All the leaves are brownIf I've said it once I'll say it again - where did this year go? I am completely surprised when I look out of the window at 8pm and it's already dark, but to be honest I'm also looking forward to more cosy nights with cups of tea and woollen blankets... However, I doubt that there will be time for that, because I also have a lot going on in the next few months! Firstly, I am now well into the final stage of my PhD, so need to finish off all the writing for that, but I am also involved with several other projects. |
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I have stepped into my official role as Digital Media Partner for the "Save Cultural Heritage Group" in order to help them promote their upcoming conference: #ArchTalk2022. It was an honour to be asked to help with social media promotion in an official capacity, and has been a very insightful experience so far. I have also taken on more responsibility at the Archaeology Podcast Network in the organisation of some exciting upcoming events, but I will be able to say more about that next month. As always, if you'd like to collaborate on a project, or just want some feedback or advice on how to promote your idea, feel free to get in touch via the contact form on my website! |
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PhD projectFieldwork was very different to last time, as I had the little one with me and so my priorities were a little bit split. However, I managed to get everything done that I wanted to, including some excellent sewing workshops with local Inuit seamstresses, who used some of my replica bone needles and gave their opinions on how they might have been used. It meant that I could add some interesting points to my final PhD paper! |
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Today in Canada is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. After having spent so much time working with Inuit communities as part of my PhD, I have been made far more aware of current issues within modern indigenous groups. Especially in Europe, we don't get taught about these issues nearly enough, and often think that they don't affect us, especially for those of us who don't live in lands inhabited by European indigenous groups (like the Sámi in Scandinavia for example). But part of decolonisation is educating ourselves on what was done, and how that still brings generational trauma through to modern indigenous communities. Another perfect example of how we need to learn about the past in order to understand the present and prepare for a better future. If you want to learn more about the reason behind today, check out this link here. |
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Tea-break Time TravelThis month was a particularly exciting month, because I had the great David Ian Howe on as a guest to talk all about arrowheads and projectile technology. What is the link between a lithic point and a modern smartphone? Listen in to find out! | | |
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The EXARC ShowThe next episode of #FinallyFriday will be released next week on Friday 7th October. This month my co-host Phoebe spoke with two experts in cremation, which made for a fascinating discussion! Make sure to visit the podcast homepage to listen in. You can also now listen in to the third installment of EXARC Extracts, where I provide a short summary of the Autumn 2022 edition of the EXARC Journal. Check out both the podcast and journal here. |
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InstagramWe're back on track with content creation, and this month our #TeaDay reels included a look at Ogham script, and a history of baskets and horns. The latter also inspired me to dig out my trusty french horn, which I haven't played for about two years thanks to covid stopping orchestral rehearsals, so that was a fun little bonus for those of you who follow me! I am planning to continue the musical theme into next month, so be prepared for more magical melodies and stirring sounds. | | |
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It makes me so happy that people are enjoying the #TeaDay posts so much, and my aim is to continue to make them for as long as I can. I believe one of the reasons for their success is that I am able to physically show people the objects that I am talking about. If you would like to help me make sure that I can continue to communicate as effectively as possible in this way, you can help to sponsor The Archaeologist's Teacup by contributing to the costs of replicas through Patreon! From as little as 1€ a month, you can already make a huge difference. Replicas will be bought from small businesses wherever possible, and patrons can also suggest which replicas should be featured in upcoming videos, as well as getting a special shout-out in every production, weekly blooper reels, and exciting Archaeologist's Teacup swag! If you're interested in becoming a sponsor and ensuring the endurance of productions from The Archaeologist's Teacup, you can visit the site and donate through the button below: |
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YouTube ChannelIf you don't have Instagram but still want to watch the reels, you can now watch them all on my YouTube channel! You can also now watch episode three of "Pasts and Crafts", where I attempted to make a replica of the Venus of Dolní Věstonice, while discussing clay technology, as well as our perception of the past and the people who lived there. Make sure to subscribe to the channel to stay up to date with new episodes and other uploads! | | |
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Lessons Learned This month I learned the hard way not to put things off until later. It might mean that you're less stressed right now, but in a few weeks time everything will come together at once and the stress will be tenfold! In the future, I need to make a proper calendar showing all the different tasks I have to do, including how much time and effort each one will cost me. Then I'll have a better idea of how much time I will need to dedicate to each activity, and so will know that I shouldn't delay something else to coincide with that. Right now, I just write one note in the diary, but this equates a 5 minute task with a 5 day one. |
