The Battle of Philiphaugh Community Archaeology Project: Final Report 2012 (original) (raw)
Related papers
Archaeological Excavations at Harehaugh hill-fort in 2002
Archaeologia Aeliana, 2012
Excavations at Harehaugh hillfort in Coquetdale, Northumberland, were carried out in 2002 as part of a wider project to determine the rate at which the monument was being damaged by erosion and how this was impacting upon significant archaeological remains. The results of the excavations and an associated, 10-year programme of erosion-scar monitoring indicate that erosion is having a very significant impact upon archaeological remains, some of which remain well preserved with the potential to reveal important information. Although the overall picture remains rather patchy and nothing approaching a complete chronological sequence for the site can yet be attempted, the 2002 excavations have provided significant new insights into the character and phasing of the site. The defences are shown to be of varied construction, possibly in part resulting from episodes of ad hoc repair, but include earthen and stone construction elements with at least one section of well-built stone revetment. Work in the interior revealed evidence for ephemeral structures as well as activities such as metalworking and cook ing. In terms of chronology, radiocarbon dates in the middle and later Iron Age were procured from wood charcoal, but there was insufficient evidence either to support or to challenge accepted notions on the phasing of Northumbrian hillforts. However, it was determined that an interior earthwork, prob - ably part of the earliest enclosure on the site and shown to be much more substantial then previously recognised, probably holds the key to the broad phasing of the site. Finally, some comments are offered on the significance and potential of the hillfort and its environs, and an attempt is made to place it in the context of regional Iron Age studies, particularly in the light of recent contextual surveys of hill - forts in upland Northumberland and discoveries of large lowland sites to the south.
The subfield of geoarchaeology is a thriving one, with multiple practitioners, dedicated journals, and a plethora of research to pore through. That said, there is something of a void where geoarchaeology and conflict archaeology intersect, especially when discussing the past five hundred or so years of history. There have been some attempts at filling this void, and this work attempts to continue in that direction. Three Scottish battlefields separated by approximately one-hundred years, the 1547 Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, the 1650 Battle of Dunbar II, and the 1746 Battle of Culloden, are selected for this purpose. Each battlefield will be subjected to a historical analysis for important locations and terrain, and then subjected to a geologic analysis in an effort to either identify features whose precise locations are ambiguous or unknown, or to discuss the geological origins of those features. Then, potential areas for archaeological investigation based on the geology of the region are targeted and discussed.
Now the Wars are Over: The Past, Present and Future of Scottish Battlefields
International Journal of Historical Archaeology, 2010
Battlefield archaeology has provided a new way of appreciating historic battlefields. This paper provides a summary of the long history of warfare and conflict in Scotland which has given rise to a large number of battlefield sites. Recent moves to highlight the archaeological importance of these sites, in the form of Historic Scotland’s Battlefields Inventory are discussed, along with some of the problems associated with the preservation and management of these important cultural sites.
In 2009 the UCD School of Archaeology initiated a broad research and teaching project focusing on the Glendalough Valley with a specific initial focus on the landscapes in the Upper Valley. The aim of this broader project is to integrate teaching and research, especially at undergraduate level. In 2011 this will include c. 40 students in a two week teaching project which included geoarchaeological survey, environmental sampling, geophysical survey, drawn and electronic survey, excavation and public outreach. In terms of the excavation, our aims in 2011 were to continue to examine the complex of features uncovered in 2010 in Lugduff townland (10E0311, see McDermott et al. 2010). These excavations successfully ground‐truthed the geophysical survey, but were not been able to fully characterise the very interesting archaeological features uncovered. In 2011 we excavated a 10mx10m trench (Trench 2) focusing on the anticipated junction of the track and path (Figure 1). A smaller trench (5m x 10m, Trench 4) focused on a geophysical anomaly located to the NE of the caher and located equidistant between two upstanding cross bases. Here we present a summary of the results of the excavations. All excavations were carried out by hand in August 2011.