1. aardvarchaeology
  2. Things Going My Way

Things Going My Way

By aardvarchaeology on April 3, 2008.

I'm trainblogging again, somewhere between Norrköping and Nyköping, and the sun is shining. I am pretty pleased with things, not least with how my project about elite sites in Ãstergötland is working out.

Yesterday I received the Kaga parish landowner's permission to excavate in his field after the harvest, that is, in mid- and late September. This is where a gold-foil figure die turned up a year ago.

Then I received information that the Royal Academy of Sciences has given me the largest grant so far in my career, meaning that I wouldn't have to worry about my livelihood before Christmas 2009 even if I quit applying for more grants.

Today I went to Linköping and met with the County Archaeologist and the head of the County Museum's excavation unit. I received immediate permission to metal detect 4½ of the 6 sites I had applied for, and the remaining 1½ sites did not look too bad either. It was also hinted that an excavation permit for the Kaga site in September might not be entirely out of the question.

I was then treated to lunch by my dear colleagues at the museum, and handed over the finds from six of thirteen sites we have metal detected in the past six years. I am happy that the paperwork for those sites has now been processed in good order, as it means that I will have less stuff to take care of. I also handed over the Skamby amber gaming pieces found in a boat-burial in 2005. They are due to receive prominent exposure in the County Museum's new permanent exhibition, one of the highest honours a field archaeologist can aspire to.

The only disappointment really was not finding a certain geocache on Barefoot Lane near the Cathedral, and looking silly while searching for it.

(And by the way:

  • There is wifi not only on the fast X2000 trains, but also on Swedish Rail's slower but newer double-decker regional trains.
  • The sf podcast Escape Pod now has a second sibling in addition to the horror-themed Pseudopod. The newborn fantasy short fiction podcast is named Podcastle and has started out with a classic 1960s story by Peter S. Beagle. Check it out!

)

Tags
archaeology
sweden

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Congratulations! It's always good when hard work pays off.

Congratulations on the grant and the permission! Is Olle Hörfors still at the Ãstergötland county museum?

/ Mattias

Thanks guys!

Yes, Matte, Olle is still there, though I didn't meet him today. Everybody was liaisoning with the local police, teaching them what to do, and NOT to THE FUCK to do, when they find ancient burials. ("Just check the jaw for fillings, OK?)

Congratulations Martin!

Slightly OT: any news on the Djurhamn sword?

Congratulations! And I'm very pleased to hear that the excavation will take place in September since my forthcoming job will end on August 31st! I'd love to join you in Kaga if the offer still stands! See you next week by the way.

Thanks!

The sword's conservation is complete and there is a display case for it at the Stockholm County Museum, but suddenly the people there don't seem so be in a hurry any more. It'll get there. And maybe I'll be lucky enough o find some more good stuff this summer.

Theres, certainly, I have plans for you.

Good news all around, it seems! Let's hope the weather gods also are on our side next week.

Hey, well finally some well deserved credit and some money on top! Not bad, Martin. Congratulations!! (Now, what took them so long?! Apparently we, your readers, know somehting they didn't up till now...)

By Christina (not verified) on 03 Apr 2008 #permalink

Good to know that it´s not entirely hopeless to try to make good reaserch archaeology! Congratulations, and hope to here more about your work soon.

Congrats on the grant, Martin!

By Denis Vlasov (not verified) on 03 Apr 2008 #permalink

Congrats!!!
See, when everything looks bleakest, that's where it turns around.
(Or so I keep telling myself)

Well deserved and overdue. :-)