8th March 2007, 02:22 PM
'I have found that not many archaeologists have any knowledge on these small finds. I only got one reply on Britarch to the same question I asked here..
This is a good way for UKDFD in helping you guys and others understand them.'
You're pretty much spot on here Gary. Most archaeologists will have little detailed knowledge of specialised finds categories, and will pass them over to (one of) a very small number of specialists for comment. It may well be that the knowledge of these things is vested in only a couple of people nationally.
UKDFD may well have a great part to play in furthering the understading of these (and other find types), but remember that what you were originally interested in was the date at which these bells were introduced. Unless there are suitable documentary records that can assist on this matter, it will be the associated finds and the specific context of recovery that will be important in providing dating evidence.
By the way, I once found one of these bells in a 13th century urban site, but this won't really help you as you already knew that they were around at that time.
Beamo
This is a good way for UKDFD in helping you guys and others understand them.'
You're pretty much spot on here Gary. Most archaeologists will have little detailed knowledge of specialised finds categories, and will pass them over to (one of) a very small number of specialists for comment. It may well be that the knowledge of these things is vested in only a couple of people nationally.
UKDFD may well have a great part to play in furthering the understading of these (and other find types), but remember that what you were originally interested in was the date at which these bells were introduced. Unless there are suitable documentary records that can assist on this matter, it will be the associated finds and the specific context of recovery that will be important in providing dating evidence.
By the way, I once found one of these bells in a 13th century urban site, but this won't really help you as you already knew that they were around at that time.
Beamo