Volunteer Roy Wilde’s blog about his placement…
One of my cunning plans to survive lockdown, and not be too much of a nuisance to my wife, was to return to the university archaeological environment. It was several years ago when studying for a Master’s degree in archaeological survey that Adrian allowed me access to the Museum’s ceramic stores to assist in my dissertation. In the years following I have been involved in various digs and research projects for Historic England, Cranborne Chase AONB, and Southampton University in addition to volunteering at the Museum, both behind the scenes and on engagement and “Talking Objects”.
Accordingly, last summer I committed myself to another Master’s, this time in bioarchaeology. This was partly inspired by my need to write up a report on a small community dig I had carried out in Grovely Forest. The assemblage produced was particularly heavy in animal bones of which I knew nothing. Hence, before writing my report for the Wilton Estate I thought it would be useful to return to the schoolroom.
In September I returned to the Avenue Campus of the University of Southampton and was quickly immersed in osteo studies, which included analysis of masses of animal bones from medieval Winchester and human skeletons of the Saxon era from Cambridgeshire. It was fascinating – apart from having to undergo two bone recognition tests per week – my brain hurt!
Altogether I studied five different subjects in my first semester, ranging from osteoarchaeology to the Neolithic. Happily, one was concerning museums and the presentation of heritage, and I was able to base one essay on my Salisbury experience and cite the development of the Wessex Gallery as a tale of “how to do it”. Luckily I had called in and taken some photos of covid-protected visitors during the limited opening in September.
Of course by Christmas the university world was turned upside down for a second time and no more laboratory or practical work of any kind was permitted. Much of my second semester choice of subjects was put at risk and changed. I had hoped that one, a professional placement in the heritage world, might be light at the end of the tunnel. I had suggested to the academic powers-that-be that Salisbury Museum should be considered. Inevitably many of the archaeological placement opportunities had disappeared. However, when Bridget and Adrian thought that there might be the possibility of helping with the Past Forward: Salisbury Museum for Future Generations I jumped at the opportunity to gain some practical experience – even socially distanced.
Of the galleries being restructured, the Ceramics Gallery houses an outstanding and extensive ceramics collection, but its 50 year-old display currently omits the pre-historic development of ceramics and interpretation is rather dated.
The Project’s ceramic interpretation will explore chronology, technical development, and individual influence in the context of social change. In support, my primary placement task, I am working under Bridget’s direction and following the guidance of the Guest Curator. The first phase has been reviewing the ceramic and archaeology collections in order to identify potential display items for the Guest Curator’s final decision. Officially my placement is for 18 days spread over the period 4th February to 14th May. The first phase has been to set up operation from home, using the Museum’s Modes database to interrogate the 96,000 artefacts listed, to develop candidate lists for more detailed consideration and physical examination. Getting Modes downloaded and operating efficiently, linked to separate photograph files has certainly been a challenge, but with Megan’s and David Balston’s guidance all worked out.
Using Modes to carry out a multitude of searches has pricked my conscience. Thinking back to all the catalogue entries I made during the Pitt Rivers project, I now realise just how important each individual artefact title turns out to be for the search mechanism to work. All being well I shall be allowed into the Museum’s ceramic and archaeology stores to physically inspect candidates for display. The haunting phrase “partly restored” can mean many things to many people. Should time permit, I shall carry out more detailed research of individual artefacts origins, ownership and cultural significance to develop interpretation potted histories. The one blot on the horizon, at the end of the placement I have to write a 4,000 word report upon the experience.
A useful link:
The Modernisation Project called Past Forward: Salisbury Museum for Future Generations can be found: https://salisburymuseum.org.uk/support-us/past-forward
Lucky man! Thank you Roy, and good luck with it all!