OPEN ARCHIVE – a new web based system for accessing our past

OPEN ARCHIVE – a new web based system for accessing our past

The wealth of information gathered by local archaeological groups and societies on excavations, surveys and documentary research is one of the important sources of data for the study of archaeology in the UK.  Currently, this archive of British archaeology is stored locally, within libraries and local history centres as well as with the originating group themselves.  In addition, PhDs and other research can be found in locations often scattered throughout the country.  The premise of Open Archive is to collect the records of the past and present and share them with everybody.

Open Archive is an accessible library of user generated reports and publications where archaeology societies, PhD research students, graveyard recording and community groups can share their discoveries with a wide audience.

The easy to use interface combines intuitive searches by period, type of project and location with a map based view showing the location of the selected documents.  Each item can then be viewed as either a short description or as the complete publication.  This resource creates a public portal to the records of our shared heritage that were previously only available on a few local archaeology group websites OR as paper copies in the local library.  The idea is to allow this to be both interactive and open to sharing via feeds and direct data transfer.

The data entry form is modelled exactly on the Discovery and Excavation Scotland (DES) fields, and has the potential to allow direct transfer of this data to the record.  (For future projects this would mean every record sent to Open Archive that is located in Scotland could be automatically be sent to the DES along with a copy of the report.)  In addition, we are working on automatically sending Treasure Trove reporting, Open Archive is developing for the future and your comments are welcome.

Loading the pdf versions of the document onto Open Archive is a quick step by step process, maintaining ease of use without compromising the value of the information gathered.  The more users that utilise this secure public archive, the more useful it becomes, building a written record of the past in Britain by those that know it best.

Free to register and use, we are currently in consultation to help take paper records and transform them into searchable digital formats, where the rediscovery of these publications may even re-ignite interest in the area.

Open Archive is exactly that – a public resource, created for everyone.

You can view the current Version here http://www.openarchive.co.uk

and we welcome comment info@digitalpast.co.uk

David Connolly and Steve White (Digital Past)

Scottish Archaeology Month!

http://www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk/index.php?q=node/33

Yes its here, and ready to go…  archaeology Month in Scotland..  known as …   you guessed it.

Scottish Archaeology Month!

Scottish Archaeology Month (SAM) is one of Archaeology Scotland’s best loved initiatives. Through SAM, they aim to make the archaeology of Scotland as accessible as possible to the public through a programme of free events that celebrate Scotland’s archaeological heritage.

There are events for all ages and abilities and even a separate SAM for schools! programme.

This year events include medieval entertainments, stalls and stories at the ‘Medieval Village’, Leven Prom and a chance for kids to join the Scottish Crannog Centre’s ‘Underwater Time Team’ and try out underwater archaeology in the mini tank, while the Principal Curator of Roman Archaeology at the National Museums will take a tour group around one of Scotland’s finest hillforts, Traprain Law. See our 2009 Events Guide for this year’s highlights.

New events will be added to our online SAM Events Calendar throughout the summer.

Scottish Archaeology Month is the sister event of Doors Open Days (DOD), which gives you free access to hundreds of fascinating buildings across Scotland each September.

Together, SAM and DOD are Scotland’s contribution to European Heritage Days, which take place throughout Europe each September. SAM and DOD are supported by Historic Scotland.

I myself am doing three secret events 🙂

But if you want …  come along to the first at the lost chapel of Old Pentland (near Ikea Edinburgh) from 11am on Saturday 12th
This is a great time to be in Scotland and enjoying all the archaeology history and heritage we have to offer!

Orkney College – Courses in Archaeology

Archaeological Practice - MA PG Dip

This exciting course is one of a number of courses on offer from the UHI Millennium Institute. The initiative is led by Orkney College and students will be based in Orkney for their time of study. The course aims to provide an opportunity for those wishing to continue studies in archaeology, to develop new skills, gain further experience in existing skills, and continue professional development.

The course is taught by staff from Orkney College and from other UHI Millennium Institute partner institutions including Shetland College and Lews Castle College. Students will also work with the Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA), OAESIS, Tankerness House Museum, conservation and farming agencies and organisations, and may also have the opportunity to take field trips and placements in other areas of the Highlands and Islands.

The course is structured in such a way as to blend together archaeological theory and practical skills, and we feel the courses have a lot to offer those who seek professional skills and hands on experience relevant to current archaeological thinking and practice.

Orkney College Shallow Geophysics Msc PG Dip

This programme is aimed at graduates in archaeology and environmental sciences who wish to specialise in geophysical prospection, and to graduates with geophysics degrees who wish to move into shallow archaeological/environmental prospection. The programme will provide you with an understanding of the scientific principles behind the techniques used in shallow prospection and a comprehensive knowledge of the practical use of a variety of techniques commonly used in archaeological/shallow geophysics. Core modules cover theoretical and practical applications of shallow geophysical techniques including gradiometry, magnetic susceptibility, area resistance survey, electrical imaging and tomography, and ground penetrating radar. Optional modules allow you to expand your knowledge in different areas. If your background is in archaeology you will be encouraged to widen your skill base with optional modules in environmental site investigation and GIS. Geophysics graduates are encouraged to take optional modules in archaeology to gain an understanding of the formation of archaeological sites.

Features

solid foundation in the theoretical aspects of archaeological geophysics
hands-on experience of geophysical survey
access to a wide variety of state of the art equipment
study techniques and application in a diverse archaeological landscape

2000 year old sewn ship found in Croatia

Reconstruction of a seagoing sewn ship - Murman shnjaka.

