Troops Get Archaeological Playing Cards

[Gog]

Run over by a tank, more like.

[gumbo]

'Come to think of it, I know a few archaeologists who'd make the grade as us Pilots.'

Due to their dangerousness with a swinging mattock perhaps? 'Oops just cleaved through a whole pot/ waterpipe/ Britsh personnel vehicle '

[Gog]

Perhaps a reference to those diggers whose 'carefully trowelled' surfaces resemble bomb craters.

[Sparky]

I was referring to the rare but amazing skill of single context bombing.

'I wanna be a punk rocker but my mammy will ne let me'
Campbell

[1man1desk]

Posted by Gog:

quoteerhaps a reference to those diggers whose 'carefully trowelled' surfaces resemble bomb craters.

Bomb craters can be archaeological contexts too.

I remember seeing a very impressive DBA for a town centre redevelopment project some years ago, that identified the exact location of every bomb strike during the Blitz. I think the intention there was to identify archaeologically sterile areas, but then it was pre-Defence of Britain Project.

1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

[Gog]

I have included bomb craters in DBAs myself as archaeology, and been asked by a curator to specifically research them (difficult when key records such as police logs are still sealed for another 35 years) - but only if produced by the Luftwaffe. We try to discourage our diggers from producing their own versions - not the place for experimental archaeology!

[kevin wooldridge]

I worked for a short time on a project next to the River Medway and not only were we given a briefing on the dangers of, and how to identify, WWII ordnance, but I recall the site assessment report included a map indicating locations where spotters had seen bombs drop. I also have hazy memories of seeing something similar for an area adjacent to the Thames (maybe somewhere near Woolwich Arsenal)

Maybe there is some department of central or local government that makes this information available to developers and/or archaeologists outside of any 35 or 50 year preclusion limits. It kinda sounds like information you wouldn't want to keep too secret.....

[beamo]

Bomb strike data is usually available from local authorities and/or local fire service, or sometimes from the National Archives.

In some areas that were heavily bombed this can be a key part of the DBA both in terms of identifying significant impacts to potential archaeological deposits, and also in identifying potential hazards that might occur during fieldwork.


Beamo

[Gog]

There is a commercial company that does bomb-checks for the construction industry (a bit like Envirocheck does for other issues). I looked up their website once, but I can't remember their name - I'm sure it had a z in it. I do remember the website was very glossy and the service predictably expensive.

[AchingTrenchHeadAtADesk]

Zetica!

http://www.zetica.com/productsandservices/sitesafe.htm

or

http://www.zetica.com/productsandservice...ssment.htm

Personally, the UXB Probability Calculator is my favourite.

:face-huh: