Latest News and Press
To keep up to date with the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology's most recent projects and research check this page for links to the latest news, press and media appearances and photographs.
July 2012
Tigers in the Park: TAPP2
The Adam Park Project (TAPP) is a ground breaking battlefield archaeology project looking into the wartime heritage of the Adam Park housing estate in Singapore. The project founder Jon Cooper, alumni of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at Glasgow University, is now currently taking the project into its second stage.
No 16 Adam Park with a concentration of shell fragments on the bank by the pool.
TAPP2 – POWS by the Pool, Shrapnel in the Shrubbery
The 70th anniversary of the fall of Singapore was commemorated across the island with a number of events and seminars. This included the opening of a 5 month long exhibition entitled ‘Four Days in February’ held at the National Library. The exhibition showcased the artefacts and research from the TAPP project and was a fitting tribute to the battle for the estate by the 1st Battalion Cambridgeshires and the 41st Regiment IJA. The exhibition closed on 25th June 2012 bringing TAPP to a close. However the work at Adam Park continues.
TAPP2 is now underway. Although TAPP met its overriding objective in proving the potential for battlefield archaeology in Singapore, it left a number of fundamental questions unanswered, such as the location and content of British slit trenches, the extent and nature of fighting on the western side of the estate and the relationship between the fighting on the estate and surrounding battlefields along the Bukit Timah Road, Bukit Brown and Sime Road. Also little was made at the exhibition of the presence of the POW camp at Adam Park and the work carried out by the 10,000 prisoners of war at the Shinto Shrine on the shores of MacRitchie. Most notably the location of the POW Chapel and the possible presence of the chapel murals remains an enigma.
This story remains untold and may perhaps best be revealed in 2015, 70 years on from the recapture of Singapore and the release of the surviving FEPOWs.
TAPP2 therefore will continue to survey and research the Adam Park site in an attempt to bring the full story of this incredible heritage site to the public’s attention.
In June 2012, the eleventh metal detector survey took place at 16 Adam Park, reputedly a site occupied by Japanese troops during the fighting. We were looking for a tell-tale change in the typology of artefacts and proof of the Japanese defence. The results were tantalising but inconclusive. Japanese bullets, cartridges and buttons were found but not in enough numbers to prove beyond doubt that No.16 was held by the 41st Regiment. Our search continues. Watch this site for further updates and check out the Adam Park Facebook page, for conversation, insights and latest photos from the project.
A special find from No 16 Adam Park – a silver King’s Crown rank badge.
August 2010
Maney Publishing to publish Journal of Conflict Archaeology from 2011
The Centre for Battlefield Archaeology is pleased to announce the re-launch of the Journal of Conflict Archaeology by Maney Publishing from 2011. Formerly published by Brill, with the final volume (5) now available, the journal will appear three times each year and is to be available in online and printed versions. Founded and edited by Tony Pollard and Iain Banks (University of Glasgow, UK), the Journal of Conflict Archaeology is devoted to battlefield and military archaeology and other spheres of conflict archaeology, covering all periods with a worldwide scope. Additional fields of interest include the archaeology of industrial and popular protest, contested landscapes and monuments, nationalism and colonialism, class conflict, the origins of conflict, forensic applications in war-zones etc. Submissions and proposals for papers are now being accepted and in the first instance can be submitted as abstracts or enquiries to the editors
(tony.pollard@gla.ac.uk or iain.banks@gla.ac.uk).
The Journal represents an exciting new discipline within Maney’s list of 17 journals in archaeology and heritage, and provides an important outlet for the best research in this fast-growing subject.
The Editors, Tony Pollard and Iain Banks, are based at the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at the University of Glasgow, UK. The Centre is the first facility of its kind and has earned a reputation as an international centre of excellence for the burgeoning study of the archaeology of battlefields and other archaeological manifestations of human conflict.
Tony Pollard welcomed the new publishing partnership: “The new arrangement with Maney brings exciting opportunities to develop the journal according to refreshed aims and scope, and to increase the international reach through robust promotion and publication of the journal in electronic and printed format.”
Iain Banks added: “The move to three issues per year allows for faster turnaround of articles, which is good news for authors whose work will be published quickly, and for readers who will be accessing the very latest research.”
Michael Gallico, Managing Director of Maney, is “delighted to publish this acclaimed journal, edited from what is widely regarded as the leading international centre in this rapidly expanding field of study.”
Journal of Conflict Archaeology follows the acquisition of War & Society in 2010 which Maney publishes on behalf of the University of New South Wales, Australia. Along with Arms & Armour published on behalf of the Royal Armouries, Maney has formed a key collection of journals in the field of conflict and military studies.