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Top TipsI've received several fishing emails this month, identified because they generally refer to me as something like "Professor Doctor Matilda Siebrecht". I assumed that it was standard practice to research your recipient before hitting send, but apparently not. It also reminded me of complaints from my supervisor that students would start off their first email extremely informally. So, my advice to anyone who didn't realise this was an issue: Do a quick background check on your recipient! Always start off with their formal title and name, but make sure that it is their correct one too - don't add extra titles. |
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Below are some upcoming events, recently published archaeological studies, and exciting new projects that I think deserve to be highlighted this month. You can see the full details and access the complete articles through the links in blue. As always, if you have any events, studies, or projects that you think should be featured in next month's newsletter, do let me know! |
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ArchTalk 2022 (Save Cultural Heritage Group) This free online event on October 15th will focus on archaeology, research, and cultural heritage. Created in the spirit of SCHG’s overall mission of researching and discovering ways to produce open science knowledge in cultural heritage and its related fields. Growing up Human (TrowelBlazers) A special ‘in discussion’ event on October 17th to celebrate the publication of Brenna Hasset's new book 'Growing Up Human: the evolution of Childhood’. Archon Day (Archon) Bringing together students, researchers, and professional archaeologists from the Dutch commercial sector together to talk about current topics in archaeology on October 28th, focusing on interdisciplinary collaborations If you have an upcoming event and would like to feature it here, contact me and I'd be happy to share the news! |
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New Olds Post-conflict ethics, archaeology, and archaeological heritage (Archaeological Dialogues) How can archaeology engage with modern conflict? This paper aims to stimulate discussion around major ethical issues, the problems and possible ways forward for post-conflict archaeology and archaeological heritage. Archaeological Science Classroom Activities (JAS Reports) This is a fantastic free to download reference for anyone who wishes to find online resources for teaching archaeological science. The article includes links to resources all over the world, as well as an overview of teaching methods and theories. Growing up Gravettian (Journal of Anthropological Archaeology) An interesting study investigating adolescence in the Gravettian period through bioarchaeological burial data. If you've read any interesting studies that you think deserve to be mentioned, feel free to get in touch! |
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Cool Projects Sudely Castle (Dig Ventures) This crowdfunding project aims to excavate what is thought to be one of the most important castle ruins in Tudor history. Immersive Heritage (Immersive Heritage) This new company aims to bring immersive, engaging experiences to your audiences. They want to widening accessibility by communicating with people wherever they are through virtual media. A really cool new initiative! Ki Futures (Ki Culture) Ki Culture is an international nonprofit working to unite culture and sustainability. They provide programs and trainings to promote sustainability in the cultural heritage sector. If you have a fascinating project and want to be featured, let me know and I'd be happy to share it here! |
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Archaeo Book Club Our brand new book club is off to a flying start! There is still time to join our Discord community in time to chat about our first book, which was The Dig by John Preston. We will also be having a film night to compare the recent Netflix adaptation with the original novel. Our October theme was 'time travel', and our chosen book is Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodie Taylor |
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The idea behind the Archaeo Book Club was to create an online community of people who are interested in the past but also share a love of books and reading. You can sign up through the link below: |
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Monthly MicrowearThis is another example of a bead that I analysed during a field season at the amazing site of Çatalhöyük in Turkey, and I thought it was an excellent example of how clearly you can see when an object like this is worn. The bead itself has been interpreted as "unfinished", as it is still very roughly shaped, but despite this is was worn regularly, as is clear through the shape of the perforation. Despite this wear, you can still clearly see the striations on the inside of the hole from where this bead was drilled - likely by a flint tool as suggested by the irregularities of the striations. One suggestion is that this bead might have been made by someone unskilled, which is why it looks so uneven and unfinished, but was then worn with pride. Certainly an interesting theory! |
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Ready for another challenge? Have a look at the picture here, and tell me what you see. Again, what material do you think it is? Can you see any traces which might show how it was made or used? What object type could it be? Any ideas, contact me through the link below! | | |
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