Gotland Archaeological Field School 2009

Gotland Archaeological Field School
Summer courses 2009

Viking Discovery Programme

Gotland Viking Island

The world’s biggest silver hoard showed up some years ago in a cultivated field in the north-east part of Gotland. It weighted some 67 kilo, and consisted of two parts, deposited in the ground some 3 meters apart. The hoard consisted of the astonishing amount of more then 14.200 coins, together with almost 500 massive silver arm rings and other objects, all of pure silver. The hoard that can be dated to the end of the 9th century had been placed in wooden boxes, and under the floor of a Viking Age house.

In close connection to the silver hoard, there was also another deposit, this time of 20 kilo of bronzes objects. Also this hoard was placed in a wooden box, where the iron lock was still well preserved.

The background for this extra ordinary wealth on Gotland in the Viking Age should be seen in ts position in the Baltic Sea, being a kind of a meeting place between East and West, and its role s a kind of a middle man in the East-West trade. The very even distribution of the hoards on the sland, gives a clear picture of a society were more or less all farms took part in a very lucrative rade. There are no sign of any king on Gotland in prehistoric time, instead there seems to be ample evidence that the society was built on farms.

The Gotlandic farm

In spite of the tremendous rich heritage from Viking Age, like the finding of about 700 silver hoards, there is still a very scanty knowledge of how houses and farms in general looked like and were constructed. Only a handful of places have been investigated so far, and much of the knowledge is coming from just two places; Fjäle farm in the parish of Ala and Burge farm in the
parish of Lummelunda. The Viking Discovery Programme aim at changing this situation. With the start in summer 2007, there will be destined excavations towards Viking Age houses and farms in different locations around the island.

Each year, excavations will be carried out at a new location, and by this way, we will have information from different places on the island, and by that be able to draw some conclusions about house constructions and farmsteads in general.

Summer 2009, we will excavate a deserted Medieval farmstead up in northern Gotland. We know it was abounded in the 16th century, but one of the main question is when it was established. Stray finds from the area suggest that it should be in Viking Age, or even a bit earlier.

Another important research question concerns the house constructions at the time, as well as how the houses were placed in the landscape. What we know today, the normal house in Viking Age was a wooden construction with posts along the walls. The entrains seems always to be in one of the gables, and the house consist normally of two rooms, one small room at the entrains,
and then one big room, where all the people lived.

Viking Discovery Programme

This international field course gives an introduction to the Viking Age period on Gotland and provides practical and circumstantial knowledge of archaeological and human geographical methodology in investigating a prehistoric site. The field course combine lectures with practical field investigations of a Viking Age farmstead. The course aims to investigate house constructions, as well as the social patterns and physical structures of the site using archaeological field methodology. Much emphasis is put on the use of digital techniques for survey and documentation.

As a complement to the field course, there will be an opportunity to work with the actual artefacts from the excavation in course about Artefacts analyses, interpretation and handling. The course starts two weeks after the field course, and can be followed on a weekly basis.

These courses will be open to students and amateurs from all over the world, and here is the
chance to participate in a fascinating excavation programme. The excavation site is situated close
to the municipality Fårösund, about 50 kilometres north of Visby along the east coast, where the deserted farm Little Hultungs is situated.

Course description

The course is interdisciplinary and comparable with university studies in archaeology. Most of the lectures, as well as teaching of investigation techniques are carried out by personal from universities. For those who plans to use the course for getting credits at home university, a written report about some part of the investigation should be carried out, accomplish with a certain study of literature.

The aim of the courses is to give the participants:

• A general knowledge of archaeological and human geographical methodology and
documentation of prehistoric sites.
• A practical and circumstantial cognisance of archaeological excavation methods and artefacts
via an investigation of a Viking Age site.
• A basic knowledge about Viking Age and Early Middle Ages artefacts and the handling of
them
• Knowledge about Viking Age Gotland.

