Cub Scout Archaeology

Posted by Martin R on September 30, 2007
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Two weeks ago when I worked for Thomas Englund and Bo Knarrström at the 1719 battlefield on Skogsö, I came across a variant on a type of archaeological site that I’ve blogged about before. A site where children have built and abandoned something, but this time it wasn’t a tree house ruin: to me it looks more like the remains of an outdoor gym built by the cub scouts who periodically camp in a nearby house. You know, chin-ups and stuff.

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To this end, the kids nailed and tied horizontal spires to trees, clumsily and with very little regard for the trees’ well-being. While they were at it, they had loads of chocolate and strew aluminium foil wrappers around the site, much to the chagrin of this metal detectorist. A 1983 coin may date from the same episode. They used it a number of times, left, and the site was allowed to slowly return to nature.

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  1. #1 Mary Evelyn
    September 30, 2007

    About 10 years ago, I did a sewerline CRM survey along the first terrace of Pearl River in central Mississippi. I found a plowed-out lithic scatter in a pine plantation that had some fine treehouses in it, so I named the site something witty I can’t recall at present after the treehouses. 5 years later, I came back thru doing a reservoir survey. The treehouses were in decay, some parts having been salvaged for fortifications; rifle pits for paintball had been excavated, and there were Mardi Gras beads hanging from the trees. They grow up so fast!

  2. #2 Eleonora
    October 1, 2007

    From Amber I have heared about the sword that you have found and today on TV2 I had the opportunity of seeing you digging it out. Congratulations to you – this is extraordinarily! I hope you will receive the tvery best of credit for this achievement from the authorothies. Good Luck!

  3. #3 Martin R
    October 1, 2007

    Thanks hon! The County Archaeologist is a very friendly man.