Well, as I have just returned from Croatian Island of Cres (where I have been on survey – more about that later) I found this.. and could do with a find like tht myself!! Pity I can’t stand doing more than paddling!

http://www.sindhtoday.net/news/1/14498.htm

read the whole article above

Archaeologists have found an ancient sewn ship over 2000 years old in Novalia, Croatia.

According to a report in Archaeological Discovery, the ship was found in the Caska Bay on the Island of Pag, near Novalja.

The lower part of the ship was found, body panels, ship skeleton and stitches, which the panels were connected with.

The research, which was organized by the city of Novalja in cooperation with the Zadar University and the French national institute for scientific research, was led by professor Zdenko Brusic from the Zadar University.

“In Roman times, Novalja was known for its port accommodation and was located on the old sea route from Greece to northern Italy and central Europe. The ships would wait in Novalja for suitable winds and because of that a town developed there that had various suitable services,” said Brusic.

 

see more about the sewn boat here, as well as images (like the one shown above) here

http://www.foteviken.se/sewnboat/boat/

Disability and the Archaeological Profession

nclusive, Accessible, Archaeology (IAA) project

BAJR fully supports this initiative and asks all those that feel they can comment to please get in touch with Dr Phillips, who has asked me to make this consultation widely known.
If its dyslexia, asthma, RSI, Colour blindness.. get in touch..

now read on

Disability and the Archaeological Profession
– Call for Participants

Archaeology at the University of Reading have been commissioned by English Heritage to carry out a project looking at disability within the archaeological profession working in close consultation with the Institute for Archaeologists (IfA) as a major stakeholder. The brief is to produce good practice guidelines for the employment of disabled archaeologists in the profession. These are to be based on the good practices already being followed by employers and employees. The guidelines will be published as an IfA Professional Paper.

The project team is looking for participants willing to tell their story, whether this be positive or negative. We are very eager to talk to anyone who has had experiences of disability within archaeology, either at a personal level, with the people they have worked alongside or supervised, interviewed or employed. We are interested in talking to people about all aspects, including the less obvious things such as dyslexia, diabetes, asthma, RSI and so forth. All the information will be used anonymously and presented in such a way that no individual or organisation can be identified. The participants will also be invited to comment on the draft of the guidelines.

If you are interested in participating in this project, please contact:

Dr Tim Phillips
0118 3788293
t.j.phillips@reading.ac.uk

For more:

http://www.britarch.ac.uk/accessible/docs/Leaflet.pdf

and here

http://www.britarch.net/accessible

Past Horizons archaeology

Past Horizons Archaeology .. http://www.pasthorizons.com/shop – sister company to the trusted BAJR website

We know what you want because we use the tools, and have done for over 25 years. Why choose cheap when you can have quality.

Add to that a fab free magazine http://www.pasthorizons.com/ magazine a Heritage video site http://www.pasthorizons.tv/tv and even a site that give free access to hundreds of volunteer sites around the world! http://www.pasthorizons.com phew… now that is something worth visiting

Past Horizons Magazine

Past Horizons Opportunities

Past Horizons Journal Archive

http://www.scribd.com/group/24742-past-horizons-archaeology-magazine

Past Horizons Magazine

 

A new Document group that holds all the pdf versions (5 so far)  of the new online free journal of archaeology, conservation and heritage. 

To see the full and visually stunning version..  with video, live links, sound and pageflip!  Go here:

http://www.pasthorizons.com/magazine/

Choose an issue, and read, an online magazine with a difference.!

CRICKLEY HILL REUNION 2009

Demonstrating the versatility of the barrow

Saturday, 4th July 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the start of archaeological excavations at Crickley Hill, Gloucestershire. More than 3,000 volunteers from around the world worked on the site between 1969 and 1994 – 25 successive seasons of digging, directed throughout by Dr Philip Dixon, former Reader in Archaeology at the University of Nottingham. The Secretary to the excavation was Richard Savage.

There will be a reunion to mark the 40th anniversary and this blog has been created to allow the many people who worked at Crickley to find out about, plan and participate in the reunion.

Go to the excellent Blog here:   and if you are..  or know somebody, let them know, or get in touch yourself.

 

http://chreunion2009.blogspot.com/

 

Archaeology of the Thornborough Area – Website

Archaeology of the Thornborough Area – Archaeological excavation at Ladybridge Farm

An excellent use of web in the planning process .. they (agree with the project or not) –
have shown how to use technology to provide information, so it shows it can (on a long term project) be part of the process – and should be part of the site archive..

Open and Transparent…  and a view of Real Archaeology !!

I like it… (still a few rough edges) but I like it…in fact love it…..

http://www.archaeologicalplanningconsultancy.co.uk/thornborough/index.php
quote from site:
——————————————————————————–
Welcome to the Thornborough section of the APC web site, which aims to provide information on the archaeology around Thornborough Henges. Over the last four or five years so much information has been uploaded regarding Nosterfield and Ladybridge that we decided it was time to re-organise the site, and this is the result.

You can find information on all the archaeological investigations related to Nosterfield Quarry that have taken place, access the original site records and finds lists, browse photographs and view an online GIS (interactive map) displaying the archaeological features, fieldwalking plots etc.

The various archaeological works undertaken on behalf of Tarmac since 1995 are currently being brought together to form a single body of data, which can be accessed through the interactive map on this site. This is a work in progress, and it will obviously take time to assimilate the information collected over such a long period and by a number of different organisations, so please bear with us. We hope that the data will be supplemented by integrating other data sets, such as metal detecting finds etc. from other professional and amateur organisations alike.

This will eventually supercede the Nosterfield and Ladybridge sections of this web site, but the legacy pages will remain available through the links from the APC home page.

Please note that the resources available through this site are currently in development. Many past datasets are still to add, and new data will appear as work on site progresses.