Increasingly, archaeology is under attack. You may think this a little far fetched, but there is a growing online movement that seeks to actively undermine well researched and peer reviewed knowledge.
In place of the incredible achievements of our distant ancestors, aliens and other forces for which we have no irrefutable proof are supposed to be responsible for some of humanity’s greatest achievements.
I suspect that some of these opinions are held through a simple lack of understanding of what effort, endurance, social organisation, ingenuity and basic fundamental laws can achieve. We live in a world where, increasingly, traditional – labour intensive tasks are now achieved through mechanisation and the push of a button. We are, in general losing perspective on what humans are intellectually and practically capable of in traditional or ancient settings.
The idea of spending several hours, days, weeks or even months to make something ‘simple’ happen is increasingly seen as ‘impossible’ in the past – and therefore only explicable by the introduction of other, off-world technologies.
As an experimental archaeologist of 30 years experience I have engaged in countless experiments covering a broad range of questions and requiring any number of solutions. Whether it be moving heavy objects, making technically advanced glues, producing sophisticated tools or constructing archaeologically evidenced buildings, it has become clear to me that there is very little humans cannot achieve with the application of people, ‘simple’ methods, huge reserves of effort and stamina and most importantly, extensive periods of time.
My ongoing experiments reaffirm time and time again that we are a remarkable, problem solving species and that our potential ‘ace in the hand’ is our imagination. We are capable of imagining something the world has never seen before and then pursuing that idea with huge volumes of effort to make it happen.
My most recent and ongoing experiments have focussed on the drilling of holes through stone. Increasingly, the ability of our ancestors to achieve such actions is questioned by some ill-informed people. My experiments continue, but initially I have been pleasantly surprised to see success using a range of drill types (seasoned woods and copper) and the simple abrasive of sand. There are several YouTube videos that show the effort involved (see links in the menu).
My hope is that more experiments will follow to test various methods and to affirm that, given enough physical effort, time and fundamental knowledge of material properties, our ancestors were more than capable of drilling holes through very hard materials.
Against my better judgement, I have decided to launch a YouTube channel. I am expecting small viewing numbers – lets face it, what I do is particularly niche!
However, having been busy over the winter, filming various projects, discussions, experiments and documentaries, I have realised that I am enjoying the process!
The channel (Historic Concepts) will not be restricted by time period or techniques. I plan to make videos on a wide range of topics. Some will be obvious, such as the video diaries of large construction projects, while others will record many of the experiments and tasks I have investigated over the last 30 years. I also hope to delve into many other passions such as Medieval longsword and dagger fighting techniques, and even Renaissance drawing techniques.
My hope is that the videos I produce will, to some small extent, form an archive of my diverse and at times, strange exploits. Having spent many years recording the experiments I run, I have realised that some of you may want to see the processes in action and the thinking that lies behind them.
The drilled ‘Bore Core’ replaced in its hole.
A ‘Bore Core’ produced by a hollow copper drill through 62mm of sandstone (MOHs Hardness 5)- using sand as an abrasive.
The parallel hole drilled using the hollow copper drill and a sand abrasive.
Visible striations caused by the rotation of silica sand grains. A close match to many archaeological examples of drilled holes in hard rock.
The Ultimate Stonehenge Documentary Series…?
I have also been involved in a large filming project designed and led by Julian Richards which seeks to tell a comprehensive story about Stonehenge and its incredible landscape. Julian has been closely involved with Stonehenge for over 40 years and has, for some time, wanted to produce a documentary (in this case 4 episodes) that tackles the debates and discussions that surround the monument – as well as giving a detailed appraisal of the work that has been carried out there so far.
Stone wedges driven into a natural Bluestone fissure to separate it from the outcrop.
This ambitious filming project has taken us across the Stonehenge landscape and I have been involved in various aspects – including discussions and journeys that follow the 18 mile Sarsen route (from West Woods to Stonehenge) and the 120-40 mile Bluestone route from Preseli to Stonehenge.
Capturing the incredible weather in the Preseli Hills.
It is an epic project that, when finished, should set a benchmark for Stonehenge documentaries and I’ve particularly enjoyed the numerous ‘wormholes’ the journey has taken us down. It is our aim to release some associated ‘wormhole’ discussions to go hand in hand with each episode that really delve into the detail of the Stonehenge story and that illustrate current thinking and disagreements on what it all means!
The team striding over the Preseli Hills in search of Bluestone outcrops (Simon Banton, Julian Richards, Tim Daw, Steve Shearn, and me.)
Feel free to email me with any suggestions for videos you may have.
Go to YouTube link in my menu for the latest posting!
An ‘in Situ’ stone wedge – driven into a natural Bluestone fissure.
This project, several years in the research and planning, will reconstruct a large Neolithic building based on evidence from Durrington Walls (about a mile from Stonehenge). It will be built by volunteers and take several months – starting in October 2025.
Built using – as far as possible, authentic materials and methods, the building will provide a unique structure and focus for education visits to Stonehenge – allowing the public to witness the scale of carpentry and timber projects in the Neolithic landscape.
A regular Blog and YouTube diary plus technical videos will follow and record the duration of the build in all its amazing detail!
