My Nearest Archaelogical Site

My nearest archaeological site is literally outside my doorstep.

This is so because I am currently on a dig in Jutland (Denmark) and I actually live in a shack on-site. So when I get up in the morning I step right out into the archaeological record!

Here a couple of my norwegian colleagues Geir and Terje are taking drastic measures.

Just about 20 metres from my temporary home there are several sunken floor houses (da: grubehuse) and a few Iron Age long houses.

My days are spent boxing postholes, drawing up plans and sections and going through finds.

Here’s a loom weight we found yesterday in one of the sunken floor houses:

As you can see the loom weight has been marked with a peculiar stamp. Could be a fishing hook or an anchor - or perhaps a palm tree?

Today we found a strange stone in one of the sunken floor houses. It has eight depressions, six of which are actual holes.

Apparently the holes have been drilled into the surface of the stone - perhaps it is some kind of tool or aid used for pressing againtst a drill?

In a few months the whole area will be recycled, as yet another generation will settle here and build their houses. Even though they could easily be subjected to typology, these houses will be of minor interest to archaeologists for the first few centuries.

This entry was written for the Nearest Archaeological Site Carnival at Aardvarchaeology.