Michael Dahlin

This weekand we visited Blankaholm on the Swedish east coast for the Blankaholm seminars arranged by archaeologist and local resident Michael Dahlin, who is also the man behind the Swedish archaeology blog Misterhultaren.

All seminars are connected via the prehistory or history of the Swedish east coast, the themes are varied as well as the periods. All in all it was a very nice session with many nice meetings, new and old, and lots of information.

The previous three seminars are available in the books Forntiden längs ostkusten 1 (2010) and 2 (2011) (Ancient times along the east shores) both edited by Kenneth Alexandersson et al.

I will not go into detail on the seminars but only give a short recap of them to present what can be expected of the coming Forntiden längs ostkusten 3 and the 2012 seminars.

Day 1

The meeting started with a quick presentation of the seminars and Blankaholm by Michael Dahlin

Pierre Petersson

followed by a seminar by the same on the late Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements on the east coast of Småland. On surveys from the 30′s until today and future projects. The seminars continued by another Swedish archaeology blogger Pierre Petersson the man behind the blog AHIMKAR. In this seminar we move forward in time to the middle ages and thoughts on living conditions for the nobility and ordinary man. Pierre put forward an interesting example site Kläckeberga church, its surroundings and the findings that has been done via archaeological excavations etc. From the

Kenneth Alexandersson

middle ages we take a big leap back in time. Kenneth Alexandersson from Kalmar County museum presented the results from a settlement excavation just south of Kalmar airport. The expected finds was an Iron Age settlement but they found a Stone Age site dated to ca 9000 BP instead. After this we move north to the south of Norrland as Michel Guinard and Therese Ekholm presents the project Nordic Blade

Michel Guinard

Technology network which concerns the earliest habitants after the latest Ice Age. Two sites, one that has been situated in the inland and one by the coast are currently excavated by students and scientists. Larforsen is located in Hälsingland, dated to ca 7200 BC, and Torsåker in Gästrikland are several small settlements, dated to ca 8500-5000 BC. There are several specialists involved such as osteololgist Therese Ekholm who will study

Ludvig Papmehl-Dufay & Therese Ekholm

bones from the hearths looking at spices as well as dating. We return to Småland and hits the neolithics once again as Ludvig Papmehl-Dufay discuss the Funnelbeaker culture. The funnelbeakers are considered as the first real farmers in Sweden. Ludvig is working with materials from the island Öland in his post-doc research. Among them results from a settlement excavation at Resmo. The day ends with another fellow archaeology blogger Martin Rundkvist from Aardvarchaeology who spoke on projects done and projects to come concerning Bronze Age sacrifical deposits, in both wetlands and on human settlements, etc. His idea is to look for the sites found in the late 1800′s and first half of the 1900s and excavate these again. By categorize them due to location and natural features etc. create models to predict where to find new places. Almost all sites we know of today were found by framers while draining wetlands to create new farmland or working behind the plow seeing what it plowed up. This ended the sessions of day 1.

Martin Rundkvist

Day 2

Sven Gunnar Broström and Kenth Ihrestam

The day began with Kenth Ihrestam and Sven Gunnar Broström presenting their survey finds of Bronze Age rock art in Casmirsborg (MEM) some miles north of Västervik. During their latest surveys the number of known figures has increased from 13 to 175. They have found several large finds of ship carvings, people, foot soles, animals etc. From art to Claus Ruskas land transactions in the

John Hutto

Middle Ages. John Huttu described the way from middle class to the gentry, from the city to land ownership and what can be found in medieval diplomas. Tar production was probably a big deal during the middle ages – Veronica Palm from Kalmar County Museum and Västerviks

Veronica Palm

museum goes forward in time and tells a tale of a tar production site from the 18th century. The site was just outside of Målilla and excavated in 2010. Very nice findings and interesting results. Back to prehistoric times with Joakim Wehlin (sorry all pics were out of focus) who research ship settings on Gotland. There is a much larger material than I knew; in total 380 are known at Gotland whereof ca 100 are excavated. Joakim told us about an interesting excavation from this summer where they found a double grave in a small round stone setting just next to a ship setting. An interesting project to follow! Last speaker of the day was Rune Johansson who works as a nurse and are studying archaeology. He presented his thoughts on archaeology as a rehabilitation tool. As all people have a history most have a connection with the past and therefore it is a way to get people interested. There are also several things in archaeology that can be therapeutic, walks in woods, feeling artefacts, associations between artefacts and modern things, being part in projects such as digs etc.