The course runs eight hours a day, five days a week, broken into two parts, one hands-on excavation, and another daily session of registration work, exercises, classes, conferences and excursions. Some of the weekends will be devoted to excursion on the island.

Students will receive an introduction on basic aspects of field excavation techniques, which will be applied during excavation. In the field, students will process, classify, register and study excavated material. In addition to the daily excavations, students will further learn about the history of Gotland by way of organised excursions to cultural sites on the island. Courses will be
taught in English.

The courses consists of introductory lectures, as well as a field course containing surveying, excavation, documentation and interpretation of artefacts. Before arriving to Gotland, some basic literature studies should be carried out concerning Viking history in general, and about Gotland Viking Age in specific.

The main part of the field course will take place at the site of a Viking Age farm, both in the form of site lectures and dealing with excavation technique and includes themes as; archaeological field methods, documentation and visualisation, Osteology and a survey of Viking Age artefacts.

The fieldwork will be carried out with great emphasis on giving the participants an introduction to archaeological field methodology, digital techniques, and handling of finds and survey documentation.

The artefact analyses course will take place at the school with facilities to clean, document and register artefacts. There will be extensive literature about Gotlandic Viking and Medieval Artefacts.

The course ends, for those who plan to use it for credits at home universities with the accomplishment of a report, containing a description and an interpretation of a selected part of the investigation at Little Hultungs. The accomplishment of the report will take place at the end of the course.

Directed at

Directed at students, professors, teachers, and anyone that would like to increase their knowledge of archaeology and Viking Age history. Previous experience in archaeology or excavation is not required. The course will be limited to 30 participants per turn.

Spaces will be reserved when SEK 700 application fee for the course is received. The remainder of the programme cost will be due about 25 days before the start of the course.

Certificate

At the end of the course, students will receive a certificate of participation that will summarise their performance in the course. Students will also receive a letter stating that they were volunteers at the Viking Discovery
Programme project participating in archaeological research.

Application

Application to the field courses should be done before the 15th of May 2009. In connection to the application, the registration fee of SEK 700 should be paid to Gotland Residential School for adult education. Full payment must be made 3 weeks before the course. For further details about accommodation, costs etc, see the following page.

Staff

Project responsible is Associate professor Dan Carlsson. Responsible for the field work is Assistant Project Archaeologist M.A. Anna Pettersson and M.A. Jenny Örjestad.

Gotland Archaeological Field Courses summer 2009

29 June – 8 August

As participants in the courses, you will be part of an archaeological research project on the theme Viking Age, focused on the farm and its buildings. The course is aimed at both beginners and more experienced excavators and contains, beyond the field work, lectures and a full day excursion to the Viking sites, including the county museum on Gotland and its rich Viking heritage. From this year there is an opportunity to combine field work with artefacts processing, where people learn to identify, interpret and record the different types of objects from the excavations. For those who find the field work to heavy, can focus on artefact management. The project is
led by Associate Professor Dan Carlsson with many years of experience in archaeological investigations on Gotland. You choose between 2, 3 or 4 week field course, which can be combined with 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks artefact handling and interpretation. For further information, see;

Course place Fårösund, excavation site Bunge parish, not far from the school. The courses are carried out through Gotland Residential college for adult education.

The course field archaeology

2 weeks 29/6 kl. 10.00 – 11/7 kl. 12.00
2 weeks 13/7 kl. 10.00 – 25/7 kl. 12.00
3 weeks 29/6 kl. 10.00 – 18/7 kl. 12.00
4 weeks 29/6 kl. 10.00 – 25/7 kl. 12.00

The course artefacts analyses

The artefacts analyses course will be run per week, starting 13/7 until August 8th, and here you can choose from 1 week to 4 weeks and if you want, to combine with the field course. Target group Historie Interested, teachers, archeology students and others Application time Application is made on the intended form and registration fee (700 SEK) should be paid to the school in Fårösund not later than May 5th.

