Islanders at the Helm’s Post

New archaeological discoveries at Pömmelte provide insights into life at the 3rd millennium BC circular enclosure The 3rd millennium BC (Bell Beaker Culture) circular enclosure (ring sanctuary) at Pömmelte is often called the German Stonehenge. Between 2018-2022 large-scale archaeological excavations focused on the surroundings of the sanctuary, leading not only to the discovery of houses contemporary to the enclosure, but also of an Early Bronze Age (Únětice Culture) mega settlement with more than 100 houses. Current excavations are now adding more detail to a complex ritual and settlement landscape. Not only could new houses of the Bell Beaker Culture be detected; a variety of scientific methods applied to the finds provides inter alia insights into what people ate and drank at Pömmelte. More information: https://lnkd.in/ef6FmDaz

Guidelines for Europe. Sharing knowledge and transferring methodology is the foundation for improvement.

Another exciting session to be hosted by members of AACAI - Just a reminder that AACAI are convening a session for this year's Australian Archaeological Association (AAA) Conference in Cairns (3-6 December 2024) entitled 'Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists Inc. (AACAI) - Shared Heritage in the Consulting World.' Part of the session abstract is as follows: 'This session presents consulting projects that seek to push the boundaries of Cultural Heritage Management practice, recognising that these boundaries are somewhat different between the states and territories. We explore how these changes have worked in placing a greater emphasis on First Nations’ voices and discuss how this shift in focus might affect a broader change in the public perception of Indigenous cultural heritage where traditional scientific approaches have failed to do so.' Submissions for paper abstracts close this Friday, 21st June. You can submit here: https://lnkd.in/gbiFAHF6

Historic England have recently published updated guidance on the reburial of archaeological sites as an appendix to the 2016 Preservation of Archaeological Remains guidance. See appendix 5 ⬇️ Headline takeaways are that reburial schemes need: - An assessment of significance (of the material being reburied) - A condition assessment (state of preservation of the materials) - An assessment of impacts (threats and risks to the materials being buried) The guidance also includes a separate checklist to guide you through these steps, as well as 4 case studies to show how the process works in practice. Of course, you can continue to consult with your friendly neighbourhood Science Advisor in your region about this stage of your project. The updated guidance can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eRuUfSUg

Submissions are now open for our session Rivers for Generations at The World Archaeological Congress being held in Darwin this year. Please spread the word on any an all how may be interested in submitting a paper. Session Abstract: Rivers and waterways are the life blood of humanity. From the Murray-Darling Basin in south-eastern Australia, to the Nile Valley in Africa and the sprawling systems of Eurasia, people’s lives are controlled by rivers. The rivers define, create, conserve and destroy the archaeological record. This session calls for papers relating to the archaeology of rivers and waterways. We seek submissions from all time periods and regions, but especially those locations that highlight long-term river use. Discussions focusing on the intersections between modern land use (including development), aspirations for stewardship of land and water, cultural heritage management, river health, the discovery and conservation of archaeological sites and the reinvigoration or preservation of cultural traditions are highly encouraged.

💡NEW RESEARCH💡 A scoping review of Indigenous Cultural Mapping (ICM) of coastal, island, and marine environments 💻 https://lnkd.in/gVUtX8uE Elsevier 📘 Environmental Science & Policy - Vol 164 #openaccess AUTHORS 🔹 Redbird Ferguson, James Cook University, Australian Institute of Marine Science 🔹 Karen Joyce, James Cook University, Australian Institute of Marine Science 🔹 Christian Reepmeyer, James Cook University, University Commission for Archaeology of Non-European Cultures (KAAK), German Archaeological Institute (DAI) 🔹 Rachel Groom, Northern Institute Charles Darwin University 🔹 Kellie Pollard, Northern Institute Charles Darwin University HIGHLIGHTS ➡️Review articles were distributed around the globe, but most frequently situated in the United States, Australia, and Canada. ➡️The published research incorporating Indigenous knowledges has increased over the past two decades. ➡️Methods are poorly described, or defined, using a wide range of terms, with the majority described as participatory. ➡️Variations in levels of participation are perpetuating practices of tokenism and excluding Indigenous communities. ➡️Standards of practice and policies are needed to improve the interface between knowledge systems. #indigenous #seacountry #participatorymethod #culturalseascapes #CDUResearch Charles Darwin University Steve Rogers Ruth Wallace Steven Greenland Adelle Sefton-Rowston Raphaella Saroukos

of archaeological research. Their mission: to relocate the Old Fort and to determine if any evidence of it remained. Using a variety of methods, they located two sites, one of which is certainly the location of the Old Fort and the Newells excavation.

2015 has opened with an archaeological survey of Dikibin, in Mangu LGA of central Plateau. In addition to discovering lower grinding stones, potsherds and deposits of potash, our findings have the potential to add fascinating layers to the historical narrative of the area. According to oral tradition, the area was once home to numerous hornless bulls resembling hippopotamus, drawn to the area due to the presence of potash deposits. It is evident that beyond the shifts in culture and tradition, the environment has undergone substantial transformations over time. Archaeological evidence,historical information and oral tradition paints a vivid picture of the dynamic interplay between human activity, natural resources and the evolving landscape of central Plateau.

"For centuries, archaeologists have defined prehistory as a time before writing, often using the “three-age system” to neatly divide prehistoric times into the Stone, Bronze, and Iron ages. First introduced by Danish archaeologist Christian Jürgensen Thomsen in the 19th century, the system implies a linear path from “primitive” to “advanced” to describe technological progress. This framework has all manner of trouble—from narratives driven by assumptions of the straight-line rise and fall of societies, to an obsession with “lost” civilizations, to the belief that older cultures are harder (and therefore more prestigious) to “discover.” As archaeologists working in Southeast Asia, we assert that this Eurocentric system distorts our shared understandings of the past, often ignoring the ongoing development of Indigenous cultures and societies in the region and elsewhere. Instead, we advocate for “deep history.” This approach to archaeological research places value on the continuous cultural and social development of humans. It focuses on Indigenous knowledge systems, diverse Oral Histories, and a wide range of belongings and objects to expand our understanding of the past." https://lnkd.in/dpQBk_AG

I hope some will be interested in if not amused by my new book: Archaeological Incidents and Accidents David Frankel 2025 ISBN 9780645634396 Archaeological Incidents and Accidents exposes some of the challenges, realities and pleasures of research. The work may be serious but we should never take ourselves too seriously. This book doesn't. It looks behind the scenes in an odd miscellany of memories of activities rather than a memoir in an assortment of 30 profusely illustrated general stories about archaeological and historical research projects carried out by the author over the last 50 years. Some of the tales are longer, others shorter and a few taller, but all are more-or-less true. Most incidents stem from excavations carried out on historical sites and Indigenous places in Australia, on Bronze Age cemeteries and settlements in Cyprus and in prehistoric villages in Papua New Guinea, but there are also one or two ring-ins. The stories are as much about the unexpected accidents that prompted or affected who did what, and how and why, as they are about the results, interesting though they are in giving insights into different worlds and how they can be discovered and understood. You will find some information and lots of questions, but perhaps fewer answers. Nothing can be taken for granted and you can choose which you want to believe.