When I was invited to partake in the Gabii Project, I did not know exactly what to expect.
Being involved with an Archaeological dig had never been offered to me before, so the whole experience would I hoped be a learning curve.
I knew that 'Gabbi' was an important Project and just knowing that metal detectors were to be used, was in it self a positive thing for the hobby. Imagine my surprise when I was asked if I would like to be one of the detectorists. At first I did not like the idea of leaving Bridget (my daughter) behind, after spending the last 2 years seeing her through her Leukaemia but she insisted that she has others to help her if necessary.
So after applying and getting my first passport, I was set to go.
Time flew by and the date was soon upon me.
I was instructed that all I would require was my detecting equipment and myself, any else that I needed, would be supplied.
In the meantime I printed off several pages concerning the site rules and regulations, noting that steel reinforced footwear was required. I was unsure about this because it would interfere with the signals from my equipment. However I had nothing to worry about because my work boots were adequate
I had read up about the Gabii Project and also done a bit of reading about archaeology, but I was still unsure of what I would do or what would be expected of me.
I cannot say a great deal about the actual excavation and what was found because it is an on going project and I do not wish to jeopardise this in any way.
The first thing that I did on site was to be given a short version of the history of the site along with how and why it was chosen.
Then I was shown around the site by The Managing Director Jeffrey Becker, who told me about the finds and features recovered to date. I was careful to walk only where shown and instructed, this was to minimise damage and disturbance of the the areas waiting to be done.
After being given the tour I was introduced to the staff in the finds area who were very busy with cleaning, recording and storing the artefacts as they were brought in from the 3 different areas. I found this area very interesting, because you could see good large examples of the various types of ceramics, alongside bones and other materials. Jeffrey kindly got me a list of the various types of pottery (ceramics), expected and being found at the site and how to identify them.
The ladies gave me some bags, a container and a marker pen and explained what they were for. I was then asked to see the field supervisor in Area A, Jamie Sewell who put me to work on some spoil.
If, while doing the spoil, I found anything I was curious about, I only had to ask and an answer was given. I tried not to ask too many times because excavations are very much controlled by time and as we know, time cost money.
I found my own method for dealing with the spoil and it seemed to work well, giving me time between barrow loads and spoil heaps, to look around me and watch the others at work. It was interesting to see the methods being used even though at the time I had little idea of what was being done and why. I was occasionally asked to use my equipment in situ. which was enjoyable because it meant being in the middle of the work and helping to find something, hopefully of interest. Something that had not been disturbed since it came to rest, when Gabii was last in use! Sometimes however, I was just asked to detect over the site and if I located a signal, to place a small flag marking the position. This was usually for a good reason and albeit a little frustrating not seeing what I had located, I got satisfaction in knowing that another piece of the 'jigsaw' had been found.
I do feel that the use of a detector is an important addition to an archaeological excavation and that it is still in it's infancy.
With metal detectors going deeper now than ever before, I would like to see them being used more from the start and continuously throughout the dig. I feel it would help with the location of certain features and help prevent theft from sites.
This may not be practical, for various reasons and in this case, proved not really necessary, because very little was missed.
I do not know the ratio of metallic items found with eyes only, against detector finds but it will be interesting to see such data.
I found the overall experience very interesting and informative and would recommend it to anyone, should they ever be invited to attend an excavation.
I am hoping to share this experience with fellow club members and have been asked to put together a small show and tell presentation.
Now I can honestly say that I have 'Been There and Got the T-shirt'
Thank you to both Sally Worrel and Laura Mclean for being given this chance and experience.
Monday 9 August 2010
Saturday 7 August 2010
Friday
Buongiorno
My last day on the site.
It looked like rain on the way in and there were a couple of rainbows in the sky. I took my camera with me to get some pictures of the lizards. But there were not to be seen anywhere. They must have sensed that there was going to be rain.
Started work on the remaining spoil from Area C and managed to recover a few more pieces of iron a larger piece of lead, some copper Alloy and one coin. While doing the same spoil heap I was asked to check two smaller heaps as they were being made from Area A. This area was more important at that stage and so I had three spoil heaps on the go at once. The two smaller ones went on to produce about 5 small pieces of iron and nothing else.
Rain stopped work at about 9.45 so we broke early for the morning break. After the break I managed to finish the 3 heaps in time for lunch, while all around me the work was being wound down for the end of this season.
