About Me

I'm a PhD student researching the role of the archaeological dead in contemporary British society. Think of this as a scrapbook of all the interesting links, snippets of information and random bits and bobs I come across pertaining to death, dying and the dead. Enjoy?!

Instagram Shots

    See more

    More liked posts

    Anger Over Plan to Sell Site of Wounded Knee Massacre

    WOUNDED KNEE, S.D. — Ever since American soldiers massacred men, women and children here more than a century ago in the last major bloodshed of the American Indian wars, this haunted patch of rolling hills and ponderosa pines has embodied the combustible relationship between Indians and the United States government.

    It was here that a group of Indian activists aired their grievances against the government with a forceful takeover in 1973 that resulted in protests, a bloody standoff with federal agents and deep divisions among the Indian people.

    And now the massacre site, which passed into non-Indian hands generations ago, is up for sale, once again dragging Wounded Knee to the center of the Indian people’s bitter struggle against perceived injustice — as well as sowing rifts within the tribe over whether it would be proper, should the tribe get the land, to develop it in a way that brings some money to the destitute region.

    James A. Czywczynski of Rapid City is asking $3.9 million for the 40-acre plot he owns here, far more than the $7,000 that the deeply impoverished Oglala Sioux say the land is worth. Mr. Czywczynski insists that his price fairly accounts for the land’s sentimental and historical value, an attitude that the people here see as disrespect.

    Read more.

    Would you have been accused of witchcraft? The history of witchcraft in Britain is a dark one, brimming with trials, persecution and torture, which claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent men and women during the 16th and 17th centuries. But what did you actually have to do to end up in the dock, accused of Devil worship and crimes of witchcraft? Very little, as the following questions, compiled with the help of Owen Davies, professor of social history at the University of Hertfordshire, reveal…  Unsurprisingly, I did not fare well in this quiz!

    The history of witchcraft in Britain is a dark one, brimming with trials, persecution and torture, which claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent men and women during the 16th and 17th centuries. But what did you actually have to do to end up in the dock, accused of Devil worship and crimes of witchcraft? Very little, as the following questions, compiled with the help of Owen Davies, professor of social history at the University of Hertfordshire, reveal… 
    Unsurprisingly, I did not fare well in this quiz!

    Horrible histories: Why has a Lancashire school's set of grisly religious relics been hidden for years?

    It is the biggest collection of relics in Britain, but few will have heard of it. Now the curator of the historic Catholic school that houses the archives of eyes, skin, skulls and even a part of the supposed Crown of Thorns hopes the funds can be raised to put it on full public display for the first time. Items from Stonyhurst College’s collection are increasingly loaned for exhibitions, with one of the grisly jewels in the crown currently on display at the British Museum’s “Shakespeare: Staging the World” exhibition.

    The show, which opened this month, brings together a series of objects from Tudor England to help conjure up the turbulent times for a 21st-century audience. Undoubtedly one of the star attractions will be the eyeball held by Stonyhurst from a Catholic martyr who was executed in 1606.

    The eye’s owner, Edward Oldcorne, was unlucky to have been caught. He had long survived as a Catholic priest at a time when it was treason, yet was picked up when other priests, fleeing arrest in the aftermath of the Gunpowder Plot, sought refuge in his house. He was publicly hanged, drawn and quartered. The eye was fished out of the pot used to boil his body, the process to prepare it for public display, and put in a silver reliquary to preserve it.

    The religious relic speaks to the persecution of the Catholics in Britain in the 17th century and is just one of the items held in an extraordinary collection at the independent Jesuit school. Jan Graffius, the curator of the school’s collections, says: “Some things have a powerful ability to speak. We all know how sensitive the eye is and how precious our eyesight is. To see a human eyeball in that state, you can’t fail but be moved. I’ve never shown it to someone and not got a reaction, whether shocked, appalled or horrified.”

    Full story here.

    Missing monarchs: The kings who did not rest in peace

    DNA tests may be about to prove a skeleton found beneath a Leicester car park are the mortal remains of King Richard III.

    And while it may seem extraordinary that a king’s grave could be lost, history shows the last of the Plantagenets was not the only one to suffer such indignity.

    Here are seven English kings who have no confirmed grave…

    Full article here.

