TAG 2013 - Tag-on-Sea at Bournemouth University

Ecosal-UK contributed to a session at the Theoretical Archaeology Group annual conference being held at Bournemouth University. Look out for links to the results of the conference here.

New Book by Anthony Harding

Salt in Prehistoric Europe

Anthony Harding | 2013

€ 29,95 | 

ISBN: 9789088902017

Imprint: Sidestone Press | Format: 182x257mm Paperback | 162 pp. | Language: English | 12 illus. (bw) | 49 illus. (fc) | Category: Archaeology, Prehistoric Europe, Salt 

Read for free or purchase PDF in the Sidestone e–library

http://www.sidestone.com/bookshop/salt-in-prehistoric-europe

Salt Session at TAG-on-Sea : TAG 2013

Confirmation of our salt session at the Theoretical Archaeology Group 2013 conference - TAG-on-Sea at Bournemouth University 16-18 December 2013.
The half day session on salt will include six presentations and a workshop.
For details of the whole conference, booking details and local accommodation go to the TAG-on-Sea site.

SESSION DETAILS

Exploring ancient and traditional salt-production sites in their environs and moving towards better ways of investigation and interpretation: New Research

Session Abstract:

This session provides an overview of current and new approaches to the investigation and interpretation of ancient and traditional salt-production sites.   Earlier studies of salt-production have often been limited by a lack of well-preserved sites and a bias in the evidence preserved, resulting in a heavy reliance on briquetage form studies.  Fortunately, the investigation and revealing of new sites in the last two decades, as well as new projects exploring and preservation of traditional salt-production, which can greatly inform on ancient techniques and organisation, have significantly accelerated and expanded our understanding of this important industry.  This session firstly explores the creation of Ecosal; a project bringing together traditional salt-production sites and salt makers from different countries.  Then there is an emphasis on research which aims to contextualise earlier salt-production in their greater environs, including organisation of production, the impact of production on surrounding landscape, and the use of modern techniques (LIDAR) to enrich the number of known sites as well as their position in the landscape.   New approaches to briquetage studies will also presented, which aims to explore new ways in which this material can be used to reconstruct technique, as well as use of space (in the workshop).   New ways of sampling sites will also be discussed.  At the end of the session there will also be the opportunity for the speakers and the audience to contribute to a workshop focused on pragmatic and much needed strategies to investigate and make sense of salt-production sites in the archaeological record.  This will include discussion and debate about the best way that this can be achieved, and the issues arising when working with these often challenging sites.

Workshop Abstract:

Realising potential and getting the most out of the site:  Exploring the Identification, processing and interpretation of a prehistoric/Roman salt-production site.  This workshop will provide an arena for the sharing of experience gained from the archaeological investigation and subsequent interpretation of these sites.  Identifying and making sense of these often fragmented sites can be challenging, as well as the processing of potentially vast quantities of briquetage.  However, with a prior understanding of the way space can be used in these sites, as well as the types of features that can be expected, and their relationship to each part of the process, it is possible to reconstruct much about these sites, even with limited evidence.  The method of processing these sites is also important, and sampling of briquetage as well as the removal of systematic environmental samples, can greatly enrich understanding of these sites.  Finally, the significance and position of these sites in the wider landscape and environs, which has been traditionally less focused upon in the past, can provide much context as to the modes of organisation, as well as areas of more intense production, and the potential environmental impact of these sites on their surroundings.  This workshop provides an opportunity to share key information and new methods, as well as an opportunity for questions and aims to ‘demystify’ these sites and look toward the creation of a framework for future work.

Chair: TBC

SPEAKERS/PAPERS:

1.    Andrew Fielding :

Introducing ECOSAL-UK : What can a new body do?

2.    Sarah-Jane Hathaway :

The creation of new modes as a tool for exploring the organisation of Iron Age and Romano-British salt-production in southern Britain

3.    Tom Lane:

Lidar, Landscape and the pursuit of coastal salterns

4.    Nicholas Branch, Naomi Riddiford, Larent Oliver, Christopher Green, Simon Armitage, Kevin Williams, Rob Batchelor and Mathew Smith:

Evaluating the environmental impact of prehistoric industrial scale salt production in the Seille Valley, NE France

5.    Mark Brisbane, John Beavis, Brian Astin, Iain Green :

Bitter briquetage: Some preliminary thoughts on the role of fired clay in the removal of bitterns in salt

6.    Frank Green:

Chlorites, sulphites, silica and carbon; sampling Lymington’s salt works

7.    WORKSHOP and discussion: 90 minutes

Halloween - All Saints Day

Ecosal Halloween Pumpkin

TAG-on-Sea the 34th Theoretical Archaeology Group Meeting Dec 2013

Details to follow here about the Salt Session at the 34th Theoretical Archaeology Group meeting being held at Bournemouth University 16-17 December 2013.
Sessions being coordinated by Andrew Fielding, Mark Brisbane and Sarah-Jane  Hathaway.
A half day session of short talks and a Workshop.

