Archaeology

LONDON - Archaeologists working at the construction site for London's 2012 Olympic Park have uncovered prehistoric skeletons on the site of the Aquatics Centre.

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/47682/story.htm

WORKMEN digging below Bridgwater's Castle Street stumbled across an "outstanding" piece of the town's medieval history last week, unseen for more than 700 years.

Wessex Water officials were renovating sewers underneath the street on Monday when they unearthed a smugglers tunnel and part of old curtain wall from Bridgwater Castle - leading one archaeologist to proclaim it "one of the most important finds of the 21st Century".

Bridgwater Castle dates back to 1200, where William Briwere built a complex of buildings covering eight acres across parts of present day Kings Square and Castle Street.

The giant structure massed next to the river and included a chapel, a kitchen, a cellar, stables and a dungeon.

Today, only the Water Gate and some walling on the West Quay and in Queen Street survive above ground.

But Wessex water workers made the historic discovery after digging ten feet into the ground at the bottom of Castle Street, while taking part in a major sewer regeneration project.

Heath Hayes, site agent for Wessex Water, said: "We were fully aware of the history here and were working with an archaeologist on site, so we did expect to come across it at some point.

"We had actually dug deep enough yesterday, but the archaeologist asked us if we could extend the hole to show a bit more of the castle, to which we agreed. It's a nice surprise to find something of this age."

Andy Tizzard, the onsite archaeologist from Context One Archaeological Services said the smugglers tunnel would have been used to transport goods from ships coming in on the River Parrett - and the passage was one of several leading to houses in the town.

Mr Tizzard then explained the significance of the find.

He said: "In my 30 years of being an archaeologist this is the first castle wall I know of to be found under a road. It is, in its own right, a quite exceptional find.

"This discovery enables historians to study just how people built a medieval castle in the West Country and this opportunity will never arise again.

"Wessex Water's absolute cooperation and commitment to preservation means we'll be able to document these building techniques as serious, credible evidence.

"I have no doubt that this is a find of national, as well as local, importance."

The excavation and discovery of the medieval wall will be recorded by archaeologists, before the workers finish up and the hole in the ground is sealed.

The group were allowed to examine the area in the Kirkgate as Scottish Water repaired the network.

The copper alloy buckle is believed to date back to the 12th Century and was found along with animal bones, shells and pottery.

A panel of experts will decide where the buckle should be housed, but it is hoped it will end up in Perth Museum.

Catherine Smith from SUAT archaeological consultants told the BBC Scotland news website how they discovered the treasure.

"We found this encrusted buckle which had been folded over, but was obviously something nice," she said.

"So we brought it back here and carefully unfolded the copper and discovered this most beautifully designed medieval buckle, which we think probably dates back to the 12th Century.

"It's such a piece of work that it probably belonged to somebody with a bit of money.

"We suggested maybe a merchant in the medieval burgh because of course Perth was quite an important trading post."

The buckle is similar to work found in Scandinavia, but it is believed it was made in Perth or elsewhere in Scotland.

A padlock, also dating from about 1150 onwards, was also found at the site, but it is not in such good condition.

Historical objects are often well preserved under the streets of Perth because the area is very water-logged.

'Treasure house'

The water stops oxygen getting in and decomposing items like leather and wood.

Also, Perth has not been subject to as much modern development as other towns, so the archaeology has lain almost undisturbed.

Ms Smith said: "Perth is actually a treasure house for this kind of material.

"The only comparable place in Britain is probably York, where they have the same problems with floods. We see it as a modern problem but in a way it magically preserves all the archaeology.

"In fact, any time you dig a hole in the High Street you're liable to hit archaeology.

"People walk along these streets every day and just don't realise what a wealth of information about the past is under their feet."

The archaeological professional in the UK today is not like the Time Team at all. Sorry. The common mistake that some folk make is that we all work for the government or are  - I kid you not  - volunteers or University students having a jolly. Fair enough (well, not really, but you know what I mean). But whereas larger media exposure of archaeology has gone somewhat to bring the need for this profession to be understood and appreciated, where does this leave us with the people who actually pay for it? No, not you, my dear taxpayer  - the dreaded developers.

So who pays for archaeology?