    • Posted 8 months ago
    • September 18th, 2012

    3 Likes & Reblogs

    The 9/11 victims America wants to forget: The 200 jumpers who flung themselves from the Twin Towers who have been ‘airbrushed from history’ Nothing more graphically spells out the horror of the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers than the grainy pictures of those poor souls frozen in mid-air as they fell to their deaths, tumbling in all manner of positions, after choosing to escape the suffocating smoke and dust, the flames and the steel-bending heat in the highest floors of the World Trade Centre. And yet, tragically, they are in many ways the forgotten victims of September 11. Even now, nobody knows for certain who they were or exactly how many they numbered. Perhaps worst of all, surprisingly few even want to know. From the earliest days after the 9/11 attacks, the American establishment and the media showed an overwhelming reluctance to dwell on those who jumped or fell from the Twin Towers. If this was simply down to qualms at being considered intrusive or voyeuristic when individuals in the most appalling circumstances chose in desperation to die very publicly, it would be understandable. But there are other, more complicated, reasons. In the aftermath of this attack on America’s sovereign territory — a period of intense patriotism — some considered that to choose to die rather than be killed showed a lack of courage. Full story here.

    The 9/11 victims America wants to forget: The 200 jumpers who flung themselves from the Twin Towers who have been ‘airbrushed from history’

    Nothing more graphically spells out the horror of the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers than the grainy pictures of those poor souls frozen in mid-air as they fell to their deaths, tumbling in all manner of positions, after choosing to escape the suffocating smoke and dust, the flames and the steel-bending heat in the highest floors of the World Trade Centre.

    And yet, tragically, they are in many ways the forgotten victims of September 11. Even now, nobody knows for certain who they were or exactly how many they numbered. Perhaps worst of all, surprisingly few even want to know.

    From the earliest days after the 9/11 attacks, the American establishment and the media showed an overwhelming reluctance to dwell on those who jumped or fell from the Twin Towers.

    If this was simply down to qualms at being considered intrusive or voyeuristic when individuals in the most appalling circumstances chose in desperation to die very publicly, it would be understandable.

    But there are other, more complicated, reasons. In the aftermath of this attack on America’s sovereign territory — a period of intense patriotism — some considered that to choose to die rather than be killed showed a lack of courage.

    Full story here.

    10 Weirdest Ways That Ancient Rulers Died

    One of the most shocking things aboutGame of Thrones is the brutal and often bizarre ways that the nobles and princes kick the bucket — but George R.R. Martin’s horrifying story is pretty close to historical realism. Many historical leaders snuffed it in bizarre, insane ways, from being smothered by coats to, yes, drinking molten gold.

    Here are 10 completely strange and terrible deaths that befell emperors, tyrants, and leaders in the ancient world…

    Protecting Peru’s ancient past The return to Peru of the bones of 177 people taken a century ago from the Inca city of Machu Picchu has marked another important milestone in the repatriation of Peruvian antiquities. The country is the birthplace of many ancient civilisations. The most famous, the Incas, ruled the area for centuries until the arrival of the Spanish colonisers in the 1500s. Every year, more than a million visitors marvel at the site which has become synonymous with Inca culture: the ancient city of Machu Picchu. Perched high on a mountain top in the Andes, it is Peru’s most important tourist destination. But the almost 50,000 pieces found there between 1911 and 1915 had not been seen in Peru until recently. 

    Protecting Peru’s ancient past

    The return to Peru of the bones of 177 people taken a century ago from the Inca city of Machu Picchu has marked another important milestone in the repatriation of Peruvian antiquities.

    The country is the birthplace of many ancient civilisations.

    The most famous, the Incas, ruled the area for centuries until the arrival of the Spanish colonisers in the 1500s.

    Every year, more than a million visitors marvel at the site which has become synonymous with Inca culture: the ancient city of Machu Picchu.

    Perched high on a mountain top in the Andes, it is Peru’s most important tourist destination.

    But the almost 50,000 pieces found there between 1911 and 1915 had not been seen in Peru until recently. 

