2010

Professional training in archaeology and heritage

Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity
University of Birmingham
News and developments
In this issue:
What’s in a name? Cannock Chase
Practical Archaeology will be changing its name to Professional and Applied
Archaeology, to reflect changes to the course format since its inception Gold-diggers
approximately 20 years ago. The content and format of the programme includes the Landscapes
same comprehensive mix as before, but we felt that the title didn’t quite sum up From the horse’s mouth
how the course has developed in line with the profession itself. We still offer the best
place to learn the skills and background you need to develop a successful career in Course details; on campus
archaeology! and by Distance Learning

Flexible approaches to professional

development - on campus and off
In response to a growing need for Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
in archaeology and heritage, we are increasing the ways in which heritage
professionals, postgraduate students and voluntary sector archaeologists can
develop their skills in applied archaeology and landscape studies. From October
2011, we will be offering new ways in which you can sign up to our programmes,
both Professional and Applied Archaeology, and Landscape Archaeology, GIS and
Virtual Environments will be available as Postgraduate Certificates. Rather than an
intensive year or two year programme, the PG Certificate offers a 60 credit option
designed for those wishing to gain specific skills and knowledge within the discipline.
An introductory module provides the academic and theoretical background to
the subject (20 credits) and is followed by a further two optional modules chosen
from diverse group. If you decide you want more, you can always upgrade to a full
PG Diploma (120 credits) or even opt for the MA programme (180 credits) which
includes a significant research element. As with other programmes, these will be
offered on campus and by Distance Learning.

For those wishing to up their skills in more focused areas, we are also offering a
selection of our modules as CPD standalone components (and you can still choose to
upgrade once you’ve started). These modules can either be taken on a one-off basis
or multiple modules can be used to build up credit towards a PG Cert. Delivery of the
modules can either be on campus or via distance learning, or a combination of the
two.
 A Spotlight on Cannock Chase
Between 2007 and 2009 students from programmes in Practical Archaeology, Landscape Archaeology, GIS and
VE, Conflict Archaeology and Environmental Archaeology and Palaeoenvironments came together to examine the
archaeology of Cannock Chase in Staffordshire as part of their module in Archaeological Field Survey. The site is an
important and impressive archaeological monument, with extant military remains covering an area of up to 15km2.
It was the site of two military training camps constructed on the eve of the First World War, incorporating numerous
barracks for the troops and associated supporting infrastructure. Various regiments and thousands of soldiers passed
through the Cannock camps during the Great War, some on their way to the Western Front and others staying longer
to learn essential skills such as the digging of effective trench systems.

The postgraduate students from the University of Birmingham carried out detailed topographic and geophysical
surveys of a number of areas of Brocton Camp in order to assess the survival of the archaeological remains and to aid
their interpretation. The results of the work were extremely impressive and have been invaluable to Staffordshire
County Council and are forming the basis of forthcoming publications.

Images show Environmental Archaeology MSc student Chrissie Jolliffe surveying in trench locations (top left),
resistivity survey results reveal the complex layout of practice trenches (middle top) and the barrack blocks for
troops set within a grid of paths and drainage channels (top right). The photograph at the bottom shows the nature
of extant trenches visible at the Chase, dug by troops preparing for the Front.
Excavation and Recovery of the
Staffordshire Hoard
Described as the equivalent of finding a new Lindisfarne Gospels or Book of Kells,
even as the most important Anglo-Saxon find since Sutton Hoo, the discovery of the
Staffordshire Hoard is by any measure one of the most important and enigmatic
archaeological finds of our generation. Its discovery has put the spotlight on Anglo-
Saxon Mercia with unprecedented public attention through a variety of media. The
statistics are impressive. A total of 90 print and TV media journalists attended the
press launch, a total of 10 million visits were made to the hoard website (www.
staffordshirehoard.org.uk) in its first week, and over 40,000 visitors queued (for up
to four hours) at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to visit just a small selection
of the artefacts.

After its initial discovery by metal detectorist Terry Herbet, the hoard had to be
recovered fast – and under emergency conditions – due to the very real threat to
the site from unauthorised metal detector users. Archaeologists from Birmingham
Archaeology, Univeristy of Birmingham were invited to join a collaboration between
experts from Staffordshire County Council, English Heritage, the Portable Antiquities

Gold-diggers
Scheme, the British Museum and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, all working
alongside metal detectorist Terry Herbert and the landowner.

