I have been selected to give a paper at this years Theoretical Archaeology Group (TAG) conference at the University of Southampton (southern England) in the <TAG 2.0/>: Archaeological theory in the light of contemporary computing session.

Abstract
Title : Building on Fear?
The role of Digital Archaeology to aid the study and analysis of structural carpentry techniques in central southern England, c1180 - c1500, the era of the Black Death and successive plagues.

Abstract : To date, there are approximately 108 timber-framed buildings, in Hampshire, that have been dendrochronologically dated to between 1244 and 1530. A survey has been carried out on these buildings to record the different types of joints used in their construction. These joints have been grouped, by type, to provide a chronology, informed by scientific dating methods. Once the chrono-typologies have been produced and cross- referenced with Hewett’s Essex data, the effects, if any, of the Black Death (1348-50) on carpentry techniques and technologies will be analysed.

The project utilises digital technologies to collect, collate, manage, query and ultimately disseminate data relevant to the study of timber joints. Such technologies include:
•       Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
•       Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
•       Database Management Systems (DBMS)
•       3D modelling

The 3D modelling provides a means to explore how joints interact with each other, whilst also forming a visual database. This database can be disseminated through various mobile devices, supplying researchers with a real-time, portable, dating aid, for comparison in the field. The creation of the visual database also allows us to question how to represent a generic "3D joint", through various 2D devices, to researchers that are not familiar with computer visualisations and the "clean world" which they portray.
The combination of GPS and GIS enable the data to be analysed spatially to understand how the buildings work within a landscape context.
This then permits the answering of the question "building on fear" by applying theory to the science. Are the houses being built to protect the occupier from war, famine and plague or are they just projecting status and society?

About TAG

This is a set of photos taken of Stonehenge (Wiltshire) on 18/10/2008. The sky was just perfect and I was lucky to get some great shots. Hope you enjoy them as much as I. (sorry it only works on a pc)

MPhil stage

To date, around three quarters (79 of 108) of the buildings dated by dendrochronology in Hampshire have been ...   more »

MPhil stage

To date, around three quarters (79 of 108) of the buildings dated by dendrochronology in Hampshire have been ...   more »

I have been interested in photography and its development for sometime but I have been utterly blown away by Microsoft's ...   more »

I posted a new photo to Joints.

I posted a new photo to Joints.

Society Conference 2008

People and Place: Landscape and Identity through Time

Saturday 13 September 2008

University of Chichester (Bishop Otter campus)

I will be presenting a poster at this years Sussex Past Society Conference

The line up of speakers is fantastic!

Conference Programme

9.00 Registration and posters

10.00 Welcome address by Vice Chancellor Dr Robin Baker, University of Chichester

10.05 Introduction - Prof. Stephen Daniels, University of Nottingham.

10.15 What is landscape? - Prof. Matthew Johnson, University of Southampton.

11.00 Tea/Coffee and posters

11.30 London before London - Caroline Juby, Royal Holloway.

12.00 Neanderthals and their landscape - Dr Danielle Schreve, Royal Holloway.

12.30 Animalscapes and the Iron Age/Romano-British transition - Martyn Allen, SAS/ University of Nottingham.

1.00 Lunch and posters

2.00 Making and manipulating the past: early medieval identities in the landscape - Dr Sarah Semple, University of Durham.

2.30 Peasant voices in the landscape - Dr Richard Jones, University of Leicester.

3.00 Medieval parks, authority and access - Dr Amanda Richardson, University of Chichester.

3.30 Tea/coffee and posters

4.00 The meaning of house-names in Sussex - Dr Chris Lewis, Victoria County History.

4.30 Culturally-contested landscapes: the Long Man of Wilmington - Martin Brown, Ministry of Defence, Wiltshire.

5.00 Closing address: Prof. Brian Short, University of Sussex

I returned from another geophysics season in Ukraine on the 24th of July. I worked out there with Alex Turner ...   more »

I will be giving a paper at the

International Medieval Congress 2008

Session Details

Session:	105
Title:	The Black Death: Mortality, Building, and Art
Date / Time:	July 7, 2008 11.15-12.45
Sponsor:	Society for 14th-Century Studies
Organiser:	Chris Given-Wilson, St Andrews' Institute of Mediaeval Studies, University of St Andrews
Moderator:	Jeffrey S. Hamilton, Department of History, Baylor University, Texas
Paper 105-a:	The Black Death and Mortality: A Reassessment (Language: English) Paula Arthur, Department of History, University of Winchester Tom Beaumont James, Department of History & Department of Archaeology, University of Winchester
Paper 105-b:	The Black Death and Building: A Case Study (Language: English) Richard Haddlesey, Department of Archaeology, University of Winchester
Paper 105-c:	The Black Death and English Art: Further Reflection (Language: English) Phillip G. Lindley, Department of History of Art, University of Leicester
Abstract:	This session examines the impact of the black death on later 14th-Century England, ranging from mortality to art and architecture.

Zotero

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my profile

For an interesting, if not controversial take on the ‘Black Death’ and the early 14th Century in general, ...   more »

I was lucky enough to visit a house in Mottisfont the other day that had a tudor fireplace dendro dated ...   more »