For the most part, the developer does. Whether that's Mr Barrat Homes building his 2,000 suburbian dwellings on a flood plain or John Smith who wants to extend his kitchen over a Roman road. This is a result of a new Planning Policy Guide which was introduced in the mid 1990s  - BAJR can say it best here in his Section 1. I have glossed over English Heritage and Historic Scotland here, who also provide grants for research work, and the Heritage Lottery Fund is also starting to go with some research excavations, mostly involving lots of community involvement and development. Just see the stuff about the Olivers Mound project on that one.

Quite often, however, developers are all surprised when an archaeological condition is placed on their site (this means that they will not get their planning permission unless an archaeological investigation has taken place - be it a few test trenches or an historic buildings assessment) and have no idea what to do.

There are therefore a number of archaeological contractor firms that quote - much as a surveyor or demolition contractor would - to get that job done. Consider how many costs are involved in a new development, especially somewhere with some history to it - the bat people, the tree people, the environment people, the architect, the demolition contractor, the building conservationist, etc. Despite the complaints, the archaeological work is often a meagre expense. It is an annoyance to some developers because it is one they may not have been expecting. Why? Why were you not expecting it?

So you DO get paid?

Yes, but not very much when you are first starting out, and even at the top it's pretty meagre. The average starting salary for a graduate archaeologist is the lowest starting salary for any profession in the country. Why? Well, in some respects, the archaeological profession has shot iself in the foot over pay and conditions. In the mid 1990s, when new planning guidelines came out focusing the payment for recording and processing the nation's heritage on the developer's wallet, many new contracting firms appeared which were, for the first time, competing against each other for the 'next' job. This created a lot of under-cutting and dare-I-say-it 'cowboy like' attitudes to getting archaeology done and this low tendering structure has meant that wages have always remained low.

A recent article in the latest IFA magagazine (Institute of Field Archaeologists) states that archaeology is actually more profitable than the construction industry with a 1% average profit for construction compared to a 3% profit for archaeological companies. However, the turnovers for archaeological compnaies are quite small, although it has stresssed that we could pay ourselves more, but have never had enough drive to push forward for better wages and condtions. When I graduated, I had to volunteer for at least 8-9 months before getting the odd job here and there. I eventually went to do a Masters degree with the aim of getting a better (or more importantly) a permanent job. The experience that the Masters  got me was invaluable, it turned out. But two degrees - to even get the below average wage of  a gardaute?  Hmmm...

So why do developers never take archaeology seriously?

Well, it can be said that Time Team and the like have brought archaeology to the public's attention, although this isn't exactly aiming the resources of our profession at the right audience, is it? Yes, the public need to be aware of what archaeologists do (even though what they ACTUALLY do bears no resemblance to the glossy TV world of Tony Robinson) or what little remains of the heritage of Britain will disappear forever. This would be a shame as the history of our country is its main strength and without it (including the revenue from tourism) our identity would forever be in doubt.

But it's the developer 'wot' pays for it, so why is he always gobsmacked - 'archaeology? Why? What's the point? I'm buildin' 'ouses for the future, mate...' etc, etc. It is because archaeology, although it may be

INTERESTING

is not really something people associate alongside the other professions in the development industry: surveyors, architects, environmental specialists, etc. Archaeology is not a chartered profession and has no real standing with the major chartered organisations of these professions. Going back to my earlier point - we have under-valued ourselves yet again. No clear guidelines are given to developers as to what should be done when. Although you can have a guess, no one really knows what is under the ground until you dig it up, and the standards on what should be done in what situation vary a great deal.

Why?

Because it is all done at a local planning level. Each county or local planning authoirty may or may not  have a 'county archaeologist' to advise on these matters but these people often vary in their approach, competence and training and this not only infuriates us, but confuses developers.

So whither the archaeologist?

Archaeological contractors have come along way in the last 15 years, providing better training, pay and conditions for its professionals. There's still a long way to go to to convince the people who are largely responsible for making it happen (the developers) that it is as important to the development as the nation should think it is. So, it's over to you to help with that!

These splendid elaborately painted sarcophagi dating to the 12th/13th century lie in the church of Our Lady in Bruges, close to the graves of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold. There seems to be very little information about them other than that they were discovered in the late 1970.

There are some in one of the other churches, St Sebastian's I think it is called.

I would love to know more about them if anyone has any information.