Rune Johansson

I would like to thank all involved who made this a great weekend. I will be back

Magnus Reuterdahl

OTTAWA –  Algonquin Daniel Bernard “Amikwabe” set up a camp this morning to keep a Sacred Fire burning round the clock next to the entrance of the Beaver Pond forest at the end of Walden Drive in Kanata.  This is a personal initiative “to denounce the massacre of the wildlife and this sacred forest” in response to a declaration by Algonquin Elder William Commanda that the forest is sacred.

The landowner, KNL Developments, moved tree-clearing equipment on to Beaver Pond lands January 18 after receiving City of Ottawa approval to proceed with plans to build a housing development.  Development plans have been contested by citizens for decades, and protest has peaked in recent months.

Grandfather William Commanda, the most senior Algonquin Elder, has stated that the area is sacred to his people, and has written letters to all levels of government urging protection of the land.  Four First Nations groups, Chiefs, and Elders have written similar letters of concern (see links below).

Archaeological artifacts have been found nearby that show evidence of pre-contact civilization.  Natives and non-Natives alike are calling for a comprehensive archaeological assessment and meaningful consultations with Aboriginal peoples before any development proceeds.

On January 12, the City’s Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Subcommittee passed a resolution noting that the City of Ottawa “should be seen as an example role-model to other municipalities in Canada in respecting Aboriginal affairs” and asked the City take the lead in conducting a new archaeological survey of the entire South March Highlands.

Gordon O’Connor, MP for Carleton-Mississippi Mills, recently asked the National Capital Commission to include the Beaver Pond forest in its upcoming revision of the Greenbelt master plan. Carleton-Mississippi Mills MPP Norm Sterling wrote letters January 17 to the Premier of Ontario and several other Ministers in support of protecting this land.

Robert Lovelace, former Chief of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, recently wrote that “If Mayor Jim Watson were a real leader, he would know enough to realize that the incremental destruction of the last wildlands in the city needs to stop.  As a real Chief, he would be on the side of the people and the land.” (see link below)

A Sacred Fire is a peaceful religious observance.  Bernard, of the Algonquin Beaver Clan, invites others to join him and pray for the forest and the animals.  He plans to keep the fire burning until Sunday, January 23.

Members of the community are providing support to Bernard, and will be joining him throughout the protest.  All are committed to protecting the Beaver Pond forest and other environmentally sensitive areas of the South March Highlands, which is home to more than 675 species, including 19 species at risk, and recognized by the City as one of the most biodiverse areas in Ottawa

- 30-

For more information:
Steve Hulaj — 613 878-1135

Directions:
Exit Highway 417 at Terry Fox Drive and go North past the shopping centers.  Turn Right and take Kanata Avenue up the hill.  Proceed past Goulbourn Forced Road on the left and high school on right, to Walden.  Turn Left on Walden and proceed to the very end.

BACKGROUND:

Letters sent by First Nations to-date:
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Letters_of_Support/2011-01-09-Kinounchepirini_Algonquin_FirstNation_Letter.jpg
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Letters_of_Support/2011-01-09-SMH_Ottawa_Algonquin_FN_Support.pdf
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Letters_of_Support/2011-01-10-AAFN_letter%20to_Ottawa.pdf
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Letters_of_Support/2011-01-14-Ottawa_Letter_From_Kichesipirini_Algonqiun_FN.pdf

And by Grandfather William Commanda:
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Letters_of_Support/2010-08-24_Circle_of_Nations-South_March_Highlands.pdf
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Letters_of_Support/2010-12-20-GWC_Letter_To_Council.pdf
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Letters_of_Support/2011-01-05-GWC-Message_Regarding_Development_at_South_March_Highlands

And by other Grandfathers:
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Letters_of_Support/2010-08-14-A_plea_for_the_forest-Grandfather_Albert_Dumond.pdf
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Letters_of_Support/2011-01-14-Grandfather_Lovelace_Letter_to_the_Editor_Revelation18.pdf

Motion passed unanimously by Ottawa’s Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Subcommittee: http://www.renaud.ca/public/Letters_of_Support/2011-01-12-Unanimous_AHCAC_Motion_on_SMH.pdf

Background info:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZBcLvtcJBY (4 minute documentary video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhSU5heJl5o (cultural and natural heritage video)
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Presentations/2011-01-13-SMH-1-SMH_Overview_v16.pdf (SMH Overview presentation)
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Presentations/2010-12-07-SMH-2-Stewardship_Plan_Overview_v4.pdf