Over five days in July 2009 Terry recovered approximately 200 gold items from a
pasture field near Lichfield, Staffordshire. In accordance with the Treasure Act 1996
the finds were reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, Staffordshire County
Council and English Heritage. A test-pit was dug to test the archaeological context
of the discovery. The site was then hand-excavated by Birmingham Archaeology,
working systematically in 1m squares, outwards from the initial find-spot to safely
recover the entire hoard. Within each metre square the ploughsoil was excavated
by trowel in controlled spits and also scanned with a metal detector in order to
maximise the recovery of even the smallest finds.

It has been suggested that the hoard was a collection of trophies from a battle or
military campaign. It is not known why the items came to be buried near Lichfield.
One theory suggests that the items were buried by individuals who did not live to
recover their spoils. It is equally possible that the burial held a symbolic meaning as
a tribute to pagan gods. Further geophysical survey and trial-trenching is planned
to provide an understanding of landscape context of the hoard, which will return to
public view in the midlands during 2010.

Preliminary study of the hoard by Dr Kevin Leahy confirms its national and
international importance, not merely because it is the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon
gold ever found. Most of the items may date to the 7th century AD. The quality of
the craftsmanship is supreme, indicating ownership by the elite. The hoard contains
a large number of pommel caps (86), sword hilt plates (135) and sword hilt collars
(71) along with fragments from at least one highly decorated helmet. One of the
most significant finds is a band of gold bearing the latin inscription ‘Rise up O Lord
and may thine enemies be dispersed and those who hate thee be driven from thy
face’. This quotation is thought to come from the Old Testament Book of Numbers
10:35 or Psalm 68:1. Only two or three items from the hoard were non-martial.
These comprise several small pendant crosses and a larger folded gold cross;
possibly used as an altar or processional cross.

Practical Archaeology student, Edd Thomas will be looking into the archaeological
and historical context of the hoard for his dissertation topic.
 Landscapes in the Lak

New work in Eskdale,

Cumbria
An exciting new research project was instigated
in early 2010 by staff from the University of
Birmingham and the Lake District National Park
Authority. Led by Mark Kincey and Amanda
Forster this project aims to provide a greater
insight into the multi-period archaeology of the
upland landscape around Eskdale in Cumbria.
In March 2010 postgraduate students from the
MA courses undertook a topographic survey of a
medieval farmstead at Toungesdale Moss, with
both postgraduate and undergraduate students
scheduled to return to the site in the summer for
training excavations.

Other postgraduate students have chosen to focus

their research work on the archaeology of Eskdale.
Emma-Louise Phillips (MA Practical Archaeology)
is conducting an area assessment of the historic
landscape of the valley; Birgit Kaspar (MA Landscape
Archaeology) is looking to reconstruct the Roman
occupation of Eskdale through geophysical survey
and GIS visualisation, and Carly Roberts (MSc
Environmental Archaeology) is investigating a
submerged forest preserved off the coast south of
Ravenglass.
Images show surveying in action at Tonguesdale Moss (top), the site where we will be excavating in Summer
2010 (middle) and postgraduate students with Project Officer John Halsted (far left, bottom) surveying in
Eskdale, March 2010. The background image shows the results of the topographic survey undertaken.
kes and beneath the sea
Drowned landscapes of the Mesolithic
Around the shores of Britain and Europe, and buried beneath metres of
sediment blanketing the sea floor is a landscape which dates to the Mesolithic
period. Our marine geophysics team in VISTA undertake research into these
ancient landscapes using a variety of both legacy and newly aquired data.
Using 2D and 3D seismic surveys (often donated by oil exploration companies)
the team reconstructs, analyses, populates and protects submerged
palaeolandscapes. Surprisingly, this important Mesolithic archaeology is just
as threatened as its on-shore counterparts - either by natural threats such as
erosion or from infrastructure projects such as windfarm developments. Unlike
terrestrial archaeological sites, these marine landscapes are neither well
protected nor well known (largely due to their inaccessibility).

By using the seismic data, submerged landscape features can be identified

and mapped. Once identified, these features were cored by the team and
palaeoenvironmental taken, the data from which reveals the vegetation of
the landscape. These cores also inform experts of the rise in sea level at the
end of the last ice age, dating with precision when these landscapes were last
inhabited.