Journal of Conflict Archaeology
Edited by Tony Pollard (University of Glasgow) and Iain Banks (University of Glasgow)
3 issues per year
Print ISSN: 1574-0773
Online ISSN: 1574-0781
Maney Publishing was formed in 1997 from a printing company established in 1900, and publishes scholarly journals in materials science, the humanities, and health science. Maney is committed to publishing high quality journals in print and electronic formats that are international in scope and peer-reviewed. With offices in Leeds and London in the UK, and in Cambridge and Philadelphia in North America, Maney publishes extensively for learned societies, universities and professional bodies around the world.
www.maney.co.uk
For more information please contact:
Alison Holgate, Marketing & PR Executive, Maney Publishing
Email: a.holgate@maney.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)113 386 8160
Press room – www.maney.co.uk/press
July 2010
Battle of Linlithgow Bridge Interpretation Panel
We are pleased to report that the interpretation boards for the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge site were installed this week. This important but little known battle was fought in 1526 and the boards are the result of the efforts of Jon Cooper (currently our man in Singapore), who has previously carried out survey on the site and written a book on the subject. The information packed boards were co-sponsored by the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology, West Lothian Council, Pride and Passion and the Battlefield's Trust.
More boards are intended but further funding will be required before these are installed.
Check out the Battle of Linlithgow website for more information: www.bolb.org.uk
Excavation of a De Havilland Mosquito MM244
This project, to excavate the crash site of a De Hallivand Mosquito MM244, is part of research conducted by Terence Christian for his PhD which he is currently undertaking within the Centre. The Mosquito crash landed on the uplands beside Loch Ness, near the town of Drumnadrochit in 1943. Both pilots managed to escape and landed safely on the shores of the loch. Recovery crews later removed the valuable Rolls Royce Merlin engines and buried the remaining wreckage in a pit.
The aim of Terence's research was to demonstrate the need for methodical and systematic investigation of crash sites within an archaeological framework, rather than using mechanical diggers to excavate, as has been current methodology on many similar sites.
Terence and his team of four, including archaeological students and a member of staff from the Centre, carried out the excavation and metal detector survey over a week. The purchase of midgie nets proved to be essential as clouds of flies and biting beasts descended on the site making work very difficult.
Terence hopes to be carrying out similar projects over the course of his research in various locations across Scotland.
Terence and Ryan (man in orange) are former MLitt students within the Centre, with Ryan about to begin his PhD in September. Martin Crawford is signed up to do the MLitt in Battlefield and Conflict Archaeology this year.
From little acorns....
Conflict archaeology certainly seems to be coming of age as a recently published children's book on archaeology features a section on the field. This may have something to do with Tony Pollard being the book's archaeological consultant, but nonetheless an important little milestone. The book is called Digging up the Past by Lisa Jane Gillespie and is part of the Usbourne beginners inprint.
To enlarge image click here: Diggin up the Past: War stories
June 2010
Surviving the Peace: Access, conservation and military heritage
Thursday 30th September - Friday 1st October 2010
Britain's military past, ranging from historic battlefields to Cold War installations present a number of challenges in the way they are conserved and appreciated. This conference will explore these challenges and what may be achieved by providing on-site interpretation, public access and educational facilities. Participants will present a variety of case studies and will include curators, representatives of government agencies, members of community trusts, tourism managers and others actively engaged in this growing field.
This two day conference co-organised by the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology and the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers (ALGAO) will be held in the National Trust for Scotland Culloden Visitor Centre , which represents an international flagship for the public presentation of battlefield sites. To view the conference programme or download a booking form please click on the heading below.
Conference programme and booking form - Surviving the Peace
May 2010
Odol and Nambus - The Adam Park RAP Reveals a Violent Past
Two weeks of metal detecting at No.17 Adam Park has clearly demonstrated the potential of the Adam Park site for wartime archaeology. No.17 is believed to be the location of the Regimental Aid Post during the occupation by the Cambridgeshire Regiment. It was set alight on the 15th February as the ceasefire broke down and tank shells once again tore into the house. The ruins were later sold by the enterprising POWs to a local Chinese trader, stripping everything that was worth anything in order to supplement their meagre wage.