Costs

Full bord participants (housing, food, transports etc. included)

2 weeks 8 000 SEK (single room)
3 weeks 11 500 SEK (single room)
4 weeks 15 000 SEK (single room)
5 weeks 18 750 SEK (single room)
6 weeks 22 000 SEK (single room)

External participants (having their own living)

2 weeks 3 500 SEK
3 weeks 4 500 SEK
4 weeks 5 500 SEK
5 weeks 6 500 SEK
6 weeks 7 500 SEK

Responsible for the field courses

Associate Professor Dan Carlsson, tel. +46-70 311 80 32
E-post: dan@arkeodok.com

Money exchange link: http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

Gotland residential school for adult education in Fårösund

Gotland residential school for adult education in Fårösund is newly established. The school is located next to the sea on the outskirts of Fårösund, a community located on the northern tip of Gotland and with a population of around 1900 permanent residents. Distance to Visby is 55 km.
The school is located next to Fårösund and a stone's throw from the ferry to Fårö, a widely known part of Gotland for its remarkable nature and fascinating cultural landscape.

About living

The fee for the course includes a full pension at the school in Fårösund. You live in single rooms, have access to TV, Internet and laundry room. All meals are included in the fee, as well as transport to and from field work, as well as field equipment Bed linen is included in course cost. The rooms must be submitted at the latest. 09.00 departure.

Application

Applicants should be born in 1991 or earlier (exemptions can be made). Participants in the courses is limited. Note that some courses are fully booked before registration dates expires.

Admissions

The courses are organised, provided that a sufficient number of participants registered. The school reserves the right to cancel courses at too few notifications.

Registration fee and payment conditions

You register for any of the courses by sending application form to Gotland residential school for adult education in Fårösund and pay an entry fee of 700 SEK. Entrance fee should be paid into NORDEA bank, Postal Giro 37 71 11 - 0. Enter course, you name and address on the counterfoil. Note that you are notified to the course first, when the entry fee is paid! This count of the final payment. If final payment is not made before the last date on the invoice, your place will be open for a reserve.

Payments from abroad

If you pay your course fees from abroad it is important to indicate two different codes. IBAN: SE70 9500 0099 6026 0377 1110 BIC: NDEASESS . The name of the bank is NORDEA and the address is: 105 71 STOCKHOLM

Cancellation terms

For cancellation later than 3 weeks before the course is non-refundable registration fee, unless a medical certificate attached. For cancellation later than 7 days before the course is non-refundable course fee, unless a
medical certificate attached. Cancellation is notified in writing. If re-bid involves the repayment, then also provide an indication of the account number for deposit in an account number for deposit in bank. If the school must cancel a course, payments will be refunded.

Information on courses

If you want information of the courses, contact Associate Professor Dan Carlsson, dan@arkeodok.com email or phone +46-703118032. If you wish information about accommodation, food, rooms etc. Please contact Gotland college for adult education, 624 70 Fårösund Tel: +46-498 20 38 80; fax +46-498 20 38 81, e-mail: folkhogskolan@gotland.se
For information about the school in Fårösund call school office, Tel: +46-49820 38 80

How to travel to Gotland and Fårösund

Gotland can be reached by ferry from Nynäshamn or Oskarshamn, or air. Between Visby and Fårösund there are buses. In connection with certain ferry arrival departs from the port, or from the bus. The trip takes just over an hour. For information on bus times, see: www.gotland.se / public transport.
Tip! As the demand for boat and air tickets is very high in summer, it is good to book your tickets well in advance. Bookings can be made at your nearest travel agent, or at:

Destination Gotland (ferry) Tel: +46-77122 33 00, www.destinationgotland.se
Gotland Flyg AB Tel: +46-49822 22 22, www.gotlandsflyg.se
Skyways Tel: +46-77195 95 00, www.skyways.se
Gotland residential college for adult education
Application to archaeological course/courses on Gotland summer 2009

Más información en ArkeoDok