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    BBC Earth Magazine January 2017 Adventure Hackers

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    Thames Discovery Programme
    BBC Earth's feature article on the many ways to get involved in archaeology, including a profile of Thames Discovery programme volunteer Claire Millington.

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    BBC Earth Magazine January 2017 Adventure Hackers

    Uploaded by

    Thames Discovery Programme
    342 views4 pages
    BBC Earth's feature article on the many ways to get involved in archaeology, including a profile of Thames Discovery programme volunteer Claire Millington.

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

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    BBC Earth's feature article on the many ways to get involved in archaeology, including a profile of Thames Discovery programme volunteer Claire Millington.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    342 views4 pages

    BBC Earth Magazine January 2017 Adventure Hackers

    Uploaded by

    Thames Discovery Programme
    BBC Earth's feature article on the many ways to get involved in archaeology, including a profile of Thames Discovery programme volunteer Claire Millington.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    Adventure hackers

    Digging the past


    | A DV E N T U R E

    H AC K E R S |

    SO YOU
    WANT TO
    BE INDIANA
    JONES?
    Archaeology can it really be all
    about exotic destinations and clever
    detective work? Yes, if youre an
    Egyptologist. We track down a Raider
    of the Lost Ark and find out how
    to get started unearthing the past

    / 073

    t the age of three, before she could even read,


    Joann Fletcher was fascinated by ancient
    Egypt. At nursery school she sketched
    Egyptian gods in DayGlo wax crayons, then,
    when she was six, the Tutankhamun exhibition came to the
    British Museum in London and her fate was sealed.
    In 1972, Tutankhamun was everywhere and I didnt talk
    about much else, says Fletcher, who is now an Egyptologist
    and honorary visiting professor in the Department of
    Archaeology at the University of York. My Mum told me it was
    possible to get a job as an Egyptologist, so from then on that
    was what I was going to be, she says.
    Fletcher went on to take A levels at her local sixth-form
    college, then applied to University College London (UCL) to
    take the best Egyptology course ever. She remembers going
    for her interview, aged 17, and saying: If you dont accept me
    this time, Ill just keep coming back.
    Luckily, she was offered a place on UCLs degree in Ancient
    History and Egyptology, which she completed in 1987. She
    went on to take a PhD at the University of Manchester, then
    become a self-employed Egyptologist and began working
    with the University of York. While there, she co-founded
    the Mummy Research Group. Im the luckiest person on the
    planet, I really enjoy what I do, she says.
    A specialist in ancient Egyptian hair, nails and soft tissue,
    Fletcher often goes into the field to advise on mummified
    human remains. Over the years, she has made numerous
    visits to Egypts Valley of the Kings: in 2003 she helped to
    identify three mummies that had been discovered in 1898.
    Her controversial theory, that one of the bodies could be of
    the female pharaoh Nefertiti, is now becoming more accepted.
    As well as being involved in fieldwork, museum curation,
    laboratory analysis and teaching, Fletcher has written many
    scientific articles and appeared in numerous documentaries,
    including the recent BBC series Immortal Egypt with Joann
    Fletcher, which she wrote and presented, and Mummifying
    Alan: Egypts Last Secret, which showed how to mummify the
    donated body of taxi driver Alan Billis.
    Being an Egyptologist doesnt just take her to Egypt,
    however. Fletcher has also studied remains in Yemen,

    GET IN TOUCH WITH PAST LIVES


    GO DIGGING
    Anyone can apply to get practical,

    BECOME A CITIZEN
    ARCHAEOLOGIST

    hands-on experience of the

    Want to volunteer? The Museum

    archaeology on their own doorstep

    of London Archaeologys CITiZAN

    with the University of Cambridges

    project needs help with recording

    Access Cambridge Archaeology

    the fascinating history of the UKs

    unit. Theyve run digs recently at

    more than 6,500 miles of coastline.

    Peterborough Cathedral and along

    The first step is to sign up at:

    the Suffolk Heritage Coast from

    http://bit.ly/2frJKqu You can then

    Covehithe to Felixstowe. If youd

    monitor and record coastal and

    like to get to grips with the past

    intertidal archaeological sites using

    alongside the universitys experts,

    a web-based system, and attend

    visit: access.arch.cam.ac.uk

    guided walks and lectures.

    074 /

    / JANUARY 2017

    After seeing Tutankhamuns


    golden death mask (above)
    aged six, Joann Fletcher
    (right) knew that she wanted
    to be an Egyptologist

    Adventure hackers
    Digging the past

    Fletcher (left and below)