16th Salt Festival at L'Escala, Costa Brava, Spain

Description of the Festival of Salt at L'Escala

Held on the third weekend of September

ON THE BEACH
THE ARRIVAL OF THE SALT SHIP
Pailebot Santa Eulàlia from the Maritime Museum of Barcelona.
The Festa de la Sal was created in 1997 to commemorate the 3rd centenary of the town’s Alfolí de la Sal, the old salt storehouse where this once costly mineral arrived by boat from the salt pans of Ibiza and Torrevella before being distributed to towns inland. In homage to its origins as a fishing and salt-distributing village, the town of L’Escala relives a day in the life of the old port from over a hundred years ago.

THE NYACRES DANCE
This is a fisherman’s dance from the Bay of Roses. The dance takes place around a boat to the sound of a guitar in order to celebrate a good fishing day. The dancers follow the rhythm using castanet type “nyacres” which are made from seashells known as curculles.

THE DANCE OF THE DRAGON
This is a fisherman’s dance which was performed on the beach to herald a bountiful catch. According to Amades the dance actually comes from L’Escala. Local writer Víctor Català wrote about the dance at the beginning of the 20th century. The fact that the leading dancer carried a lighted torch in his mouth in order to burn the dragon’s tail has meant that the dance lasted as an event in the local carnival.

THE FARANDOLA
This is an open dance which has formed part of the local Carnival in L’Escala since time immemorial. Its origin is attributed to the dance performed by the sailors who accompanied Theseus when they finally left the Minotaur’s labyrinth using Ariadne’s thread. An unlimited number of dancers hold each other’s hands and make a long chain, jumping and following the turns and twists of the leading dancer. One of the most spectacular parts of the dance is the “Cargol” or snail, when the dancers come close together, without letting go of each other in an explosion of joy. The dance was prohibited during the early years of Franco’s dictatorship. Dance teacher Josep Clos managed to recover the dance steps from the last surviving witnesses and he included it as part of the Farandola dance repertory.
Youtube video of Festival in 2011 and  Festival in 2012

SALTCOTE No.1, 2013- the newsletter of ECOSAL-UK

The first issue of our newsletter is published.
SALTCOTE is planned as a twice yearly publication to report news and activities of ECOSAL-UK and The UK Salt Network.
It is available online at ISUU

Annana Awaits UNESCO

Annana awaits a visit from UNESCO for assessment of their World Heritage application.
Slideshow

Heritage Open Days with a Salt Connection

In September there are a few sites that include salt as a theme in the National Heritage Open Days promotion.

Lion Salt Works, Northwich, Cheshire    - Restoration works at this Victorian open pan salt works. 14 Sept

Goldhanger Village Tour, Maldon, Essex - Village walk which includes traditional sea salt making 14-15 Sept

Cullercoats Heritage Day, North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear  - Salt panning, coal mining and fishing. 8 Sept

Salt Bridges, the new Bio-chemistry Building, South Parks Road, Oxford - See inside the award-winning new Biochemistry Building and Salt Bridges Art Commissions. 15 Sept

Saltcote - 2013 - 01

The first issue of the Ecosal-UK newsletter is now written.
Links for reading online It is available online at ISUU
http://ecosaluk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/saltcote-2013-01.html

Newsletter

Ecosal-UK will produce a newsletter to be called 'Saltcote'.
First edition is being proof-read now and will be published in the next week.

Incorporation of Ecosal-UK

The steering group of Ecosal-UK today incorporated a not for profit company limited by guarantee, registered in England No. 08652326.
This enables us to create the legacy of the Ecosal-Atlantis project by coordinating and managing a UK Salt Network in the UK.
Our web site is being updated and emails will be sent to all who we contacted as part of the Ecosal-Atlantic project to encourage them to participate and help to promote the salt heritage and culture in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The directors of Ecosal-UK are Andrew and Annelise Fielding, David Cranstone, Tom Lane and Brian Irving.

Ecosal Atlantis Meeting 24 july, Vitoria, Spain

A meeting of the Ecosal-Atlantis partners took place in  Vitoria, Spain on 24 July, 2012.
The meeting discussed how the proposed Traditional Salt Making - Atlantic Route' would be taken forward.

Salt from the Sea and Inland Brine

A blog for those interested in participating in researching, interpreting and promoting the skills and traditions of traditional salt making and its associated culture.