Dr. Martin Rundkvist is a Swedish archaeologist, journal editor, public speaker, chairman of the Swedish Skeptics Society, atheist, lefty liberal, bookworm, and father of two.
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.
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.
[More blog entries about archaeology, scouting, Sweden, children; arkeologi, scouterna, Nacka, barn.]
Humanities & Social Science
Comments
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!
Posted by: Mary Evelyn | September 30, 2007 4:49 PM
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!
Posted by: Eleonora | October 1, 2007 1:49 PM
Thanks hon! The County Archaeologist is a very friendly man.
Posted by: Martin R | October 1, 2007 4:05 PM