    frequently visits Egypt
    to advise on finds

    WANT TO WALK
    IN ANCIENT
    FOOTSTEPS?
    The traditional route is
    to study for a degree in
    archaeology or a related
    subject, such as ancient
    history. Several British
    universities offer them,
    including the University
    of York, Bournemouth
    University, SOAS
    University of London,
    University of East
    Anglia, the University of
    Aberdeen and Bangor
    University.
    Courses can be artsoriented (for example,
    Bangor Universitys
    BA in Archaeology, run
    out of the School of
    History, Welsh History
    and Archaeology) or
    more science-based
    (for example, the BSc
    in Archaeology at the
    University of Aberdeens
    School of Engineering and
    Physical Sciences).
    If youre not sure
    whether a degree is for
    Italy and the Canary Islands. Egyptian
    Best bit: The Nefertiti Project. It led to
    you, try volunteering
    mummification was so influential that
    the realisation that we didnt actually
    first. If youre under 17,
    various other cultures adopted it, she
    understand how mummification had
    you can join the Council
    explains. Im often invited out to study
    been carried out during ancient Egypts
    of British Archaeologys
    both newly excavated remains or those
    Golden Age. That, in turn, led to the
    Young Archaeologists
    Club.
    There
    are
    about
    70
    that have been held for many years within
    mummification of human body donor
    branches across the UK
    museum collections.
    Alan Billis. The project was filmed as part
    and the Council also holds
    One job in Turin, Italy, involved studying
    of a Channel 4 documentary, for which we
    an annual festival. Events
    a pair of mummified knees thought to
    won a BAFTA and several other awards.
    for all ages will take place
    belong to Nefertari, the favourite wife of
    I just couldnt believe it. Since then, 17
    from 15-30 July 2017.
    famed pharaoh Rameses II. Nefertari is
    Visit archaeologyuk.org
    people have emailed to ask if they can
    depicted on many monuments but her
    donate their bodies for the purpose of
    tomb was robbed in antiquity. Fletchers
    archaeological research.
    task was to help ascertain whether the
    Worst bit: The elitism that still exists in
    knees were all that remained of the fabled Egyptian beauty.
    some areas of archaeology. I heard one academic say, Oh,
    Surprisingly, her most recent project brought her close to
    shes from Barnsley, is she? as if my accent meant that I had
    her Yorkshire roots. An Egyptology collection, including a gold
    a low IQ. But it just makes you work all the harder. Im very
    face mask of stunning quality, had come to light in Wigan
    proud of where I come from.
    Museum, Greater Manchester. I was absolutely blown away,
    Handy hint: Become a specialist in one part of your particular
    she says. I often tell my students that not everything is found
    subject area and learn an additional language or two, so you
    in Egypt. A lot is much closer to home.
    can read a wider range of academic papers.

    Adventure hackers
    Digging the past

    I love touching the everyday objects


    that people used centuries ago
    After a degree in Performing Arts and Business
    Management, 41-year-old Claire Millington joined
    the Foreign Office and became a diplomat. But she is
    also a keen amateur archaeologist, who delights in
    finding out about her local area and its history

    A typical day for volunteers (known as FROGs:


    the Foreshore Recording and Observation Group)
    involves rising early to be on the foreshore at low tide,
    then observing any changes from newly visible
    timber structures, to pottery, clay pipes and old
    bones. Usually, if a survey is undertaken, a MOLA
    archaeologist works with the volunteers to make
    sure everything is recorded correctly and ensure it
    can become part of the body of academic knowledge,
    says Millington.
    A highlight has been learning about the Tudor jetty
    at Greenwich Palace. It was chiefly used to carry
    supplies to the palace, but was sometimes also used
    by royalty. Part of the foreshore at Greenwich is now
    a Scheduled Ancient Monument in recognition of the
    significance of the remains found there.
    Having caught the archaeology bug, Millington
    plans to continue volunteering in the long term. She
    is studying for a PhD in Classics and hopes eventually
    to find work on a community archaeology project.
    Historic things have always interested me. Now I have
    the opportunity to do something in a work capacity.

    Careers advisers dont often mention archaeology


    as a potential job. As a result, many people come into
    it later in life. Claire Millington only discovered her
    passion for archaeology after resuming studying
    for an Open University Masters degree in Classical
    Studies. Ive always been interested in history, but Id
    never really come across archaeology until I used it as
    one of the sources for my Masters degree, she says.
    Since 2012, Millington has regularly put her wellies
    on and volunteered for the Museum of London
    Archaeologys (MOLA) Thames Discovery Programme
    (TDP). TDP gave her four days of training, which
    involved fieldwork to learn how to record timbers,
    along with lectures on the history
    of London and its archaeology. I
    love touching everyday objects
    and knowing that people used
    them centuries ago, she says. It
    CLAIRES TOP TIPS
    gives you a connection and its a
    FOR WANNABE
    real part of puzzling out the past.
    ARCHAEOLOGISTS

    Join in with digs going on in


    your area to find out more,
    visit new.archaeologyuk.org/
    If youre in London,
    the Thames Discovery
    Programme offers
    hands-on experience. Visit
    http://bit.ly/2gDu5pQ

    Best bit You meet so many


    people of all ages from all sorts
    of different backgrounds but
    youve got something in common;
    a deep interest in your local area.
    Worst bit The early starts!

    WHEN YOU DO
    ARCHAEOLOGY YOU
    GET YOUR HANDS
    DIRTY AND DO
    PHYSICAL WORK
    Its so exciting when you
    start to uncover something,
    then you have to slow down
    to get it out of the ground
    carefully and the whole team
    gets excited too. It feels like a
    big family. Once youve got the
    artefact, its fascinating taking
    it to the expert who knows
    exactly what and how old it
    is whether you have found
    something unique or just a
    bone from a cow! It is amazing
    to be the first person to handle
    something that has been
    buried for centuries.
    I think archaeology would
    make an interesting career for
    people who are curious and
    who like teamwork. Finding
    physical things from times
    when so much has been lost
    is totally awesome. I believe
    that history is not all about the
    past; it also helps us to predict
    the future.
    Daisy Reeves-Turner, aged 12,

    Blast from the past: uncover


    the history of the Thames,
    whose foreshore is the UKs
    largest archaeological site

    who recently attended a dig


    at Peterborough Cathedral
    organised by Access
    Cambridge Archaeology.

    / 077

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