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Our YouTube Channel!

Author:  Lara Cook, Project Archaeologist Our Youtube Channel! If you haven’t already seen it, we’re now on YouTube! Through our channel you’ll have the opportunity to learn about many interesting topics and have all your archaeological questions answered. Videos will include how-to tutorials, Q&As, videos from sites we’re working on, and more! Our first video…

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Roundhouses

Author: Lara Cook, Project Archaeologist Roundhouses Roundhouses were structures that were built throughout the UK during the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. The first example of these structures being built in the UK was found in South West Scotland, and dates to the later 3rd millennium BC. Roundhouses were constructed out of timber posts…

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Wassailing

Author: Ruth Tipton, Trainee Archaeologist Wassailing Perhaps somewhat unsurprising but drinking has played an important role in celebrating Christmas for a very long time. There are numerous different festive drinking customs but the one we’re going to focus on is ‘wassailing’. Wassailing is traditionally a twelfth night tradition that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times. The custom…

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Grubenhaus

Author: Ruth Tipton, Trainee Archaeologist Grubenhaus A Grubenhaus (which derives from the German words grube [pit] and haus [house]) is a type of sunken floor building that was built in many parts of northern Europe between the 5th and 12th centuries. They are almost entirely exclusive to Anglo-Saxon settlements, though it is not uncommon to…

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The Derby Tup

Author: Ruth Tipton, Trainee Archaeologist To give a brief summary to a fascinating pastime, mumming is a practice similar to carolling in which amateur players visit houses and pubs to perform short plays. It is unknown where exactly the practice originated although some link it to the Roman feast of Kalends-a festival which celebrated the…

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