I was sorry to see it come to an end. But who knows the the future may bring!
Lunch time bought group photographs and then a guided tour.
Nicola Terrenato leading the final 'trench tour' for 2010.
I did manage to find one lizard that came out after the rain.
Gabii arrivederci
For those of you who wish to see more here are a couple of links. Enjoy
Gabii Home Page
Official Blog
Gabii on Facebook
My last day on the site.
It looked like rain on the way in and there were a couple of rainbows in the sky. I took my camera with me to get some pictures of the lizards. But there were not to be seen anywhere. They must have sensed that there was going to be rain.
Started work on the remaining spoil from Area C and managed to recover a few more pieces of iron a larger piece of lead, some copper Alloy and one coin. While doing the same spoil heap I was asked to check two smaller heaps as they were being made from Area A. This area was more important at that stage and so I had three spoil heaps on the go at once. The two smaller ones went on to produce about 5 small pieces of iron and nothing else.
Rain stopped work at about 9.45 so we broke early for the morning break. After the break I managed to finish the 3 heaps in time for lunch, while all around me the work was being wound down for the end of this season.
I was sorry to see it come to an end. But who knows the the future may bring!
Lunch time bought group photographs and then a guided tour.
Nicola Terrenato leading the final 'trench tour' for 2010.
I did manage to find one lizard that came out after the rain.
Gabii arrivederci
For those of you who wish to see more here are a couple of links. Enjoy
Gabii Home Page
Official Blog
Gabii on Facebook
Friday 6 August 2010
Thursday
Buongiorno
I bought a small cheap clock last evening I am glad I did, the old one reset again and the new one woke me in good time. Just to rub it in the coach was late, so I had plenty of time this morning anyway.
On site. I went straight back to work on Area A. This proved to be my quietest morning so far with no signals until a few minutes before the morning break. Between the break and lunch I managed to find a few pieces of iron fragments and a couple of copper Alloy.
Lunch as good as it has been all week
The afternoon brought very little from area A and when I finished it was suggested that I have a word with the field supervisor in Area C, Sabrina Zottis, to see if there was any spoil that she would like me to run over. I was given one, probably my biggest all week
and I set about using the method that I had previously used and it worked well with approximately 8 small pieces.
Not looking forward to tomorrow being my last day on site it has gone so quickly.
Finished for the day and back to the hotel for a shower and a bit of shopping.
buonanotte
I bought a small cheap clock last evening I am glad I did, the old one reset again and the new one woke me in good time. Just to rub it in the coach was late, so I had plenty of time this morning anyway.
On site. I went straight back to work on Area A. This proved to be my quietest morning so far with no signals until a few minutes before the morning break. Between the break and lunch I managed to find a few pieces of iron fragments and a couple of copper Alloy.
Lunch as good as it has been all week
The afternoon brought very little from area A and when I finished it was suggested that I have a word with the field supervisor in Area C, Sabrina Zottis, to see if there was any spoil that she would like me to run over. I was given one, probably my biggest all week
and I set about using the method that I had previously used and it worked well with approximately 8 small pieces.
Not looking forward to tomorrow being my last day on site it has gone so quickly.
Finished for the day and back to the hotel for a shower and a bit of shopping.
buonanotte
Thursday 5 August 2010
Wednesday
Buongiorno
Day started well, I woke up before the alarm went off at 4.48am. Switched it off so as not to wake the people in the next room. Got washed and dressed, glanced at the clock it now read 4.08 am ??? so at approximately 5am there must be a satellite pass over and it resets itself again. That is why I have been late the last two mornings.
Had a lovely breakfast with a good selection to choose from.
On site I went to work on 4 different small heaps in area A, much the same as the other days with only small fragments of iron, 1 small fragment of copper alloy and what looked like an iron fibular or bow brooch, but most likely a bent nail. Ah well next time maybe!
Good lunch selection again and a well needed rest from the sun. This is the area where we all sat out of the sun for break and lunch.
After lunch returned to area A and started on a fresh spoil heap still in use, I was kept busy on this one as the barrow loads arrived, sometimes just the one, but occasionally two at once. I managed to winkle out 1 copper alloy lump and 5 fragments of iron. I had the chance to go over another heap while waiting and recovered a few pieces of iron and 1 coin. But that was it for the day.
Back to the hotel for dinner and a quiet evening watching Star Trek in Italian.