A rare chance to just sit and knap with a lovely piece of flint. Equivalent to a three dimensional game of chess, Flint-knapping is a process that relies on contingent thought to solve the ever occurring errors imparted by the knapper (in this case – me!) and the quality of the raw material.
The ability to hold the hollow drill steady during the drilling operation is key to success. see my frustration and steep learning curve as I come to the realisation that this first attempt id doomed to failure!
I use a seasoned Beech-wood drill and abrasive sand to drill through hard sandstone. The effort and endurance required to perform ‘simple’ tasks in the past become vividly evident!
The proof is in the pudding, as they say! Here, I use a soft copper drill and abrasive sand to drill through hard sandstone. Make a cup of tea, grab some biscuits, and take an hour out of life to watch me work hard!
This video looks at the patience and skill required to split large timber with wooden wedges. The finished half-split timbers are destined for an exciting new project at The Stonehenge Visitor Centre…
Welcome to my website! I have lots of interesting projects underway at the moment and will endeavour to update this site over the next few months.
These projects include building large structures, a number of smaller scale experiments and the filming of documentaries and YouTube videos for my – soon to be launched channel. There will be plenty of interesting things to get your teeth into!
I will be placing many of my previous project blogs into the site archive to make way for the new, but they will still be available.
The last week of my regular involvement in this project has arrived. From beginning to end, this project will have taken 14 weeks to “finish” – pretty good given that very few of the volunteer involved had any previous experience in working on this type of structure. I use the term “finish” loosely, as really the ending of my involvement only marks the beginning of the long and fascinating journey that will see this building improve and flourish over the coming years.
There are many new and interesting tasks to embark on to turn this building from a structure into a home or workshop and each one will bring a new and interesting aspect to the building for visitors and volunteers alike.
These planks – destined to be a bed frame, represent many many hours of work, splitting, adzing and shaping. In terms of labour, they are probably the most “valuable” elements of the building.
Part of this week will involve me talking to each core volunteer to assess their skill set and knowledge. It sounds scarier than it is, but it is an important part of this process. The building and its future will now rely on those enthusiastic volunteers who wish to remain with the project. They have learned and mastered many different tasks during this project, from the practical skills of tool use and construction, to the equally important skills of safety and team work. All of these things will be needed to make a success of the building into the coming years. Each volunteer will be assessed by me in terms of skills and competency – and this will form a working plan for future tasks.
Mike and Edwin weaving the panel of Door 2.
The main tasks this week are to complete the daub walls, hang the doors and fit any furniture that is completed. The building is becoming darker hour by hour as the walls become solid. The logic of large front doors and wall openings (windows) now starts to make sense. What also becomes clear, is the need for colour and brightness (reflected light) within the building. I have encouraged the volunteers to think beyond the white washing that is somehow the accepted norm in these houses – to think about colour and design. It will be fascinating to see how this develops over time.
Wide doorways allow free light into the building – an important aspect of any building.
The best way to see this building now is as a canvas. It is the basic, beautiful framework and weatherproof building (a “new build” if you like) that only awaits a loving “family” to move in and make it their own. The potential is huge. The volunteers have skills and knowledge and opinions of their own, and I think my constant reminders about sophistication in the past have definitely had an effect. It will be their challenge to seek evidence from wherever they can find it (across the Bronze Age world) and interpret that evidence within the framework of their available materials to produce a valid interior.
The first interpretation of a window in a finished daub wall.
It has been an incredible journey. Every volunteer giving 100% effort and enthusiasm has produced something quite special. What is especially interesting to me are those elements of the project that are archaeologically invisible. These invisible aspects include the tangible and intangible elements of the build.
The finished “Temporary” front doors. Plank doors are on the list of volunteer tasks for the coming year. It will be interesting to see how these beautiful doors are re-purposed in the building when they are replaced.
The tangible elements are represented by those things that are under represented in the archaeological record. Doors, walls, windows?!, furniture, thatching methods, floor types and construction.
Caroline’s beautifully woven backdoor – with securing plank and peg that takes advantage of the natural shape of the wall posts
The outside of the same door.
These tangible interpretations will degrade and rot over time, leaving no physical trace on this site, but nevertheless, they represent the skills and technical prowess of the volunteers involved in the project. They do exist, representing the practical and cultural solutions of a particular band of people in a particular place and time, despite the fact that nothing will ever survive for future archaeologists.
Incredibly, it is the intangible elements of this project that may survive longer than the physical house. Those intangible elements that leave no trace are the true reflection of this project. Friendship, community, understanding and a common goal are what have driven and enabled this project to be a success. What is a beautifully functional bronze axe without the person to use it? And what is that person without the community they work in?
This project will live on in the minds of those who built it, and in the minds and memories of those who know them. It is this intangible effort that will persist in the stories and memories of the project, outlasting the physical and fragile structural elements of the building.
The building is a stunning thing! But what it represents is something more impressive. The gathering together of a group of individuals who, with knowledge, learning, humour, skill, sweat and passion, became a team – a community.
This is their house…
The building showing off the beautifully crafted willow Stags Head made by Caroline Gregson for the topping out ceremony.