Today the property is the beautiful home to the Scott family who kindly invited us in to survey their front garden which despite the coming and goings of swimming pools and gazebos has remained remarkably intact. The evidence of the fighting is still clearly visible in the landscape. A number of uniform depressions were evident and these were thought to be a series of three man gun pits dug by the Cambridgeshires. This theory was born out of the discovery of 25 Japanese bullets of which some appeared to be from bursts of machine gun fire that targeted the trenches. Further excavations of these features will be needed to prove for certain their role in the fighting.
Other individual finds included a tube of 1940’s Odol toothpaste made in Norwich and the remains of what appears to be a Japanese pistol – possibly hidden by the POWs for later use.
The site was also visited by Mr Inoue and Mr Sogabe , the regimental historians for the 41st Regiment from Fukuyama, the unit that had fought against the Cambridgeshires for Adam Park. They were thrilled by the discoveries and grateful that the team was giving equal consideration to the Japanese side of the story.
Jon Cooper, the project manager, added ‘We were also pleased to welcome local students from the university and film crews from Channel News Asia onto the site – it’s a great privilege to share this story and show Singaporeans what we are unearthing.’
April 2010
Traditional site of the Battle of Prestonpans questioned by recent Centre project
Results of the Prestonpans Battlefield Project which suggests an alternative location for the Battle of Prestonpans have now been released sparking much media interest. After 18 months of metal detector survey, excavation and historical research we now know that the site of the initial encounter between government and Jacobite troops took place around 500 metres to the east than previously thought. This is great news for the battlefield and for Scottish heritage in general as it means the battlefield is much better preserved than previously thought. Recent media coverage has included BBC Radio, BBC Website, STV television and Scottish national press.
The battle, fought on 21 September 1745, was the first major engagement of the ’45 Rising and was a resounding Jacobite victory. After a flanking march through a marsh which brought them onto the government flank the delivery of a Jacobite charge saw the destruction of the government force in a matter of minutes.
This community project was carried out with the Battle of Prestopans (1745) Heritage Trust and was funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund. Volunteers included metal detectorists from the Scottish Artefact Recovery Group and the Scottish Detector Club. It is hoped that further work will take place next year.
Links to recent press coverage regarding Prestonpans and other Centre projects may be found in the Media Archive
Battle of Lutzen 1632
Tony Pollard spent three days this week in Lutzen, Germany, where the most intensive archaeological survey of a battlefield anywhere in the world is currently underway. Tony is a member of the advisory group brought together by the cultural heritage authorities in Saxon-Anhalt where the project is taking place. Other members of the group on this latest trip included Bo Knarrström from Sweden and Tim Sutherland from England (and research fellow in the Centre). The project is progressing well and the group were once again impressed at the effort being put into the undertaking and the quality of the results. The trip also included a visit to the site of the 1806 battle of Auersdadt, which is currently being subject to metal detector survey in advance of a road scheme.
Thus far at Lutzen, thousands of artefacts have been recovered by a metal detector survey which is set to continue until 2014 and much has already been learned about the Thirty Years War battle in which the Swedish king, Gustav Adolf was killed. The trip ended with a visit to the vast memorial to the so-called battle of the Nations fought in 1813 around Leipzig (and otherwise known as the Battle of Leipzig), which is regarded as a key event in the formation of modern Germany. It must surely be one the biggest war memorials in the world.
Fortunately for Tony he flew back home just before the cloud of volcanic ash closed most airports in northern Europe. His colleagues were not so fortunate and are at the time of posting still in Lutzen!
Zulu Day at the National Army Museum, London
The evening event at the recent National Army Museum’s Zulu Day (10 April) attracted an audience of over 200, packing out the museum’s art gallery (which includes Fripp’s famous painting of the Battle of Isandlwana). Discussion ranged across a variety of subjects, including the cultural impact of the now iconic movie ‘Zulu’ and the political background to the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War. The discussion panel consisted of Dr Tony Pollard, who has directed several archaeological projects on Anglo-Zulu War sites, Ian Knight, author of numerous books on the subject, Professor John Laband, the leading South African academic in the field, Lt Col Mike Snook, writer on Anglo-Zulu War history, and Dr. Sheldon Hall, a lecturer in film studies who has recently written a book on the movie. The event followed a day of Zulu based activities which included a Zulu drumming group, public talks and demonstrations by re-enactors. This was the first such evening panel led event at the museum and on the basis of its success it is hoped to establish a wider programme.