Following on from the success of leading edge research conducted for

the North Sea Palaeolandscapes project, the marine geophysics team is
now working in several new regions applying the same methodology to
shed light on the buried landscapes of the marine world. These include
expansion around the British coast with the Humber Regional Environmental
Characterisation and the West Coast Palaeolandscapes project - as well as
pushing into international waters looking specifically at Qatar, in the Middle
East.

By identifying topographic features, such as areas of high ground and river

channels, maps highlighting the archaeological potential of any particular
area can be created. These, combined with other datasets such as geology,
bathymetry and water depth, can pinpoint areas of archaeology that are
most at threat. Therefore, at the same time as opening up a whole new
archaeological world, the work being done is making sure it will be managed
and conserved for future generations.

The marine geophysics team also provides the opportunity for postgraduate
students to work on cutting edge research projects. Two students undertaking
the MSc Environmental Archaeology and Palaeolandscapes have both
been working on different aspects of the Humber Regional Environmental
Characterisation Project. Jade Whitlam will be using GIS and environmental
data to refine the landscape characterisation and archaeological resource
potential, whilst Holly Salisbury is using materials derived from the cores
recovered by the team to define the potential of archaeo-environmental
preservation within marine sediments in a target region.

Images show offshore environmental coring for the Humber REC (top), a sequence of ‘time slices’ through a 3D seismic
survey for the West Coast Palaeolandscapes project (middle) and GIS integration of newly identified river channels
and landbased topography and distribution of prehistoric sites on the coast (bottom). The background image shows a
timeslice through a 3D survey with palaeochannels digitised.
From the horses mouth...
A word from our Alumni and DL students
Elizabeth Kramp
MA Landscape Archaeology
2008-2009
Which course did you do? I completed
the MA Landscape Archaeology, GIS and Virtual
Environments.
Why did you do this postgraduate
course? Because it focused on GIS and geophysical
surveys in archaeology which I wanted to seek a
career in. And because it’s really hard to find a
course that focuses on this within archaeology in the
US.
What was the thing you enjoyed most
about the IAA course? How the modules
were laid out…I liked the practicality and hands-on
nature of the courses.
What experiences did you gain from
doing the MA? My more advanced GIS
knowledge like 3D and spatial analysis, data
modelling and geophysics, and how to apply them to
real world issues and jobs.
Where are you now and what is your
current task? I am in Philadelphia, PA. I am
currently a Project Geoarchaeologist in a team of
three. I correct and deal with weekly GPS data,
create the final maps for our published documents,
complete geophysical and total station surveys and
work with these data. I also do some data modelling.
Did the course help define your career
aspirations? Yes! It was the best course that I’ve
ever taken. Very practical and applicable!
What next for you? I’m looking forward to
continuing on with this company. It’s a great team
and with so little knowledge like this to be found in
the North American Cultural Resource Management
world our work is important and sought after,
especially by the government and even other CRM
companies.
Nick Daffern
MSc Environmental Archaeology
2006-2007
Which course did you do? I did the MSc in
Environmental Archaeology and Palaeoenvironments
Why did you choose this postgraduate
course? I chose the course because I wanted to
specialise in a particular discipline after spending
time as a field archaeologist/digger. Environmental
archaeology was an area of archaeology that had
always interested me.
What was the thing you enjoyed most
about the course? I enjoyed the academic
environment with a wide range of specialists available
in both the IAA and GEES, with the added dimension of
active commercial projects.
What experiences did you gain from
doing the MA? The MSc broadened my view of
archaeology and made me realise just how many
techniques utilised in other disciplines could be applied
in an archaeological context.
Where are you now and what are your
current tasks? I am currently employed as a
Senior Environmental Archaeologist specialising in
palynology at Worcestershire Historic Environment and
Archaeology Service.
Did the course help define your career
aspirations? The course definitely focused and
defined my career aspirations!
What next for you? I am currently engaged in
pollen analysis as part of the post-excavation process
from several projects within Worcestershire. I am
still actively engaged in fieldwork and research. In the
future, I would like to engage in “research” orientated
projects and, at some point, I would also like to
undertake a PhD and broaden my skill base into other
disciplines which are applicable within archaeology.
Doug Doughty
MA Practical Archaeology 2008-2010
Why the DL Archaeology program? Why University of Birmingham?
The first “why” is possibly the easier to answer: I’m a high school
Theatre teacher in Toronto and have been doing courses in
Anthropology/Archaeology in my spare time for the last decade.
Since 2003, I’ve been spending summer vacations working on an
archaeology project in Bocas del Toro, Panama run by Dr. Tom Wake
of UCLA. My intention in attempting a degree program was to drive
me to focus, refine and ultimately “write up” my Panama work. Why
University of Birmingham? Well, my first encounter with UoB was at
the SAA conference in Atlanta. I picked up a couple of brochures and
had a good long conversation with the people running the booth.
When I phoned a week or so later, the voice on the other end of the
line was helpful and informative - and she actually remembered me
(“the skinny Canadian guy with the beard….”)! It made it much easier
to decide on UoB knowing that there were people who seemed to
care... So, how’s it been? Well, the course has zipped by (though I still
have a dissertation to write). It has taken self-discipline at times to come home from work and commence
a couple of hours of homework. Fortunately, the courses were all interesting and delivered on-line in
a format that made the work much easier to digest. The assignments were also interesting and based
on “real world” issues/topics. The profs were easy to get hold of via “Skype” or email, and they always
managed to find time for their students. University of Birmingham’s DL program in Practical Archaeology
has been an excellent experience. It has really allowed me to get a grip on my own particular area of focus,
while introducing me to many new ideas and approaches that will certainly be beneficial in my future work.