    jennifuchs: Happy Hallowe’en 31 October 2011 It’s Hallowe’en again. Ok, so that’s maybe stating the obvious, and anyway, what does that have to do with museums? I’ve noticed that Hallowe’en has become quite a big thing here in Germany. Last time I lived here, it was virtually unknown, now there’s hardly a shop that hasn’t jumped in on the game. It’s pumpkins and movie inspired costumes all round, and looks very much like its been imported kit and caboodle from America. I wonder how many people here actually know about its cultural origin? So, to get back to museums, I’ve also noticed lots more museums doing Hallowe’en events, though I don’t know if this has actually increased over the years, or whether it just seems like more because I now hear about everyone’s events on Twitter. But it reminded me of a discussion on the GEM (Group for Education in Museums) discussion list several years back, where some felt it inappropriate for museums to be celebrating Hallowe’en because it was seen as promoting devil worship. At the time, I’d responded with my Scottish Ethnologist hat on, which went something like this:Many of our modern Hallowe’en customs and derivations of them stem from the Celtic celebration of the New Year, which falls on 1st November, Hallowe’en thus being the Celtic New Year’s Eve. The Celtic year is divided into two halves or seasons: a light half and a dark half. The beginning of the Celtic New Year is also the beginning of the dark half of the year and of a new cycle (Beltane, on 1st May, marks the beginning of the light half). Samhain or Samhuinn as it is called (there are different pronunciations in the various Celtic languages) literally means summer’s end. Naturally, as with our modern New Year’s Eve, it was associated with celebrations and customs, as well as also being one of the Celtic fire festivals of which there are several throughout the Celtic year to mark various calendar customs. Night time was always a time when the veil between the world of the humans and the world of the spirits was thinner, and Samhain was one of the nights in the year which was regarded as a liminal space where the veil was at its thinnest. It was believed that both spirits and humans were able to pass over the threshold on that night, and traditional folklore holds many tales of spirits returning to visit their kin, and the doors to the “fairy realm” being opened. As with our New Year Eve’s, divination was common at Samhain, and customs and rituals were performed to thank the gods for a good harvest, and to seek protection for livestock, homes and families throughout the dark half of the year. And so these old customs and traditions gave us many of the games and customs still practised at Hallowe’en today, though often out of context, as well as the idea of having bonfires and candle lit lanterns, and dressing up as supernatural beings. But far from devil worshipping or any of the like, the opposite was in fact the case: protection was being sought from evil spirits, and safekeeping from any harm throughout the harsh winter months, alongside celebrating and giving thanks for the end of a fruitful year and commemorating the dead. Later on with the rise of Christianity, as with so many other pagan festivals, Samhain was “incorporated” into Christian customs – Hallowe’en literally means Hallow’s Eve, i.e. the eve of All Hallows Day, or All Saints Day as it is now called. But, of course, as with e.g. Christmas and Easter, the old pagan customs didn’t die out. In many places that celebrate Hallowe’en it has been reduced to dressing up and the Americanised “Trick or Treat”, but its origins actually go back to the old Celtic festival and its customs. In several places pagan communities in Scotland still celebrate Samhain/ Hallowe’en in the traditional way today. So, there you have it. As with the TV, telephone and Tarmac, yet another thing the Scots can take credit for^^ I, for one, am quite thankful that the American pumpkin has replaced the more traditional turnip lantern as it takes just an evening rather than a whole week to carve and you don’t do yourself nearly as much damage!

    jennifuchs:

    Happy Hallowe’en

    31 October 2011

    It’s Hallowe’en again. Ok, so that’s maybe stating the obvious, and anyway, what does that have to do with museums? I’ve noticed that Hallowe’en has become quite a big thing here in Germany. Last time I lived here, it was virtually unknown, now there’s hardly a shop that hasn’t jumped in on the game. It’s pumpkins and movie inspired costumes all round, and looks very much like its been imported kit and caboodle from America. I wonder how many people here actually know about its cultural origin?

    So, to get back to museums, I’ve also noticed lots more museums doing Hallowe’en events, though I don’t know if this has actually increased over the years, or whether it just seems like more because I now hear about everyone’s events on Twitter. But it reminded me of a discussion on the GEM (Group for Education in Museums) discussion list several years back, where some felt it inappropriate for museums to be celebrating Hallowe’en because it was seen as promoting devil worship. At the time, I’d responded with my Scottish Ethnologist hat on, which went something like this:

    Many of our modern Hallowe’en customs and derivations of them stem from the Celtic celebration of the New Year, which falls on 1st November, Hallowe’en thus being the Celtic New Year’s Eve. The Celtic year is divided into two halves or seasons: a light half and a dark half. The beginning of the Celtic New Year is also the beginning of the dark half of the year and of a new cycle (Beltane, on 1st May, marks the beginning of the light half). Samhain or Samhuinn as it is called (there are different pronunciations in the various Celtic languages) literally means summer’s end.

    Naturally, as with our modern New Year’s Eve, it was associated with celebrations and customs, as well as also being one of the Celtic fire festivals of which there are several throughout the Celtic year to mark various calendar customs. Night time was always a time when the veil between the world of the humans and the world of the spirits was thinner, and Samhain was one of the nights in the year which was regarded as a liminal space where the veil was at its thinnest. It was believed that both spirits and humans were able to pass over the threshold on that night, and traditional folklore holds many tales of spirits returning to visit their kin, and the doors to the “fairy realm” being opened. As with our New Year Eve’s, divination was common at Samhain, and customs and rituals were performed to thank the gods for a good harvest, and to seek protection for livestock, homes and families throughout the dark half of the year.

