Monday, June 30, 2008
Messy Shed
The Windsor and Wraysbury Archaeology Society win the "Messy Shed of the Month award"From left to right:
Sorted finds jumbled in a heap, colour chart books left open in sunlight, broken wheelbarrow, bin bag full of plastic bags, sparrow's nest, broken metre drawing frames (x4) broken window (x1) red thing nobody has looked at since the 1980s, plastic container of 'round up' weedkiller and 500 flora margarine tubs (on floor).
The challenge is set! Can you do better? email your dig disaster photos to webmaster@newarchaeology.com
Paris in the springtime of humanity
Paris was previously believed to have a population centre going back around 6,500 years. However new evidence of a tool working area dating back to 7600BC (3,000 years earlier than previously believed) has been unearthed. The dig site in the 15th arrondissement has been preserved by silt from the river Seine.
Labels: Paris
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Flint dangers
After a morning of flint knapping I thought I would warn others who want to try this activity that while great fun, it is surprisingly dangerous.
I have cut my hands in over 20 places, some cuts almost deep enough to require stitches.
I also managed to slice a hole in my trousers. If I hadn't been wearing glasses I am sure I would have lost an eye when a timy lump of glass-like obsidian flew up and cut my face.
If all that wasn't enough I have just read in "Masters of Flint" by A J Forrest (1983) that many flint knappers died of a lung disease commonly known as ‘knapper’s rot’. This was caused by inhaling tiny shards of flint dust which got lodged in the lungs.
However, a few hours in the garden with a hammer stone and lump of chert probably wont kill you if you take the following precautions.
I have cut my hands in over 20 places, some cuts almost deep enough to require stitches.
I also managed to slice a hole in my trousers. If I hadn't been wearing glasses I am sure I would have lost an eye when a timy lump of glass-like obsidian flew up and cut my face.
If all that wasn't enough I have just read in "Masters of Flint" by A J Forrest (1983) that many flint knappers died of a lung disease commonly known as ‘knapper’s rot’. This was caused by inhaling tiny shards of flint dust which got lodged in the lungs.
However, a few hours in the garden with a hammer stone and lump of chert probably wont kill you if you take the following precautions.
- Eye protection is an absolute must.
- A thick leather pad on the thigh if you are using your leg for stability
- a light face mask (probably optional if you are only planning to do this once a year or so)
What about the results. Well I am delighted. I really got to see how worked flint compares with natural breaks and feel a lot more confident about identification now.
Labels: chert, flint, flint knapping, obsidian