Other Letters of Support (e.g. David Suzuki Foundation, MP Gordon O’Connor, MPP Norm Sterling) may be downloaded from
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Letters_of_Support/

Submission to NCC on South March Highlands:
http://www.renaud.ca/public/Presentations/2010-09-07%20Greenbelt%20Coalition%20Position%20Paper%20App5%20-%20SMH.pdf

www.ottawasgreatforest.com (website for the stewardship plan to protect the SMH)
www.southmarchhighlands.ca (website for the coalition to protect the SMH)

We were aided in our investigation by the Battlefield Restoration and Archaeological Volunteer Organization (BRAVO), an organization experienced in examining battlefields across the country. (http://www.bravodigs.org/)  

The second reason for exploring the site is to ensure that the events of that day are never forgotten: to make them news again.  In this way we hope to expand new discussion of the events, the conditions that resulted in them, and their effects on everyday life in Hazleton.  For this reason we hope you will comment on our project either through the blog, through email or on the newspaper article that came out in the  on the 21st of November.  Through our work in the community of Lattimer we have come to know that many people are connected to the history of the massacre, through work, family commnity or personal interest.  We even heard some second- and third-hand accounts of the event.   

In the coming weeks we will post photos from the survey on the blog.  Meanwhile, we are hoping to hear from you!

Jag brukar inte skriva på svenska här på bloggen men då jag kommer att vara till arbetsmarknadens förfogande inom kort är det lika bra att utnyttja alla vägar. Förutom att skicka ut en bred intresseanmälan om jobb, dels via bloggen dels via mail kommer jag också sätta mig ned och arbeta på en ny ansökan till forskarutbildningen inom arkeologi.

Från och med den 27 oktober står jag till arbetsmarknadens förfogande, helst till förfogande för en arkeologisk inriktad institution såsom en länsstyrelse, ett museum, en myndighet (RAÄ UV) en stiftelse eller ett privat företag.

För er som inte känner mig personligen eller som bara råkat hamna här på bloggen, är jag 36 år, boende i Stockholm och varmt brinnande för frågor kring arkeologi, osteologi och kulturarv. Om ni tittar på mitt CV kommer ni att se att jag är mycket flexibel vad gäller resande men också bred i min erfarenhet av olika typer av arkeologiska jobb. Ett par av mina styrkor tror jag ligger i en bred kunskap och förståelse av kulturhistoriska landskap, såväl när det gäller tidsmässiga som geografiska skillnader, samt att jag har erfarenhet av många olika GIS program såsom ArcView, ArcGIS, ArcPad. StormGIS, QuantumGIS, Intrasis m fl och är relativt duktig på dem.

Under de senaste 18 månaderna har jag arbetat för Arkeologicentrum AB i Östersund med jobb över i princip hela landet – från Västernorrlands län till södra Småland. Jag har arbetat med frivilliga utredningar, § 11 utredningar steg 1 och 2, arkeologiska förundersökningar och särskilda arkeologiska undersökningar. Vidare har jag skrivit ett drygt 20-tal rapporter och PM (se CV) samt arbetat med offerter och anbud. Under denna period har jag också gått Riksantikvarieämbetets (RAÄ) utbildning Landskapshistorisk utbildning, steg 1 för att bli platsledare inom fornminnesinventering.

Innan min anställning vid Arkeologicentrum har jag arbetat som antikvarie på länsstyrelserna i Norrbottens (2008-2009) och Kronobergs län (2005-2008) och som arkeolog och/eller osteolog vid Norrbottens museum (2007 och 2008), Östergötlands museum (2008), Osteologiska forskningslaboratoriet (2005) och Arkeologiska forskningslaboratoriet (2005) vid Stockholms Universitet m.fl. Jag är också ordförande i Osteologiska föreningen (2009-).

Tillsammans med Johan Klange har jag startat och arbetat med ett forskningsprojekt: Yangshaoprojektet. Projektet syftar till att bygga och sprida kunskap om den så kallade Yangshaokulturen, eller traditionerna. Projektet har till dags dato lett till två forskningsresor, två rapporter och två artiklar.

Jag har läst arkeologi och ostearkeologi till masternivå, fornnordiska till kandidatsnivå, kulturmiljövård mm vid Stockholms Universitet mellan åren 2000-2005.

För närmare information besök mitt CV här!

Har du ett jobb för mig går det bra att kontakta mig via inventerare[radera_detta][at]hotmail[punkt]com.

Vi ses och hörs!