A view from the hotel window looking toward Rome.
buonanotte
Day started well, I woke up before the alarm went off at 4.48am. Switched it off so as not to wake the people in the next room. Got washed and dressed, glanced at the clock it now read 4.08 am ??? so at approximately 5am there must be a satellite pass over and it resets itself again. That is why I have been late the last two mornings.
Had a lovely breakfast with a good selection to choose from.
On site I went to work on 4 different small heaps in area A, much the same as the other days with only small fragments of iron, 1 small fragment of copper alloy and what looked like an iron fibular or bow brooch, but most likely a bent nail. Ah well next time maybe!
Good lunch selection again and a well needed rest from the sun. This is the area where we all sat out of the sun for break and lunch.
After lunch returned to area A and started on a fresh spoil heap still in use, I was kept busy on this one as the barrow loads arrived, sometimes just the one, but occasionally two at once. I managed to winkle out 1 copper alloy lump and 5 fragments of iron. I had the chance to go over another heap while waiting and recovered a few pieces of iron and 1 coin. But that was it for the day.
Back to the hotel for dinner and a quiet evening watching Star Trek in Italian.
A view from the hotel window looking toward Rome.
buonanotte
Wednesday 4 August 2010
Tuesday
You would have thought I would have learnt my lesson with the clock but no. I set the clock last night at the correct time and got up this morning to find that the coach had gone by about 5 minutes. So no breakfast this morning. I am going to have to sort it out or lose weight.
Luckily a nice young lady noticed and offered me a lift and we arrived at the same time as the coach.
I continued from where I left off yesterday and finished that particular spoil heap. I got plagued for the first time by insects but that was probably due to the spoil heaps being in the longer vegetation.
After the break I moved to another fresh spoil heap which was still in use. This was an easier task, because once I had caught up with the small pile already there, I had a moment to wait for the next barrow load and I filled in the between time running the detector over other heaps. They were done just as well as the others because I hardly had any signals and those I did get were mineralised rock or the odd small piece of iron fragment.
With the heap being fresh and in use, I had control of it's location in so much as when the barrow loads arrived, the students very obligingly placed the fresh spoil where ever I asked. Perfect!
I would like to say that it was a pleasure to work in among the various teams and the manners I experienced, where a credit to the individuals, their families and their various academic establishments. Thank you all.
A pleasant lunch break with a similar selection of filled rolls and fruit. Throughout the day we were encouraged to maintain a good supply of water, which was always available from one of the cabins.
I must say that I have never forced myself to drink so much in a long while but it was important, because it was easy to get dehydrated.
After lunch I went to do some work on area B and Claudia asked me to detect a small spoil heap being created by a gent who introduced himself as Tony. I suggested that he might want to do it and Claudia said that if I did not mind then he was welcome to have a go. Tony recovered 2 fragments of iron and 2 fragments of copper alloy dross or slag, all small but never the less I believe he enjoyed the experience.
After work we were informed that there would be a lecture in the evening about Roman Funerary and tombs, also Bioarchaeology and human osteology which was to be given by Jeffrey Becker and Kristina Killgrove. I attended the lecture and found it very informative.
After a pleasant dinner I settled down to bed and checked the clock, this time making sure it was right! I set it for 5am so that if anything went wrong I would still have time to get breakfast.
Buona notte
Luckily a nice young lady noticed and offered me a lift and we arrived at the same time as the coach.
I continued from where I left off yesterday and finished that particular spoil heap. I got plagued for the first time by insects but that was probably due to the spoil heaps being in the longer vegetation.
After the break I moved to another fresh spoil heap which was still in use. This was an easier task, because once I had caught up with the small pile already there, I had a moment to wait for the next barrow load and I filled in the between time running the detector over other heaps. They were done just as well as the others because I hardly had any signals and those I did get were mineralised rock or the odd small piece of iron fragment.
With the heap being fresh and in use, I had control of it's location in so much as when the barrow loads arrived, the students very obligingly placed the fresh spoil where ever I asked. Perfect!
I would like to say that it was a pleasure to work in among the various teams and the manners I experienced, where a credit to the individuals, their families and their various academic establishments. Thank you all.
A pleasant lunch break with a similar selection of filled rolls and fruit. Throughout the day we were encouraged to maintain a good supply of water, which was always available from one of the cabins.
I must say that I have never forced myself to drink so much in a long while but it was important, because it was easy to get dehydrated.