    And so these old customs and traditions gave us many of the games and customs still practised at Hallowe’en today, though often out of context, as well as the idea of having bonfires and candle lit lanterns, and dressing up as supernatural beings. But far from devil worshipping or any of the like, the opposite was in fact the case: protection was being sought from evil spirits, and safekeeping from any harm throughout the harsh winter months, alongside celebrating and giving thanks for the end of a fruitful year and commemorating the dead. Later on with the rise of Christianity, as with so many other pagan festivals, Samhain was “incorporated” into Christian customs – Hallowe’en literally means Hallow’s Eve, i.e. the eve of All Hallows Day, or All Saints Day as it is now called. But, of course, as with e.g. Christmas and Easter, the old pagan customs didn’t die out.

    In many places that celebrate Hallowe’en it has been reduced to dressing up and the Americanised “Trick or Treat”, but its origins actually go back to the old Celtic festival and its customs. In several places pagan communities in Scotland still celebrate Samhain/ Hallowe’en in the traditional way today.

    So, there you have it. As with the TV, telephone and Tarmac, yet another thing the Scots can take credit for^^

    I, for one, am quite thankful that the American pumpkin has replaced the more traditional turnip lantern as it takes just an evening rather than a whole week to carve and you don’t do yourself nearly as much damage!

    Diary reveals the horror of the Witchfinder General trials A 350-year-old notebook which describes the execution of innocent women for consorting with the Devil, has been published online by The University of Manchester’s John Rylands Library. Puritan writer Nehemiah Wallington wrote passages on his attitudes to life, religion, the civil war as well as the witchcraft trials of the period.

    Diary reveals the horror of the Witchfinder General trials

    A 350-year-old notebook which describes the execution of innocent women for consorting with the Devil, has been published online by The University of Manchester’s John Rylands Library. Puritan writer Nehemiah Wallington wrote passages on his attitudes to life, religion, the civil war as well as the witchcraft trials of the period.



    Halloween reflections

    Piece by Chris Catling, via Current Archaeology

    Just now, the streets are full of excited children dressed as witches and ghosts, and, though Halloween will be a distant memory by the time you read this, it is interesting to reflect on the inexorable rise in popularity of this relatively new custom at the expense of Guy Fawkes Night. For an archaeologist or cultural historian, witnessing the replacement of one autumn festival by another is fascinating to watch: here is cultural change in action, rituals literally evolving before our very eyes.

    The place of Guy Fawkes Night as a national celebration has steadily declined since 1859, when the 1606 Thanksgiving Act, making it compulsory to celebrate the uncovering of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, was finally repealed. More recently, health and safety concerns have led to the demise of private parties remembering the Fifth of November in favour of ‘Bonfire Nights’ run by local charities on the nearest Saturday. Gunpowder, treason and plot have been written out of the story – how do you explain the political and religious issues behind the burning of a group of Catholic conspirators in this secular, multi-cultural, anti-historical age?

    Dressing up as a ghost or ghoul seems a relatively harmless activity by contrast with the inflammatory implications of burning a religious fanatic, especially to children brought up on a diet of Harry Potter and TV vampires. Unlike Guy Fawkes, Halloween seems to have escaped from its religious origins to become a wholly secular occasion, no longer associated with the Christian feasts of All Saints and All Souls (though these are still widely observed in Catholic Europe and Latin America with cemetery visits and the placing of flowers on graves). Big retail chains have played their part in the usurpation of Guy Fawkes: while restrictions on firework sales mean that supermarkets can profit little from Bonfire Night, Halloween tills ring merrily as children pester parents into buying themed sweets, cloaks, masks, and witches hats. Pumpkins – once a semi-mythical fruit known only to English schoolchildren through the stories of Mark Twain – are now as ubiquitous as Christmas trees. Folklorists like to trace Halloween back to the festival of Samhain (meaning ‘summer’s end’), still celebrated in Gaelic-speaking parts of northern Europe until well into the 20th century with bonfires and rituals to ward off evil spirits. Exported to America by Irish migrants, it evolved into today’s Halloween.

    Call it Samhain, All Saints, Guy Fawkes, or Halloween, what does not seem to have changed is the basic human desire to do something communal and festive at the beginning of the darker weeks of the year.

    A history of Hallowe'en

    Hallowe’en has come a long way from a Celtic festival to welcome the brutal winter, to the sweet-laden commercial bonanza it is today.

     Among the first incarnations of Hallowe’en was the festival of Samhain, celebrated by Celts in Britain, Ireland and northern France. The event marked the beginning of winter, which was expected to take the lives of people and livestock.

    The Romans co-oped the Samhain after conquering the Celtics lands and combined it with two of their own festivals – one to honour the dead and another to celebrate Pomona, the goddess of trees and fruit.

    But the British celebration is dwarfed by that across the Atlantic. The US spends $6.9 billion (£4.3 billion) on sweets, costumes and house decorations each Hallowe’en.

    Today, Hallowe’en is Britain’s third most commercial holiday after Christmas and Easter, with an estimated £100 million spent every year. Six million pumpkins are expected to be bought in 2011.