Magnus Reuterdahl

____________________________________________________________________________

I do not usually write in Swedish here on the blog, but as I will be available for new work shortly, it is best to use all tools available. In addition to sending out a broad interest on the job through this blog, I will sit down and work on a new PhD application for archaeology and of course apply to available jobs.

This is a job application that also is valid internationally. As of October 27, I am available for work or research projects, preferably at  archaeological or osteological oriented institution such as a museum, a department at a University, a foundation or a private company.

For those of you who do not know me personally or who just happened to end up here on the blog, I am 36 years old, living in Stockholm, Sweden. I have a deep interest  for issues related to archaeology, osteology and cultural heritage. I am very flexible in terms of  travelling and have wide experience of different types of archaeological jobs. My strengths, I believe lies in a broad knowledge, experinece, understanding and knowledge of different kind the ancient remains (especially concerning Scandinavia and to some extent China) regarding time depth as well as geographical difference (Scandinavia in particular). I have worked with many different GIS software such as ArcView, ArcGIS, ArcPad. StormGIS, QuantumGIS, Intrasis etc. and am quite good at them.

Over the last 18 months I have worked for a private company; Arkeologicentrum AB in Östersund, virtually across all of  Sweden – from Västernorrland County to the south of Småland County. I have worked with non mandatory investigations (archaeological surveys), § 11 investigations – steps 1 and 2 (archaeological surveys and archaeological surveys including search excavations), archaeological preliminary investigations (archaeological excavation in order to delineate one or several specific ancient remains) and archaeological excavations. During this time I’ve written more than 20 reports and memos for Arkeologicentrum.  I have also taken the National Heritage Boards (RAA) course Landscape Historic training, step 1 – to become a site leader regarding archaeological surveys in Sweden.

Before this I worked as an archaeologist at the county administrative board of Norrbotten County (2008-2009) and Kronoberg County (2005-2008), at the county museum Norrbotten museum (2007 and 2008) and Östergötland museum (2008), at the Osteological research laboratory (OFL) (2005) and the Archaeological Research laboratory (AFL) (2005) at Stockholm University, etc. I am also chairman of the Swedish Osteological Association since 2009.

Together with fellow swedish archaeologist John Klange I started and have been working on a research project: the Yangshao project. The project aims at building new knowledge and to disseminate knowledge about the so-called Yangshao culture, or better named traditions. The project has so far led to two research trips to China, two reports and two articles.

I have studied archaeology and osteoarchaeolgy at Masters level, Scandinavian languages with a historic profile at candidate level, cultural heritage, etc. at Stockholm University between 2000-2005.

If your interested or wants more information, as a CV in English or references please contact me via inventerare[delete-this][at]hotmail[dot]com.

Magnus Reuterdahl

Season dates: November 1, 2010 – November 14, 2010

Application Deadline: October 31, 2010

Description

Experience the amazing South Coast of Western Australia alongside the Traditional Owners and professional archaeologists, while learning skills in archaeological survey, mapping, excavation, GPS navigation, GIS mapping and models, stone artefact analysis, rock art recording, community engagement, and land care. The programme is a two week intensive field session that includes:

• Archaeological Survey and Excavations in Cape le Grand National Park
• Rock Art Heritage Protection and Assessment
• Assessment of National Heritage Listed Cheetup Cave

Gain practical experience in:

• Archaeological mapping, survey, and excavations
• Artefact identification, recording and analysis
• Rock Art Recording and Analysis
• Community engagement, project planning and methods of heritage conservation
• Outback Survival and Bush Skills

For more information or to obtain a registration form please contact: davidg@appliedarchaeology.com.au

fieldschoolflyer2010.pdf

Program Type

Field school

Affiliation

Gabbie Kylie Foundation and Applied Archaeology Australia

Project Director

David Guilfoyle – Applied Archaeology Australia, Doc Reynolds – Kepa Kurl Eco-Discovery Tours

Period(s) of occupation

Holocene

Project size: 1-24 participants

Minimum age
18

Experience required

None

Room and Board arrangements

Fieldschool fee includes accomodation, food, and equipment for the entire session. Participants must find their own way to and from Esperance. Limited places available

Cost: $2950

Academic credit

none Tuition: Course credit may be organised through participants’ institution

Contact Information:

David Guilfoyle
Australia
davidg@appliedarchaeology.com.au
0448521221

Some might think that the best place for that is a conference held by the National heritage board or or some other player or institution in the field of cultural heritage, and perhaps that’s true. But I believe that would just be preaching for those who already cares or are initiated. Such a conference would be good for other reasons – such as discussing methods, goals and directives. To meet with the business at their turf is important for other reason – to build contacts, to present what we do and why we do what we do – why cultural heritage is important and that it is good economics to do care for our cultural heritage early on in the process – as this makes planning more cost efficient.  By looking at the whole of the landscape it’s easier to integrate new features, to find good placing and to avoid or lessen costs both economically and for the cultural heritage as a whole. At meetings like this it’s easier to talk in a more casual way and perhaps that makes it easier to gets ones points through.