After lunch I went to do some work on area B and Claudia asked me to detect a small spoil heap being created by a gent who introduced himself as Tony. I suggested that he might want to do it and Claudia said that if I did not mind then he was welcome to have a go. Tony recovered 2 fragments of iron and 2 fragments of copper alloy dross or slag, all small but never the less I believe he enjoyed the experience.
After work we were informed that there would be a lecture in the evening about Roman Funerary and tombs, also Bioarchaeology and human osteology which was to be given by Jeffrey Becker and Kristina Killgrove. I attended the lecture and found it very informative.
After a pleasant dinner I settled down to bed and checked the clock, this time making sure it was right! I set it for 5am so that if anything went wrong I would still have time to get breakfast.
Buona notte
Tuesday 3 August 2010
My method
I did not take as many pictures as I would have liked, mainly because I was unsure of the wishes and restrictions (if any) of the people in charge of the project. More picture are available on the official blog site and elsewhere.
Click here
The method I used was one that I felt happy with and which I thought covered the most soil.
I would start with a spoil heap and remove as many of the stone and rocks that I could see. This was because some of them contain enough mineral content to give me a reading, albeit at the lowest end of the scale. Once the rocks had been cleared away I would chose one end of the heap away from the end being used if the heap was still in use, and create a new starting point.
The spoil heap to begin with.
I would begin by detecting the entire surface area of the existing heap and then moving the soil nearest, to my new start point and depositing it to the left of the heap.
In progress
As the new pile got larger I created a gap between the two and maintained that throughout. When the soil was shifted from one heap to the other I would proceed to detect the new area exposed by it's removal, but also the soil that I had removed because any small item missed on the first swing may now lie in a different position which allowed it to be detected. This happened a few times especially with the smallest pieces of iron which were only 10 to 15 mms in length.
This heap is approximately half done and shows the new surface area on one side of the heap which enabled me to spread more soil over a smaller ground area. I then proceeded to detecting the entire surface of the new heap far quicker.
A smaller spoil heap in a finished state.
Showing to the right is the area left flat. This is done to be sure of not picking up any thing that might lay on the surface before the heap was deposited.
This was also left to enable any on-going heaps to be added to without mixing the new material with the old.
My future idea would be to detect an area before the spoil heap is created
The method was very successful and went on to produce approximately 40 assorted sized pieces of lead, copper alloy, iron and one more coin.
Click here
The method I used was one that I felt happy with and which I thought covered the most soil.
I would start with a spoil heap and remove as many of the stone and rocks that I could see. This was because some of them contain enough mineral content to give me a reading, albeit at the lowest end of the scale. Once the rocks had been cleared away I would chose one end of the heap away from the end being used if the heap was still in use, and create a new starting point.
The spoil heap to begin with.
I would begin by detecting the entire surface area of the existing heap and then moving the soil nearest, to my new start point and depositing it to the left of the heap.
In progress
As the new pile got larger I created a gap between the two and maintained that throughout. When the soil was shifted from one heap to the other I would proceed to detect the new area exposed by it's removal, but also the soil that I had removed because any small item missed on the first swing may now lie in a different position which allowed it to be detected. This happened a few times especially with the smallest pieces of iron which were only 10 to 15 mms in length.
This heap is approximately half done and shows the new surface area on one side of the heap which enabled me to spread more soil over a smaller ground area. I then proceeded to detecting the entire surface of the new heap far quicker.
A smaller spoil heap in a finished state.
Showing to the right is the area left flat. This is done to be sure of not picking up any thing that might lay on the surface before the heap was deposited.
This was also left to enable any on-going heaps to be added to without mixing the new material with the old.
My future idea would be to detect an area before the spoil heap is created
The method was very successful and went on to produce approximately 40 assorted sized pieces of lead, copper alloy, iron and one more coin.
Monday
Had a good sleep got up at 5.30am to be sure of meeting people and having breakfast!
Got dressed and went down to wait around the reception area hoping to meet someone. I did, I met the Managing Director of the site Jeffrey Becker, who introduced himself and to my surprise suggested I hurry and catch the coach which leaves in 10 minutes.
I had now missed breakfast. Must check that clock when I return.
Sat myself down on the coach and looked forward to the day ahead. We arrived at the site or as close to as the coach can get and walked the short distance remaining.
The first thing to greet me was the 'Temple of Juno' a very pleasant welcome.
