The first batch of high resolution photographs of 50 ParishChurches can be found on http://theparishchurch.co.uk/

This project started as background research to my work on redundant Churches. A few years later I found I had photographed getting on for a thousand Parish Churches.

The website is at a very early stage and will evolve - more buildings will be added in due course both from Parish Churches I have already photographed and those I will photograph in the future. Alas I am too busy in my day job to devote as much time as I would like to this or to utilising the dataset for research. Equally I sometimes have to do similar background research for a project which diverts me from this. By the same token if I go to part of the Country I don’t know very well then I also want to visit the many other beautiful historic buildings there. Devon has so far taken up six long weekend visits!

So bear with me on the speed at which this website will evolve – it is being done purely in my leisure time. I will be adding maps shortly showing which Churches I have already photographed. With 13,000 listed parish churches in England this project may never be complete!

The photographs may be downloaded for any non commercial research except:
· Heritage Statements and Statements of Significance and Similar
· Academic Research at Masters and above level - write to me – the website is just a few percent of the collection.

In the gazetteer there is a pdf for each Church containing anything from 20 to a few hundred photographs. They are arranged in a systematic way but split into portrait and landscape photographs. This format has been chosen as the fastest means of getting the photographs onto the net.

By the time you add a plan from http://www.churchplansonline.org/, descriptions from the listed building descriptions and guide books, and get the background documentary research from VCH you have a basic level 3 recording of the building.


Sampling Strategy
While this is a hobby there is a hierarchical sampling strategy in place which is:

· Simon Jenkins' England’s Thousand Best Churches to give an overview of the “best” across the Country
· All Churches in the Care of the Historic Churches Trust
· Comprehensive Photography of Oxfordshire & Berkshire Listed Churches:
o All Grade 1
o All Non Victorian Buildings
o The better Victorian Buildings
o Post Victorian Churches with Stained Glass
· As above for Gloucestershire and Hampshire in due course

As above for the rest of the country!

Sorry I haven't posted in ages but I have been busy

Dr Peter Wardle

(No I am not retiring!)

Found this on the interweb... love it...

A whole series... whooo hooo

quirky, artistic, thoughtful... just perfect.

http://prehistories.wordpress.com/2013/0...ties-no-1/



Has anyone else links to other similar fab resources?

[h=5]Profiling the Profession 2012-13 is Now Out http://bit.ly/1hweqhd

For those unaware it is a sort of census of archaeologists working in the UK that happens every five years. The last one occurred right before the great recession and this one really highlights the absolute pounding that the profession took. It is a good resource for those considering a career in archaeology in the UK.

If anyone has any questions on it please feel free to drop me a line, I am one of the authors. Though apologies if I don't get back to you right away, I am starting a new job so a bit busy.[/h]

A student from Aberdeen asked me to help distribute their survey on Community Archaeology. If you have a spare minute can you help them out and fill out the survey.

Cheers

Doug

http://freeonlinesurveys.com/s.asp?sid=4...20wn324758

QGIS (formerly Quantum GIS) have upgraded and version 2.0 is now available (from 13th September 2013). This is about the best free, open source GIS software you can get and is fully compatible with ArcGIS etc etc. The latest upgrade comes in a desktop and laptop version.. .... People should give this a look whether its cos you use GIS, want to use GIS or just wonder what the fuss is all about.... http://www.qgis.org/en/site/ It also comes accompanied with the latest version of the GRASS programme for anyone who wants to play with real archaeological 3-D....Enjoy.

I couldn't find a non-archaeological section on the forum so apologies if this post is in the wrong place....

question is do we have many anglers on the forum?, where are they based?, and what do they fish for?

might be nice to set up an annual match somewhere if there is enough interest.

cheers

rich c

Sidestone Press will be publishing “Salt in Prehistoric Europe”, the newest book by Anthony Harding (Prof. of Archaeology, Exeter UK, former president of the European Association of Archaeologists, and author of several leading works on the European Bronze Age).
Salt was a commodity of great importance in the ancient past, just as it is today. Its roles in promoting human health and in making food more palatable are well-known; in peasant societies it also plays a very important role in the preservation of foodstuffs and in a range of industries. Uncovering the evidence for the ancient production and use of salt has been a concern for historians over many years, but interest in the archaeology of salt has been a particular focus of research in recent times.
This book charts the history of research on archaeological salt and traces the story of its production in Europe from earliest times down to the Iron Age. It presents the results of recent research, which has shown how much new evidence is now available from the different countries of Europe. The book considers new approaches to the archaeology of salt, including a GIS analysis of the oft-cited association between Bronze Age hoards and salt sources, and investigates the possibility of a new narrative of salt production in prehistoric Europe based on the role of salt in society, including issues of gender and the control of sources.
The book is intended for both academics and the general reader interested in the prehistory of a fundamental but often under-appreciated commodity in the ancient past. It includes the results of the author’s own research as well as an up-to-date survey of current work.

Expected publication date of the book will be December 2013. For more information about the book you can visit our site at http://www.sidestone.com/books/salt-in-p...ric-europe

A STONE circle has been restored to its former glory after “going missing” for over 200 years. ... WTF!!! I mean... yes its a lovely story... however...

http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk/news/sto...-1.1083957

They came across an 18th century map with a drawing of the old stone circle in a field close to their home. It was marked “Druids Temple”.

The discovery attracted the attention of the Stone Circle and Henge Trust’s founders Professor Meaden and Paul Daw, who have been on the scene to aid in the reconstruction.

Originally only three stones were discovered but, when more people got involved, the rest of the stones were found and removed from the hedge-line by a tractor. They have now been restored into a circle in the original field, at the spot where they were shown on the 18th century map.

----------------------------------------------------------


I take it an excavation took place first? seems that there is some info missing here... and assumptions.

ah well... build your own circle

Due to a lapse in entertainment experienced on the forum, the School of Jack has returned for a second thrilling installment.

The School of Jack is pleased to present its second year course 201 'So you think your ready to be a supervisor?'

So sit back, pin back your earlobes, shut your noise-holes, get out your pen and paper and be prepared to be assaulted by the egotistical, meglomanical and offensive spoutings of The School.......

I added it up the other day and over the years I am about ten grand down(on price). For the first few hundred pounds I thought it not worth the hassle, then that I did not want to be seen using the treat of enforcement. The truth is that if they don't pay I don't put in a report and shove the archive in the bin. The curators have never done a thing about it although I have never pressed them. I did have the other day a client who had not paid return who paid up and I doubled my price and they so far have paid. Maybe my policy is working. Any thoughts.