Well next week we’ll see!

Magnus Reuterdahl

Lets find out what awaits us…

Magnus Reuterdahl

Today was a beautiful day, sunny, a light breeze and about 15-20 degrees Celsius. As I was walking over a small ridge scared the wits out of this elk (moose), as he ran away I managed to get a photo, though poorly.

They’re mighty animals, and I think I got as shocked as he or she, and fanatic to see in their own habitant, in the wild – though I kind of like to see them on plate as well.

Now it’s resting and mending for a new go tomorrow, I got a tender knee from slipping on wet root and having the fortune of landing on my knee just where a stone happened to be – it’s a bit swollen but should be fine after a few hours rest.

Magnus Reuterdahl

I’ve just started to play with it but so far I’m impressed, it’s user friendly and can, at least seemingly, do what ArcView 8.2 can – I’ve found several good applications that I see is there but still haven’t figured out – as yet – such as coordinate transformation possibilities, for example from RT90 (the old but still used coordinate system in Sweden) to SWEREF 99 TM, (the new coordinate system in Sweden) and loading GPS data straight into QGIS.

More info on QGIS can be found here

As my company is currently, and always, look for improvements in the products we use, this might very well be one that I’ll recommend them taking in as it’s cheaper than the ArcView/GIS products but also seems to work as good as them.

In the coming weeks I’ll explore it further – if you use QGIS and have tips I’ll gladly accept them.

Magnus Reuterdahl

A Swedish saying goes “There’s no bad whether, only poor choice of clothes” – to that I say bah! double bah! and triple bah! Even if your rain coat happens to actually keep the rain from your body, they work like a sauna and you’ll end up wet anyways, and if you’re wet you’re bound to be cold – and so I got.

When you’re working outdoors during stormy days, it really wears you out, not so much the wind but the constant sound of the wind; it’s like working by a jet-engine all day long – and then you’ll need to keep a look out for falling branches and trees! After a day like this all you want is to get dry and warm – so I’ll go get myself another cup of coffee and pray for sunny day tomorrow.

Magnus Reuterdahl

We started off looking at the area around Sagaån (Saga river) where lots of time and effort has been put in over the years concerning a new route for the highway E18. One alternative was to put the route between two great mounds and the assumed place for the medieval king’s road Eriksgatan and the passage where the king left Västmanland and entered Uppland. The other alternative was to place the route in a landscape which shows a well-worked-industrial agricultural landscape. The issue has been resolved and the new route is being built but it was an interesting discussion on how to different values sometimes clashes.

From there we continued north towards Bergslagen and Norberg – on the way we stopped by the grave field at Anunds mound at Badelunda – an amazing site – well worth a visit. Anunds mound is the largest burial mound in Sweden measuring 60 m diameter and 14 meters in height. On the grave field are also several smaller mounds, ship settings and a line of stones, including a rune stone, a monument called a bridge. The grave field is dated to the Iron Age and the rune stone bridge monument to the late Iron Age or the middle Ages.

After this we stopped at the UNESCO world heritage site Engelsberg Ironworks – a part of Bergslagen (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/556) Engelsberg is one of the best preserved ironworks from the 17th and 18th centuries. The complex is more or less complete, with a manor, with smithies, and blast-furnace among other things.

Though I don’t have a photo – the worlds oldest, still standing, oil refinerie is also in Engelsberg , built during the early 1800s.

From here to Norsberg and a visit to Nya (New) Lapphyttan – Nya Lappnyttan is a reconstructed medieval village, Blast furnace and Iron production open-air museum based on an archaeological excavation of Lapphyttan, during the 80’s, of one the oldest blast furnace remains in Sweden and Europe. It’s been dated to the 12^th century.

This is all for now

Magnus Reuterdahl

This might seem as an easy question but isn’t, should a part be classed as ancient monument? That would be as putting a dead mans hand on it making it impossible or next to impossible for the farmer to use. Should we class it as something else with another or lower protection risking that it gets destroyed or are there other ways? Lots of interesting questions that has no straight answer.