I was introduced to Field Director Anna Gallone, Vice Field director Marcello Mogetta and other staff and field members during the course of my introduction to the site, it's history and the ongoing project.
After the introduction I was asked to see one of the Field Supervisors, Jamie Sewell
who explained what had been done by the previous detectorist and what he would like me to do.
I was shown 4 spoil heaps and the remains of a previous weeks heap to run the detector over. The spoils heaps were not too large and with the use of a shovel I was able to spread the soil and detect at my own speed. I must say that it was all I expected and more, to be able to work within the confines of an archaeological excavation, knowing that I was helping in my small way.
The heaps did not produce a lot, which in itself showed that the method already in use by the staff and members was very successful with locating as much as was possible with eyes and hands only.
I cannot say I was not disappointed, I was. Because as a detectorist I would have liked to have found something of note. However I was happy in the knowledge that I was doing what was asked and was experiencing what I would call a chance in a lifetime experience. Although I hope, not the only chance but the start of similar future involvement with archaeologists back home in England!
I did find a few pieces of iron barely recognisable without the detector a small fragment of appeared to be a coin and a thicker copper alloy piece with what appeared to be a coin embedded within it.
After lunch, which was a good selection of filled bread rolls and fruit, I was asked to speak to another Field Supervisor Claudia Melisch who asked me to go over a couple of the spoil heaps for the area that she supervised. Along side the heap I did was one that had been done previously I saw the way that it was set out and chose to use a different method, one that I had developed on the morning's work.
With the use of a shovel I was able to move and detect the entire heap while only increasing the original area used by approximately one third.
I finished one heap and proceeded onto another which I was unable to finish and hoped that I would return to it the next day.
My ideas of my first day.
Very enjoyable with very few finds,but the chance to get involved and also meet others while learning something new about the archaeological way of doing things. Seeing that the two can work together for the benefit all concerned.
Also a lovely view of the surrounding area all day, made it a very nice area to be working in.
Here are two views of some of the area.
Got dressed and went down to wait around the reception area hoping to meet someone. I did, I met the Managing Director of the site Jeffrey Becker, who introduced himself and to my surprise suggested I hurry and catch the coach which leaves in 10 minutes.
I had now missed breakfast. Must check that clock when I return.
Sat myself down on the coach and looked forward to the day ahead. We arrived at the site or as close to as the coach can get and walked the short distance remaining.
The first thing to greet me was the 'Temple of Juno' a very pleasant welcome.
I was introduced to Field Director Anna Gallone, Vice Field director Marcello Mogetta and other staff and field members during the course of my introduction to the site, it's history and the ongoing project.
After the introduction I was asked to see one of the Field Supervisors, Jamie Sewell
who explained what had been done by the previous detectorist and what he would like me to do.
I was shown 4 spoil heaps and the remains of a previous weeks heap to run the detector over. The spoils heaps were not too large and with the use of a shovel I was able to spread the soil and detect at my own speed. I must say that it was all I expected and more, to be able to work within the confines of an archaeological excavation, knowing that I was helping in my small way.
The heaps did not produce a lot, which in itself showed that the method already in use by the staff and members was very successful with locating as much as was possible with eyes and hands only.
I cannot say I was not disappointed, I was. Because as a detectorist I would have liked to have found something of note. However I was happy in the knowledge that I was doing what was asked and was experiencing what I would call a chance in a lifetime experience. Although I hope, not the only chance but the start of similar future involvement with archaeologists back home in England!
I did find a few pieces of iron barely recognisable without the detector a small fragment of appeared to be a coin and a thicker copper alloy piece with what appeared to be a coin embedded within it.
After lunch, which was a good selection of filled bread rolls and fruit, I was asked to speak to another Field Supervisor Claudia Melisch who asked me to go over a couple of the spoil heaps for the area that she supervised. Along side the heap I did was one that had been done previously I saw the way that it was set out and chose to use a different method, one that I had developed on the morning's work.
With the use of a shovel I was able to move and detect the entire heap while only increasing the original area used by approximately one third.
I finished one heap and proceeded onto another which I was unable to finish and hoped that I would return to it the next day.
My ideas of my first day.
Very enjoyable with very few finds,but the chance to get involved and also meet others while learning something new about the archaeological way of doing things. Seeing that the two can work together for the benefit all concerned.
Also a lovely view of the surrounding area all day, made it a very nice area to be working in.
Here are two views of some of the area.
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