27/08/09
Today I put together an article detailing the ship survey at Warsash, Hamble that I took part in on 17/08/09. The article may get put into the HWTMA annual report for 2009. Within the article, I detailed the aims of the survey, what I learnt from the experience, any changes to the wreck and suggestions for the future. Hopefully the article will be approved to be in the annual report.
Friday, 28 August 2009
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Duncan - Day 11
26/08/09
Today I assisted Gareth in a Stone Age Man exhibit in Winchester. Gareth on selected dates would spend the day at the exhibit in Stone Age costume and demonstrate to visitors tools and methods employed during the Stone Age to aid with survival. This included showing microliths, handaxes, animal furs, arrows, stone age drills and string made out of nettle fibres.
Today I assisted Gareth in a Stone Age Man exhibit in Winchester. Gareth on selected dates would spend the day at the exhibit in Stone Age costume and demonstrate to visitors tools and methods employed during the Stone Age to aid with survival. This included showing microliths, handaxes, animal furs, arrows, stone age drills and string made out of nettle fibres.
Duncan - Day 10
25/08/09
The ROV research was my work of today, finalising my findings and beginning to look at what would be relevant to be on the web site. I also helped organise some media articles involving the Hampshire and Wight Trust.
The ROV research was my work of today, finalising my findings and beginning to look at what would be relevant to be on the web site. I also helped organise some media articles involving the Hampshire and Wight Trust.
Duncan - Day 9
24/08/09
I continued to work with the HMS Invincible archive today, looking at pictures of many artefacts and helping to alter them till the image was clear and the sample numbers were recorded. This was another great chance to help out with the archive and also understand more about the process of post excavation.
I continued to work with the HMS Invincible archive today, looking at pictures of many artefacts and helping to alter them till the image was clear and the sample numbers were recorded. This was another great chance to help out with the archive and also understand more about the process of post excavation.
Duncan - Day 8
21/08/09
Today, I went to a shopping centre in Portsmouth to help with the education and outreach project. It entailed helping run some attractions for passers by which were the mini ROV game and facial reconstruction involving fish tank skull ornaments and play dough. The children engaged really well with games and many adults showed intrest in the Hamphsire and Wight trust and their projects. It was a great chance to help increase awareness of archaeology in the local area.
Today, I went to a shopping centre in Portsmouth to help with the education and outreach project. It entailed helping run some attractions for passers by which were the mini ROV game and facial reconstruction involving fish tank skull ornaments and play dough. The children engaged really well with games and many adults showed intrest in the Hamphsire and Wight trust and their projects. It was a great chance to help increase awareness of archaeology in the local area.
Duncan - Day 7
20/08/09
Today I worked with Garry looking at research, drawings and samples from the Bouldnor Cliff site. This was great chance to get to grips with the operation going on there. Later I was able to work with Garry on the contents of a monolith. A monolith is a tool used to remove a section of earth from below the water and enable archaeologists to work upon it later on in a lab, think of it as creating a miniature dig site. I drew the square of soil and laid out a grid. We then began excavating the first part. Here we found what seemed to be a hazelnut amongst charcoal. Possibly signs of them being roasted at this site. To find organic material I was told is quite rare, making this quite a lucky find. Unfortunately we ran out of time to excavate the rest of the sample.
Today I worked with Garry looking at research, drawings and samples from the Bouldnor Cliff site. This was great chance to get to grips with the operation going on there. Later I was able to work with Garry on the contents of a monolith. A monolith is a tool used to remove a section of earth from below the water and enable archaeologists to work upon it later on in a lab, think of it as creating a miniature dig site. I drew the square of soil and laid out a grid. We then began excavating the first part. Here we found what seemed to be a hazelnut amongst charcoal. Possibly signs of them being roasted at this site. To find organic material I was told is quite rare, making this quite a lucky find. Unfortunately we ran out of time to excavate the rest of the sample.
Duncan - Day 6
19/08/09
Today I spent researching the site of Bouldnor Cliff which is off the north-west coast of the Isle of Wight. The site is believed to be a Mesolithic landscape (about 8,000 years ago) and has supplied many exciting finds including the oldest piece of string in Britain, around 11cm long. It is speculated this may be the oldest boat building site in Britain. Later I visited with Caroline an archaeological dig in west Amesbury, Wiltshire. This wasa site run by the Stonehenge Riverside Project which is a 10 year project that started digging in 2006 with 2009 being the last dig year. This was a great opportunity to see a dig in full flow and see samples fresh out of the trench.
Today I spent researching the site of Bouldnor Cliff which is off the north-west coast of the Isle of Wight. The site is believed to be a Mesolithic landscape (about 8,000 years ago) and has supplied many exciting finds including the oldest piece of string in Britain, around 11cm long. It is speculated this may be the oldest boat building site in Britain. Later I visited with Caroline an archaeological dig in west Amesbury, Wiltshire. This wasa site run by the Stonehenge Riverside Project which is a 10 year project that started digging in 2006 with 2009 being the last dig year. This was a great opportunity to see a dig in full flow and see samples fresh out of the trench.
