The #archaeobalt project webinar is now live on our YouTube channel. We will be live until 2:30pm CET. Join in whenever you would like to hear more about our #archaeology #excavations in the South Baltic areas
The first presentation is by our PI Karolina from Gdańsk University - she is introducing the key concepts behind this EU Development Fund project. Starting with the idea of archaeotourism and the creation of a sustainable tourism route in the South Baltic.
We are now being introduced to the amazing archaeological site of Uppåkra in Sweden with a long term excavation led by Professor Mats Roslund of @lunduniversity
Uppåkra is an amazingly complex site with evidence of very long term use and many spectacular finds! The images Professor Roslund is sharing bring its fascinating story to life #archaeobalt 
Professor Roslund highlights the public interest in the site and its public outreach efforts. He notes the overwhelming focus on Vikings in Scandinavia and their efforts to highlight the riches of the Merovingian period through Uppåkra and the #archaeobalt project
One of the important aspects of our #archaeobalt project is developing the role of technology to communicate to very different audiences, to demystify the archaeological process and to create connections between our sites digitally
Our next talk is by Finn Ole Nielsen, our colleague on Bornholm (a beautiful island in the Baltic!) who alongside us at @AU_Archaeology and especially our Assoc Professor Jens Andresen, have excavated at the amazing site of Sorte Muld (with it’s fantastic gold figurines)
Sorte Muld is a large site (now in farmland) that has a large ritual site - archaeological evidence dates from the pre-Roman to the Viking period - with the gold figurines evidence of votives. A lot has been excavated over many generations but much more to do with #archaeobalt
Here are fascinating images that show evidence we have for the temple at Sorte Muld, located in excavations in 1986/7. There have been c2300 gold votive figures found in the vicinity (image 2) but not in situ, they appear to have been thrown out of the temple
Everyone loves the gold votives at Sorte Muld and they are found every time the site is excavated (and even now more that there are metal detectors to sweep the site)! Just some up close for everyone to see - quite a few found at #archaeobalt excavations in 2019
Here is an even more close up representation of a votive - it is the only one that might indicate the presence of a King (note the crown and ‘Nobel’ long hair) and also the warrior; probably not a Nobel but protects the king. Will we find more next #archaeobalt excavation?
Some more amazing finds from the last #archaeobalt excavations at Sorte Muld - we all love the shiny things like the amber but tools and pottery such as this terra negra and Baltic ware - can tell us a lot about the trade and society
Alongside the fantastic finds Finn Ole mentioned the amazing public outreach and social media interaction that was facilitated by @AU_Archaeology students during the #archaeobalt excavations. Everyone on the island greatly appreciated having these communications!
Lastly some more amazing and spectacular finds from Sorte Muld alongside discussions with Finn Ole about the great working relationship between archaeologists on the island and (most of) the #metaldetectors (last image finds located just this weekend).
Our last talk of the morning is back to our #archaeobalt PI Karolina Czonstke & Bartosz Światkowski of Gdańsk university and their excavations at Owidz stronghold, about 50km from the city of Gdańsk. The distance meant most ppl needed to organize their time to visit!
An important point that Karolina makes about known archaeological sites in the Gdańsk area is that most sites are not prominent in the landscape and this makes it an issue that needs to be considered in terms of #tourism It was an issue with the #archaeobalt excavations at Owidz
Karolina has introduced some of the earlier archaeological discovers prior to #archaeobalt at Owidz stronghold, which included 37000 pieces of pottery but also lots of metal work and precious metals (ranging from tools, weaponry to ornate jewelry)
An interesting point re societal differences in completing projects like the #archaeobalt project is different social and even legal requirements. The use of #metaldetecting is much more controlled in Poland and the resulting digs had to be shallow (up to 50cm)
Excavations from 2017 onwards with #archaeobalt - including students from @AU_Archaeology - have revealed buildings at Owidz. In two field seasons they have found 13000 pieces of pottery, which date from periods from periods beyond historical sources detail
Dr Czonstke notes that a variety of artefacts were found during #archaeobalt excavations that reveal a lot about everyday life, including spinning activities and trade.
Dr Czonstke is now talking about #archaeobalt excavations and communicating with the public. She mentioned the diff between the 2017 and 2019 excavations. A lot of ppl - 1300 - organized to visit the site. This included local people, who also told their stories of the site
The #archaeology students communicated their roles and facilitated visitors to help with the sieving. They had workshops for children. The #archaeobalt students were fantastic guides and visitors loved hands on experiences. Advertising was v successful through soc media.