I’m sorry to say I have no photos of the area, as it was bit rainy and several of the remains were very difficult to photo.

After this we went to Finsta – visiting the, assumed, birth place of  Birgitta (Bridget) Birgerstotter or Saint Bridget (Birgitta) of Sweden in 1303,  a more likely place is Fresta,  according to ledgend Birgitta had her first holy vision here in a place called Birgittas Bönegrotta (a cave in which she prayed).  Here we discussed the importance of accuracy, it is more or less clear that Birgitta wasn’t born here and therefore didin’t have her first vision here – – So how do that influence on the historic value of this site? Does it loose or reduces its historical value if Birgitta was not born here? Or does the tradition in itself a historical background which gives it a historical value? I think the latter – over long time people has connected this place with Birgitta, and come here as a pilgrimage or as interested tourists and that makes the place a site of interest.

So not to lure people to Finsta – there are no remains of the medieval Finsta that Birger Persson , Birgittas father, owned though there is a small cave that tradition call’s Birgittas. But if you do visit don’t miss the wonderful Iron Age grave fields just a few hundred meters away and the medieval church.

Magnus Reuterdahl

First day of the National Heritage board’s course on Historic Landscapes (Landskapshistorisk utbildning) we visited Oxhagen (the Ox pasture) in Rimbo, some miles north of Stockholm. I’ve been there a few years ago but had more or less forgotten about it, it situated in a rural landscape and we got some friends tagging a long for the ride.

Within the pastures are the remains of an late Bronze Age/early Iron Age landscape with clearing cairns, small fossilized fields, cairns of fire cracked stones, a grave field with stone settings and so forth – these remains is in part “disturbed” by newer features, such as younger fossilized fields and clearing cairns, military buildings etc.

An interesting area with gave cause to lots and lots of discussions – where why and how are important words. What makes you determine if something is a prehistoric remain or not– if in doubt use the rule of three:

Location – where is it situated, form – does it have the right shape and material - is it built by the right material.

Magnus Reuterdahl

Decompose, haste, o beloved bride,

make the bed in our lonely camp.

Deferred by the world, rejected by God,

you’re my only hope for salvation…

Erik Johan Stagnelius (1793-1823, Swedish poet and writer) (My translation)

A dead bird on a dirt road, ants eating away, caught my eye – most animals aren’t this still.

Alice Cooper Dead babies

On occasion you’ll find bones laying about, most often leftovers from hunters – and as I’m up here some bones of bear or lynx would be nice, but non such luck as yet, though bears are present. Bear feces and torn stumps indicating their presence – but they are shy animals and perhaps that’s just as well.

I’m not sure what animal left this track, though it got claws and a paw which is about 4-5 cm in diameter, and I’m pretty sure it’s not a dog.

Other animals that are common are different kinds of raptors such as hawks, falcons and a few eagles, they often revolves around forestry clearings and circles around you screaming and hissing – ones presence is not fully appreciated.

Though this is a poor a picture, this is one of them.

Even though you see and meet quite a lot of animals most are to quick away to be photographed, and as you move about you make your presence known. I’ve seen about 15-20 moose, several mice, voles, foxes, squirrels, frogs etc. but havn’t caught them with my camera.

Magnus Reuterdahl

I’ve not spend all that much time in Bergslagen so I’ll especially look forward to that part. Bergslagen is an area in the “middle” of Sweden within the north and west part of the province Västmaland, the north part of Örebro County, the southeast part of the province Värmland and the south part of the province Dalarna. Though some also includes part of the provinces Närke, Östergötland, Uppland and Gästrikland – the boundaries differs a bit depending on source and who set them for what purpose. Anyhow Bergslagen is an area that has historically been heavily dependent of mining and metal production.

I also look forward of meeting colleagues for professional as well as social discussions and some good photo ops, so I get use of my new camera.

Magnus Reuterdahl

Monday’s done – I’m going to sleep!

Magnus

House number one, from a distance it seems quite ok, but when you get closer you see that it has began to fall apart.

The entrance is more or less overtaken by plants.

You can see the inner construction of the roof through an opening in the wall.

Inside, the ceiling is about to collapse…

…in a corner a bed with the madras is left…

…and on the wall, a picture of a young woman has been left…

…on a nail a couple of old pants have been hung, to dry?

The second house just 20 meters away is closer to a collapse, the roof has fallen in and the walls are well on their way to give up.