Duncan - Day 5
18/08/09
The HMS Invincible wreck was introduced to me today, as I first read up on the project and the wreck itself. The wreck was discovered in 1979 and was a multi-purpose warship of colonial naval conflict. Through today I helped work through the Invincible archive and copied into it diver reports from previous underwater excavations. The plan is that the archive will be availible for anyone to check out and explore the wreck and its artefacts from the comfort of their own home.
The HMS Invincible wreck was introduced to me today, as I first read up on the project and the wreck itself. The wreck was discovered in 1979 and was a multi-purpose warship of colonial naval conflict. Through today I helped work through the Invincible archive and copied into it diver reports from previous underwater excavations. The plan is that the archive will be availible for anyone to check out and explore the wreck and its artefacts from the comfort of their own home.
Duncan - Day 4
17/08/09
Today I took part in a ship survey at Warsash in Hamble, Southampton. The wreck was on the shore near a pontoon and yacht club. The ship had already been surveyed in 2001, so this would be a survey to monitor any changes and whether the wreck had need or potential for excavation. It was very muddy round the wreck and if you werent careful of your step, you'd soon find yourself sinking. This made the surveying a bit more of a challenge. I helped to set the baseline and also learnt about off set measurements. It was a great day out and my first ship survey.
Today I took part in a ship survey at Warsash in Hamble, Southampton. The wreck was on the shore near a pontoon and yacht club. The ship had already been surveyed in 2001, so this would be a survey to monitor any changes and whether the wreck had need or potential for excavation. It was very muddy round the wreck and if you werent careful of your step, you'd soon find yourself sinking. This made the surveying a bit more of a challenge. I helped to set the baseline and also learnt about off set measurements. It was a great day out and my first ship survey.
Duncan - Day 3
14/08/09
Today I continued my research into ROVs and also had a catch up with Gareth on how I was settling in. My research included looking at sites that used ROVs such as Skerki Bank in the western mediterranean and also looking at th technology used such as bathymetry which is where a signal is used to measure the sea bed to create a 3D image. This really opened my eyes to the value of ROVs in maritime archaeology and the advanced technology involved.
Today I continued my research into ROVs and also had a catch up with Gareth on how I was settling in. My research included looking at sites that used ROVs such as Skerki Bank in the western mediterranean and also looking at th technology used such as bathymetry which is where a signal is used to measure the sea bed to create a 3D image. This really opened my eyes to the value of ROVs in maritime archaeology and the advanced technology involved.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Duncan - Day 2
13/08/09
Today I visited the HWTMA museum at fort Victoria on the Isle of Wight to help Caroline with holding an event of a mini ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) display which included two games. One was piloting the mini ROV in a tank of water to use a magnet fitted on the front to collect coins at the bottom. While the other game involved piloting the mini ROV in a tank of water under a bridge and to the other side. These games helped to portray the behaviour of an underwater vehicle and also the precision of their movement when submerged. They were also a bit of fun. The kids who visited the museum and took part engaged really well with the activity and most parents couldnt resist giving it a go either. Today helped me understand more about the promotion of archaeology to the public and how it is important to inform people about what is going on locally in terms of archaeology and raise awareness of the HWTMA and their objectives.
Today I visited the HWTMA museum at fort Victoria on the Isle of Wight to help Caroline with holding an event of a mini ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) display which included two games. One was piloting the mini ROV in a tank of water to use a magnet fitted on the front to collect coins at the bottom. While the other game involved piloting the mini ROV in a tank of water under a bridge and to the other side. These games helped to portray the behaviour of an underwater vehicle and also the precision of their movement when submerged. They were also a bit of fun. The kids who visited the museum and took part engaged really well with the activity and most parents couldnt resist giving it a go either. Today helped me understand more about the promotion of archaeology to the public and how it is important to inform people about what is going on locally in terms of archaeology and raise awareness of the HWTMA and their objectives.
Duncan - Day 1
12/08/09
Hi there,
I'm Duncan and I am an archaeology student at Nottingham University. I have just done my first year of my degree and this summer am required to do 20 days placement. I chose to apply for a placement with the Hampshire and Wight trust as they were recommended to me through a friend. Today was a casual day of getting to know the staff here a little better and settle into the friendly atmosphere, that I had found evident in the office. I was given a project of researching ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) which are tools employed not only in maritime archaeology but other off shore areas as well. I hope to gain a wide variety of experience from my placement and also meet new, friendly people and come away with a few stories.
Hi there,
I'm Duncan and I am an archaeology student at Nottingham University. I have just done my first year of my degree and this summer am required to do 20 days placement. I chose to apply for a placement with the Hampshire and Wight trust as they were recommended to me through a friend. Today was a casual day of getting to know the staff here a little better and settle into the friendly atmosphere, that I had found evident in the office. I was given a project of researching ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) which are tools employed not only in maritime archaeology but other off shore areas as well. I hope to gain a wide variety of experience from my placement and also meet new, friendly people and come away with a few stories.
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