Innovation festival SESSION: innovative approaches

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Timetable - see below for abstracts

Chair: Jen Parker Wooding, CIfA

Presentation abstracts

Colouring the Past: How a desk-based colour algorithm can assist in identifying hidden ancient pigments
George Nash, Coimbra University, Portugal, Geosciences Centre, (u. ID73-FCT), IPT, Coimbra University, Portugal & SLR Consulting Ltd., England

Over the past 20 years, the international rock art community has been using a desk-based colour algorithm that can identify colour pigments that can barely be seen with the naked eye.  Pigments applied, say, during prehistoric times into rock surface usually fade or are absorbed into the porous rock surfaces. There are also many examples where later painting episodes have covered over the original image or the rock surface has been vandalised.   The colours that can be identified include shades of red, yellow and black.  This presentation will describe the versatility and application role of the desk-based algorithm De-correlation Stretch (known as D-Stretch).  The presentation will also demonstrate how medieval and post-medieval wall paintings have been enhanced using this programme.

New developments in UK tree-ring dating using oxygen isotopes
Neil J. Loader¹, Danny McCarroll¹, Daniel Miles², Giles H.F. Young¹, Darren Davies¹, Christopher Bronk Ramsey².

¹Department of Geography, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
 ²Research Laboratory for Archaeology, Oxford University, 1 South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK.

Traditional dendrochronology, based on matching patterns of ring width variability, works best when trees are growing under significant environmental (climatic) stress. In the UK, and elsewhere in the temperate mid-latitudes, trees generally experience less stress, so dating is more difficult and often fails. Oxygen isotopes in tree rings passively record changes in the isotopic ratios of summer precipitation, so they carry a strong common signal in the chemistry of their rings which offers potential for precision-dating. This lecture provides an overview of the "stable isotope dendrochronology" method and its application for dating timbers of that are not normally considered dateable by ringwidth dendrochronology alone (e.g. short and invariant ring sequences from young, fast-grown trees or non-oak species) Such samples are commonplace throughout the UK historic buildings record.

Innovation in archaeological prospection: The potential for high resolution geochemical survey to evaluate large land parcels for archaeological remains
Roger Doonan and Clive Waddington, Archaeological Research Services Ltd

The of use high-resolution in-situ geochemical survey for archaeological landscapes, sites and deposits offers increased archaeological insight early and rapidly in the archaeological process, and this offers novel benefits for evaluating land parcels and informing and targeting mitigation strategies.

While geophysical survey, especially gradiometry, has become a standard tool for archaeological prospection, it is recognised as having shortcomings in its ability to detect a variety of archaeological features across a range of geologies. Geochemical survey offers an independent, yet complementary, approach to prospection that significantly increases the ability to characterise space in terms of extent, type, and function, whilst also picking up chemical signatures of past human activity that might not be detectable through geophysical survey or other extensive survey techniques. It can also be used to characterise past human activity for which no trace is left in the substrate, but which may only survive as artefact spreads in topsoil.

In this paper, we explore the advantages of incorporating in-situ geochemical survey into prospection methodologies and how this can inform decision-making and mitigation strategies to provide significant improvements in archaeological understanding, speed of delivery, and, in combination with other techniques, to broaden approaches to characterising different types of landscape parcels.

Archaeology stinks! Finding smell in archaeology
Rose Malik, University of Durham

Smell is a language, communicative and interpretive. Firmly embedded in the physical, social, emotional, and semantic context, odour emanates as existential expression that is integral and idiosyncratic to human culture, behaviours, and practices. Can archaeology engage with ancient smells evolve the way odour is considered as primary source evidence in archaeology. More importantly, can we excavate smell in commercial archaeology, and can we bring together multi-faceted engagement that bridges the gap between science and archaeology?

Headspace sampling is an innovative technique that allows direct access to ancient odour molecules for analysis. This method used in conjunction with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) processing detects and identifies odour analytes. In essence, ancient smells can be studied directly from site to laboratory. By developing a systematic methodology for odour extraction in the field (and in the lab), smell used as s a “tangible” primary source of evidence could enable us to more fully reconstruct past lives.

Archaeology and recombinant ideas
Caroline Raynor, Construction Project Manager and Lead Archaeologist, Costain

The power of recombinant ideas is one that applies to archaeology. By actively engaging with other disciplines and sectors beyond archaeology it is possible to harness new ideas, innovations and approaches. These can be shaped and adapted to support the development of the profession and the way in which we deliver our work to clients and public benefit to wider society.

Opportunity Area Planning Framework: Thamesmead and Abbey Wood
Mark Stevenson, Archaeology Advisor (GLAAS - South London, Historic England)

On 21 December 2020 the Mayor of London approved the adoption of this OAPF as supplementary guidance to the London Plan. The adopted plan includes a significant profile for archaeology. 

This paper will explore this approach that moves to the next level the role of geoarchaeology having been explored in the publication https://www.brighton.ac.uk/research-and-enterprise/groups/past-human-and-environment-dynamics/deposit-modelling-and-archaeology.aspx , then the Battersea Channel Project https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/our-planning-services/greater-london-archaeology-advisory-service/publications-guidance/, and the recent Historic England guidance https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/deposit-modelling-and-archaeology/

Rising to the challenge: Public engagement versus the pandemic
Samantha Rowley, Roman Circus Visitor Centre, Colchester Archaeological Trust

The Brief had provision for public outreach for the ‘presentation and promotion of the project during (and also following) fieldwork, in order to maximise public benefit’. Volunteers were recruited and set tasks on site in a supervised capacity. Public open days and daily tours were arranged. Then the dig ground to a halt. Lockdown. How could Colchester Archaeological Trust respond to this challenge? The decision was made to stage an exhibition at the Roman Circus Visitor Centre…

Glass bangles of Siraf in the Gulf Region: An archaeological and scientific investigation into the origins, circulation and cultural impact the dissemination of glass bangles across the 13^th-18^th centuries CE Western Indian Ocean trade network.
Charlotte K. Nash, University of Kent (SECL) & The British Museum (Science & Middle East Departments)

The intention of this project is to better understand the increased dissemination of glass bangles across the Indian Ocean trade network during the 13^th-18^th centuries CE. Various past studies have noted that glass bangles represent a wide variety of techniques, patterning, colours and finishes – indicative of differences in style according to manufacturing periods and places. However, past attempts at typology focused on only a few collections (primarily from the Red Sea and Eastern Mediterranean), limiting the potential for identifying likely regional locations of production. To redress this imbalance, this study will focus on those from sites along the Indian Ocean and – in particular – the Persian Gulf.

Additionally, scientific analysis on the glass should establish whether there are correlations between bangle types and regional glass recipes. Multiple trace element analyses are necessary to identify the likely regional source of raw materials in the glass – the complexity of which will be further discussed. Nonetheless, exciting preliminary results already tentatively establish correlation between style types and regional glass groupings. For the first time it appears provenance of glass can potentially be linked to these bangle styles, offering much potential for further interpretation into their distribution patterns, cultural values, and as reference catalogue to contextualise other unprovenanced collections.

The eventual goal is to reconstruct glass bangle distribution patterns in the Persian Gulf region (and beyond) against other known changes in politics, economy and culture. It is hoped that this may aid the interpretation of what impact these changes had on trade and communication networks, and further insight into the social and/or personal identity of their wearers.

This overview of the project discusses the various challenges facing such an ambitious – and multifaceted – endeavour, its pre-acknowledged limitations and the methodological approaches employed.

Additional information
Registration will close one hour prior to the start of the event. The Zoom link will also be sent out to all registrants one hour prior to the start of the event.

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