These abandoned buildings will be tomorrow’s historic remains in soon future. They are situated just outside of our working area so who knows we might come back in a year or two and find that they have fallen down and register them.

Magnus Reuterdahl

As beautiful as they can be they also poses problems, they are wet and sometimes difficult to pass through and foremost they are the breeding grounds for insects such as mosquitoes, flies and wasps. This year they breed in masses thanks to the wet spring and warm summer. Once your out walking these mini-beasts follows you in forms of swarms and when you stop to describe a remain or take a quick break the sky is almost completely blackened by them. As if this isn’t bad enough the eternal buzz they make almost drives you insane, it is never quiet – for those of you who have seen the World Cup in South Africa earlier this summer think vuvuzelas – and you’ll get the idea.

Of course you’ll take the precautions you can, a mosquito jacket helps some as well as different kind of repellents such as oils, deodorants etc.

What do we find? Here as everywhere traces of human activity is everywhere if you know where to look. On the mountain sides the summer pastures where an important complement to the farms. Some are still used and in fine conditions but most have long been deserted and all we find are the remains; house foundations, traces of cleared areas and fields, clearance cairns, etc. We also find traces of other activities in the forest such as charcoal burning sites and hunting pits.  The hunting pits are often found on small hills and ridges; sometimes there’s only one, sometimes in pairs and sometimes in big systems.

This one is ca 4 m in diameter, 1,5 m in depth and surrounded by a low earth bank. It was probably used for hunting moose (elk) or reindeer. This method of hunting is old and has been used since the Stone Age until1864, it was at least outlawed in 1864 in Sweden.

Magnus Reuterdahl

Then it was off to Lerum in Vastergotland where we have added to an earlier survey which led to three descriptions of three croft ruins and one remain from charcoal production.

Tomorrow morning it’s off to Stockholm to finish up a report.

Magnus Reuterdahl

Today became an excruciating day, we started at 0800 and went home at 2100 but it was rewarding; we described and took GPS coordinate points to make polygons etc on maps at three croft ruins, three fossilized fields and one abandoned farmstead with a medieval heritage.

Though now I feel beat; a few cold ones and then I’ll hit the bunk.

Good night

Magnus Reuterdahl

Our livings quarters is a few miles south of the working area in a small community called Klavrestrom; in a former Klavrestoms Works that opened in 1736. A lot of the buildings are still standing and a museum tells the tale of the works.

Today we did a drive through of the area and did survey one croft and some fossilized acres in its surroundings.

Today’s find (at least for me) was a nice elk cranium (yet another to the collection).

I also found this near buried car carcass, anyone wanna guess the model (or know what model it is)?

And on a small cairn in one of the acres I saw snake taking a nap.

Best wishes

Magnus Reuterdahl

A society has been formed to research the archaeology and early history of Salford Hundred, initially with emphasis on the area covered by the NE of Salford Hundred. The society’s website will be located here, it is currently under construction.

Why Salford Hundred?

Salford Hundred was the SE division of the historic division of the historic county of Lancashire. This historic area is now includes parts of the modern counties of Greater Manchester, Lancashire, West Yorkshire.  Studying the history of the area it makes more sense to research the historic region rather than the modern boundaries which cut across historic parishes areas. For example, the historic parish of Rochdale is now included in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

What are the aims of the society?

This blog has outlined the rich and little known medieval archives that relate to Salford Hundred and Lancashire. A long-term goal is to transcribe, translate and publish relevant medieval documents.

Projects

As well as history, archaeological survey complements the research into the early origins of the area. The first project will be the survey (including geophysical survey) of a site discovered from aerial photographs.

Latest

Geophysical survey reveals exciting results, and a detailed survey on a site on Rooley Moor Rochdale confirms the the archaeological potential of the site. More details will be available to members of the society.

After advice from English Heritage a project has been started with Groundwork volunteers to survey recent archaeological discoveries, watch this space!

Contacts

Contact details on this new website.

The secretary can be contacted by E-mail,  darren@salfordhundred.co.uk

Under construction…

In total we found 2 ancient remains and 20 remains of historic value. The remains are foundation remains of crofts and cottages and traces of their arable land in form of cairns from the fields, remains of coal mining, remains of a mill, old boundary markers etc. And now FMIS have been sent information concerning these, their position (GPS points and shapes), their size and what they are etc (a description).

Mayhap not the most exciting of remains but a few of them where very well preserved and have a high pedagogic value  in additon to the historic.

