought to have been a Saxon hall, as shown by evidence of post-holes; Roman and Saxon pottery has also been found in the vacinity. The stone castle was not initially constructed until the 11th century by William the Conqueror - later completed by Henry I - of which the ruins stand out substantially in the landscape today. During the period  1066 and 1087, William the Conqueror built Corfe Castle and although the castle itself is not that well known in the Medieval world, the area was thought to have been where Edward the Martyr was murdered under the orders of his stepmother in 978AD. 

The location of the castle is perfect as a symbol of power and as a defensive structure; Anne Yarrow described it as being a "12th century skyscraper" (2005:8). I visited the castle in December 2012, and noticed that even driving towards Corfe Castle from several miles away, it still stuck out like a sore thumb. Even as you approach the castle, and walk along the bridge, the archway greets you in some sort of majestic way; when you are through the archway, you are at the bottom of the hill and stare up at the castle and view it all in its glory. It's rather intimidating, but this was done on purpose. The castle was built in this way on purpose, as there would have been many people working at the castle - especially at the bottom of this hill - and if they were intimidated by the size of this castle, it would perhaps put them in their place; again, this is showing off Corfe as a symbol of power.

(c) Megan Seehra, 2012.

For a relatively unknown castle, Corfe had a long and fairly eventful history; mainly to improve its defences. The following summary should suffice:

-978AD: Edward the Martyr murdered at the site; was possibly still a Saxon hall at this point
-1066AD:  The castle is founded
-1100-1130AD: The Keep was constructed sometime during this period
-1105AD: Henry I completes the construction of the stone keep
-1139AD: King Stephen beseiges Corfe; the castle still stands
-1201-1204AD: Defences rebuilt; construction begins on the Gloriette
-1212-1214AD: Defences improved on Outer Bailey

-1244AD: The Keep is whitewashed 
-c.1250 - c.1280AD: The Outer Bridge is constructed
-1460AD: Edmund Beaufort marches his forces from Corfe to the Battle of Wakefield
-1572AD: The castle is sold to Elizabeth I's Lord Chancellor,  Sir Christopher Hatton
-1635AD: Sir John Bankes buys the castle
-1642-43AD: The English Civil War breaks out; the majority of Dorset is under the control of the Parliametarians
-1645AD: The Parliamentarians manage to partly demolish the castle to its current state

-1883AD: Archaeological excavations are carried out on the castle
-1986-1997AD: More excavation carried out on the castle
-2008AD: Corfe is reopened to the public

(c) Megan Seehra, 2012.

Before its part-demolition in the 17th century, Corfe stood as a hunting lodge, a stronghold, and a mansion; all of which count as contributing towards the definition of a castle. Despite it being located on the top of a hill, Corfe should not be thought of a typical castle - not all castles were built on top of a hill to stand out. Castles such as Caernarvon was built on flat land by the sea; it may seem that this castle therefore did not stand out as a symbol of power, but being right by the edge of the sea, its reflection in the water made it appear bigger, therefore showing power.  

After his Conquest, William built many other castles similar to Corfe, with its inside layout being most similar to Pevensey; its location in the landscape most like Dover or Hastings; and reuse of a Saxon or Roman site is most like all of the following castles built by William:

Colchester Castle, built 1069AD.
(c) Colchester and Ipswich Museums.

Dover Castle, built 1179AD.
(c) BBC.

Durham Castle, built 1172AD.
(c) Wikipedia.

Hastings Castle, built 1066AD.
(c) great-castles.com

Pevensey Castle, built 1066AD.
(c) English Heritage.

Warwick Castle, built 1068AD.
(c) Wikipedia.

Windsor Castle, built 1066AD
(c) Wikipedia.

Arguably, the reuse of previous sites shows the Norman dominance William had over the people of Britian after his conquest. This is exactly what Edward I did with his group of castles he built in North Wales; at Caernarvon Castle, it was discovered that Magnus Maximus was buried on the site where the castle was meant to be built. 
He was later reburied at a local church. But this still showed Edward's English dominance over the Welsh; if this great big stone structure didn't show power enough, it was the fact that Edward could build castles wherever he liked; removing bodies and previous structures at his will.



If you're in the Dorset area, I recommend you visit Corfe Castle - the village is wonderful, the people are lovely and the ruins are fantastic. You get a stunning view of the surrounding landscape too!

(c) Megan Seehra, 2012.

(c) Megan Seehra, 2012.

If this was at all interesting, or indeed made sense, I wrote a 4,500 word essay at University of Wales Trinity St David on this castle, which focuses more on the physical and social side of Corfe Castle, with quite a bit on the woman's role specifically within this castle. 


Please contact me, or comment in the box below if you would like to read this essay!
Please note that the essay is my own work, belongs to University of Wales Trinity St David should not be be reproduced without my written consent - the same goes for the pictures on this post too.



References and further reading:

-Bankes, G., 1853. The story of Corfe Castle, and many who lived there. London: J. Murray. 

-Cathcart King, D.J., 1988. The Castle in England and Wales: An Interpretive History. Kent: Croom Helm Ltd.

-Creighton, O.H., 2005. Castles and Landscapes: power, community and fortification in medieval England. London: Oakville.

   

-National Trust, 2010. Corfe Castle, Dorset. Swindon: National Trust Ltd.

-Pounds, N.J.G., 1993. The Medieval Castle in England and Wales: A Political and Social History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

-RCHME, 1952. Excavations in the West Bailey at Corfe Castle. Medieval Archaeology. 4:29-55.

-Thackray, D., 1991. Corfe Castle, Dorset: an illustrated souvenir. London: National Trust.

 

-Yarrow, A., 2005. Corfe Castle. Swindon: The National Trust (2^nd edition).

M