Birgit Kaspar
MA Landscape Archaeology 2008-2010
I’m a graduated photoengineer but have always had an interest
in archaeology as well as in geography. For my dissertation
I had already been working with a team of archaeologists
in Cambodia and became interested in 3D laser scanning,
virtual reconstructions and remote sensing. I was looking for a
connection between optics and archaeology and came across
UoB. The course seemed unique and combined many of my
interests. Distance Learning was the perfect choice for me asI
didn’t want to move away from Germany and my job without
having completed the course. Right from the start I had a good
feeling with the staff in Birmingham. Even though I wasn’t living
around the corner somebody would always be there to answer
my questions - there was never a feeling of being completely
“alone” in front of my computer. The structure of the course
helped integrate coursework into my daily life; lectures could be
listened to at any time of the day and repeatedly, which can be
helpful when English is not your mother tongue! The course has
worked out so well I’m now upgrading to do the Masters.
It was hard work sometimes to get the written assignments done in time, do them well and still work full
time, but it was manageable due to the great support of the guys in Birmingham. I hope that I will obtain
the master’s degree and that it will not only be a very interesting experience but give me the opportunity
to work in archaeological prospection or a related field later on.
Courses for 2010 – 2012
The Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity at the University of Birmingham,
UK, offers a range of postgraduate and professional training courses aimed
to provide you with the skills you need to work in the heritage environment
today. From project management techniques in archaeology to the
visualisation of past environments, we aim to give you practical experience Dr John Carman
in the diverse range of techniques and approaches available to heritage Conflict Archaeology
practitioners.

All of the courses we offer can be tailored to your individual interests and
needs, and can be delivered as full-time or part-time degrees.

Campus-based programmes
MA / PG Diploma in Professional and Applied Archaeology
MA / PG Diploma in Landscape Archaeology, GIS and Virtual Environments Dr Amanda Forster
MSc in Environmental Archaeology and Palaeoenvironments Practical Archaeology/
MA in Conflict Archaeology Professional and Applied
MPhil (B) in Archaeological Practice Archaeology

Ironbridge Institute programmes

MA / PG Diploma in Heritage Management
MA / PG Diploma in Historic Environment Conservation

Distance Learning programmes

MA / PG Diploma in Professional and Applied Archaeology (DL)
MA / PG Diploma in Landscape Archaeology, GIS and Virtual Environments (DL) Dr Andy Howard
MA / PG Diploma in Heritage Management (DL) Environmental Archaeology
and Palaeoenvironments
MPhil (B) Archaeological Practice
Some PhD programmes can be taken via Distance Learning.

To find out more go to:

http://www.iaa.bham.ac.uk/postgraduate/
or email us at archpgrad@lists.bham.ac.uk

Continuing Professional Development

The following short courses will be coming online in Winter 2010 and from Mr Mark Kincey
January 2011. If you are interested in hearing more about CPD courses, please Landscape Archaeology, GIS
email us at archpgrad@lists.bham.ac.uk. and Virtual Environments

Archaeology in Practice
Excavation and Project Planning
Post Excavation Analysis
Introduction to GIS
Landscape Archaeology
GIS and Spatial Analysis
Field Survey
Dr Roger White
Virtual Landscapes
Heritage Management and Historic
Geophysical Survey
Environment