All in all 22 new entires to FMIS/Fornsok

Magnus Reuterdahl

Storm surveys¹ and restorations of ancient monuments and remains in Kronoberg County 2005-2007.

1) Surveys to establish the amount of damage the storm Gudrun (2005) and Per (2006) caused on ancient monuments and remains.

After the storm Gudrun there was a need to estimate how many, where and to what extent ancient monuments in the county had been damaged. The information collected in the surveys has been used to determine where and what actions that has been need to make. The information is also available for future research. During the surveys more than 2000 ancient monuments have been visited and more than 150 has been reconstructed or restored in some way. Three monuments have been excavated due to the damages.

The surveys were performed during the fall and winter of 2005 and during the spring and summer of 2006. During the summer of 2006 the restoration work began and it is still running.

Before the surveys a first elimination were made during which we assed what areas were probable to house most of the damaged monuments. These were made possible by comparing satellite and photos taken from the air and compare this with maps where ancient monuments are shown. Through this comparison we could determine what areas we should concentrate on. We visited more than 2100 ancient monuments, 915, 42 %, were damaged in some form by the storm or the after effects thereof. 180 of these were estimated to have been so badly damaged that they were in need of some form of restoration or reconstruction.

Most of the damages were a direct consequence of the storm. These damages are damages caused by uprooted trees, fall and pressure damages and monuments that been partly or wholly covered by trees, branches or/and twigs. Other damages are related to the process of harvesting the trees felled by the storm, ca 20 % of the damaged monuments had damages from machines. Other damages are related to the reforestation. Before planting new trees different types of ground scaring or uprooting of stumps are causing massive damages on some types of ancient monuments. The kind of damages this cause is to blur the cultural landscape as it levels out the ground. This makes it hard to near impossible to interpret the landscape again as all or many of the features are no more or are damaged. It also causes damage to prehistoric remains and contexts that are underground, for example settlements.

There are more than 20000 registered premises of ancient monuments or remains, more than 11000 of these are to be found in woodlands. For the surveys we were forced to make priorities, monuments in woodlands, graves and grave fields, ruins, tar production sites and some fossilised acres etc. The help of satellite photos has assessed the damages on the fossilised acres; thereafter we have visited a select few to describe different kinds of damages. There are more than 3600 areas of fossilised acres in the county; these are from less than a hectare to several hectares in size. It is assessed that more than 60 % of these has gotten some damages. We don’t know exactly how extensive these damages are but we do know that they are more damages made due to the extraction of the storm felled timber and there will be even more damages during the period of reforestation.

Fossilised acres are areas in which there are remains of prehistoric farming. Often these remains are small cairns that has been erected due to farming of clearing of spaces. These cairns generally about 5 meters in diameter and 0,3 meters in height, it is not unusual that they are covered by moss or vegetation which makes them difficult to spot for the untrained eye. In some areas there are other types of remains such as small parcels, terraces or small embankments and stonewalls. All these remains are evidence of our forefather’s lives. In many cases the settlements are located somewhere within these acres though they are difficult to find. What are visible for us today are the monuments that surround the settlements for example the acres, the graves and the grave fields.

One of the goals with the surveys was to describe how different types of monuments and remains had been damaged. When it comes to settlements we had to do a special survey to identify settlement within storm-damaged areas. To make sure that we had found these areas we used phosphate analysis and on one site we made a small excavation. The result of the excavation was that cultural layers and remains seemed to have coped relatively well.

Since the summer and fall of 2006 more than 150 ancient monuments has been restored, many of these grave fields. More than 1700 stumps have been uprooted and more than 300 has been pushed back. Besides the work with stumps the monuments has been cleared of twigs and branches. Three monuments have been excavated due to the damages. (Amongst other an Iron Age dolmen was excavated in Odensjö parish and the remains of an infant was found.)

The surveys has resulted in two reports “Skadeinventeringar i Kronobergs län 2005” (Damage surveys in Kronoberg county 2005) and “I rotvältors land… – resultat från skadeinventeringen 2005 och 2006″  (In the land of uprooted trees… – results of the damage surveys of 2005 and 2006) the first is available as a pdf-file and the second one is possible to order through county administrative board. The restorations and reconstructions are accounted for in the report “Arkeologiska insatser i Kronobergs län efter stormen Gudrun. Återställning, dokumentation och besiktning” (Archaeological work in Kronoberg county due to the storm Gudrun. Restoration, documentation and inspections), which is also available as a pdf-file. The reports are only available in Swedish.

Magnus Reuterdahl