March 2010
New Module for 2010-11
Introduction to Forensic Archaeology
The Centre for Battlefield Archaeology is delighted to announce that it will be offering an exciting new module within its groundbreaking MLitt and PG Dip course in Battlefield and Conflict Archaeology, which in Autumn 2010 will enter its fifth year. In 2010-11 students will be given the opportunity to take a module entitled ‘Introduction to Forensic Archaeology’, which will provide a fascinating insight into a field which has been subject to much distortion and mythologisation through television programmes such as CSI. This module is seen a natural development for the postgraduate taught course as there a number of distinct overlaps between Battlefield and Conflict Archaeology and Forensic Archaeology.
The module will provide students with an introduction to the basic concepts, specialist techniques and methodologies used within the discipline of forensic archaeology. Case studies from across the world, including the investigation of crime scenes such as clandestine graves, international war crimes, mass grave excavations and mass fatality incidents, will form an integral part of the course. Through a series of lectures, seminars and laboratory and field based exercises students will learn how evidence is collected and interpreted within various scenarios. Throughout the module the student will be introduced to a wide range of techniques within the spheres of archaeological, anthropological and environmental science. The module will draw upon the expertise of leading practitioners in the field and provide an ideal foundation for anyone considering going on to vocational training in the field.
For more information on application please see the Department of Archaeology website:
http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/archaeology/prospectivestudents/postgraduate/taughtmasters/
Towton Battlefield Survey
Last week, Tony Pollard and Iain Banks travelled down to Towton in Yorkshire to take part in what is hoped to be a long-term collaboration with the Towton Battlefield Archaeological Survey Project which has been run for some years now by Tim Sutherland and Simon Richardson. They were accompanied by Terence Christian, a PhD student within the Centre, and Charlotte Fancoz, a surveyor from GUARD. This is seen as a natural progression as Tim is now a Research Fellow within the Centre. The event also brought together a number of metal detectorist volunteers, most of them having worked at Towton before or on the recent Bosworth project.
The Battle of Towton was part of the Wars of the Roses and was fought on 29 March (Palm Sunday) in 1461 between Lancastrian and Yorkist armies. It is famous for being the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on British soil. It was a Yorkist victory and the death toll is said to have been in the region of 20,000-30,000, though these figures are likely to be exaggerated.
The aim of the exercise was to test various survey methodologies across a portion of the battlefield while recording all finds using a sub-centimetre GPS system. The survey was a great success, not least because along with other interesting battle related finds it added half a dozen more arrowheads to the assemblage of around 300 previously recovered by the Towton project. The Centre looks forward to further developments with this exciting collaboration.
See the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology's Facebook page for more photographs of the project.
Fromelles fallen DNA identification
The staff of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology are delighted to see that the remains of a number of the Australian and British soldiers buried at Fromelles in 1916 have now been identified through DNA analysis. One man in particular is causing headlines at the moment. He is Private Harry Willis, a nineteen year old Australian soldier from Victoria who was killed in the battle. Harry has been on the Centre’s radar since 2008 when we carried out the first phase of a two season project to establish the presence of graves and then to evaluate their contents. As part of this work a metal detector survey recovered two Australian medallions issued to volunteers when they enlisted. One of these was issued by the Shire of Alberton and our initial research suggested that it might belong to Harry Willis. We were then contacted by Tim Whitford, his great nephew, who had spent years looking for his great uncle’s resting place. Further research on the medallion carried out by Tim, just about to be published as a paper in the Journal of Conflict Archaeology, by Tim Whitford and Tony Pollard established that there was little doubt about the medallion’s ownership. All 249 sets of remains were recovered from the grave pits last year by Oxford Archaeology and have since been given funerals with full military honours in the newly established CWGC cemetery in the village of Fromelles. It is incredibly rewarding for all involved in the search and recovery of the fallen of Fromelles to see that Harry has been positively identified and we look forward to his grave receiving a headstone with his name on it.
A newspaper story on the identification can be read at:
http://www.smh.com.au/world/dna-tests-give-names-to-fromelles-fallen-20100316-qcmn.html
January 2010
Centre for Battlefield Archaeology invited to attend burial ceremony at Fromelles
Tony Pollard and Iain Banks attended the reburial of the first of the 250 Australian and British soldiers to be recovered from the 1916 mass graves at Fromelles in northern France on Saturday 30 January. The Centre for Battlefield Archaeology and GUARD carried out the first survey of the site in 2007 and then the evaluation of the grave pits in 2008. The project was directed by Tony Pollard and managed for GUARD by Iain Banks. The bodies were recovered by Oxford Archaeology in summer 2009. The remaining bodies will be reburied over the next few weeks, while DNA tests continue – the hope being that as many men as possible will be identified.
All of those involved in the project are gratified to see these men finally laid to rest with the dignity they deserve.