Our live stream on the #archaeobalt YouTube channel starts in 1 minute. For the 2nd part of our webinar we will hear talks from our partners at the Museum of Gdańsk and then widen our scope to hear more about technology in public archaeology and reports on the Routes4U project
Our first lecture of the afternoon is by our #archaeobalt colleague Andrzej Gierszewski at Gdańsk Museum. His discussion is on the #Vistulamouth Fortress, the gateway to Gdańsk. Starting with some fantastic historic maps and plans!
Andrzej is discussing an issue affecting all archaeologists in urban areas - destruction of archaeological evidence caused by to recent activities. This is primarily wartime activities, new populations moved into the fortress post-WWII and recent military enthusiasts #archaeobalt
Andrzej is discussing the role of #archaeobalt students in excavating areas within the fort and how they plan to exhibit these napoleonic barracks (pictured) alongside the rest of the fortress site for tourism by 2021.
Some interesting discoveries inside the old barracks from #archaeobalt projects include some #murals or wall paintings, which have been scientifically analyzed and the findings will be published.
The more historic nature of this site doesn’t stop it showing the interconnections of the #archaeobalt #route - there is evidence of connections with the rest of the Baltic, including alliances with the Danes. These connections obviously cross many periods of time.
Andrzej notes that in terms of #tourism #archaeology is an area of great interest to the public in Gdańsk with their festivals at the Fortress being very successful. During the #archaeobalt project there was a lot of engagement with families and children through walks.
Andrzej is discussing one of the innovations that will come from the #archaeobalt project is an #archaeology board game! It will be based on the finds and from the project in the South Baltic area and it will be free of charge and available through all our partners
One other innovations being led by our Gdańsk partners for #archaeobalt is the use of VR technology for interpreting archaeological sites. For Gdańsk, these technologies can be used when the fortress is closed in the winter (when the bats occupy it!)
Our second last speaker is Matthew Nelson from #GRASCA at Linnæus University and he will be talking about communicating with the public through contract archaeology and look for some issues that might impact on that communication. Thank you for joining us, Matthew!
Matthew starts by discussing the conceptual background to his work in terms of how ‘value’ and ‘landscapes’ are defined and how that changes over time. This is important in terms of treatment, what we define as ‘heritage’ and what we think the public are interested in.
Matthew is interested in the types of #archaeology sites that are created and encountered through #contract #archaeology and so aren’t usually protected as ‘heritage’ How we can use them to communicate with the public about the past and what we value from them?. #archaeobalt
How we can consider #contract #archaeology as an ‘event’ - #excavations can be ‘cultural performative acts’ in real time and so have real potential to allow for authentic interactions between the public and archaeology. Experience suggests big public interest #archaeobalt
Example of motorway construction outside Stockholm - public had protested about impact on nature but had no consideration of the site as ‘cultural’. It was clear thattthe site was previously a symbolic landscape with evidence of ritual sites revealed through #excavations
Nelson asks how can the #archaeology be used to connect better with the public? The ‘archaeological imagination’ is important! The role of reconstructions, storytelling and allowing physical interactions with the site #archaeobalt
Noted the role of #archaeology #outreach to many groups of people, including those who are not usually interested in these sites. Enjoyed engaging with the large migrant communities in some of the Stockholm suburbs. #archaeobalt
Our last talk of the afternoon for #archaeobalt is Laura Lipazzolo talking on her work with the #Routes4U project from Council of Europe on cultural routes in EU micro-regions
Ligazzolo starts highlighting even during these difficult times we should talk about #tourism and #heritage as these industries are hugely impacted and we need to think about how we do #transnational tourism in the future #archaeobalt She notes the importance of cooperation.
Ligazzolo presents a background to the creation of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. Started in 1987, timing is important as it reveals the importance placed on #culture to bring together a divided Europe post-Cold War #archaeobalt
Interesting - topics selected that represent #european #values that tie into the policy of creating #cultural #routes - importance of scientific committee to ensure applications are interpreting these values in informed ways #archaeobalt
Importance of macro-regions in developing these routes and that they are all based in #sustainability and #democratic structures. South Baltic was the first adopted region! Aims of increasing connections, sense of shared identity and prosperity #archaeobalt
Ligazzolo highlights the Council of Europe e-learning resources to enable the success of cultural routes, which are free to access, and the ‘trip planner’ digital platform, fab resources! #archaeobalt pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/cultura…
Ligazzolo finishes with an important point on learning from previous experience and best practice - especially in terms of promoting alongside conserving and enabling #sustainability #archaeobalt
So that is the end of our #archaeobalt webinar with presentations on our YouTube channel (just search #archaeobalt). Thank you to our colleagues in Bornholm, Poland and Sweden and our special guest speakers Matthew Nelson of GRASCA and Laura Ligozzolo of Council of Europe
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